Predictive Maintenance Technician

Company Description

At Link Snacks, we show up hungry, roll up our sleeves, plaid or otherwise, and dive straight into the hard work. We don’t hide from challenges; we hunt them down. We push harder, move faster, and take the kinds of big swings that built this business in the North Woods of Wisconsin four decades ago.

We’re everyday people who deliver extraordinary results. Innovation, creativity, and urgency aren’t buzzwords, they’re expectations. And just like the real protein snacks we make across our global house of brands—Jack Link’s®, Lorissa’s Kitchen®, Golden Island®, BiFi®, and Peperami® and KOOEE!® to name a few—there’s nothing artificial about us. What you see is exactly what you get: humble, gritty, passionate people who show up every day ready to not just be a participate in the meat snack industry that the Link Family created, but to move faster, innovate harder and keep raising the bar so high, the rest of the world needs a ladder just to see it.

Dominating this space across the world takes a team. A team that runs together, succeeds together, and celebrates together. A team that’s full of relentless energy and spirit that can only be fueled by one thing: a fist full of our delicious meat snacks.

Real Meat Protein. Real People. Real Results. THAT is Link Snacks.

Job Description

Position Summary

The Predictive Maintenance (PdM) Technician is responsible for executing Perry's condition-based maintenance program to improve equipment reliability, reduce unplanned downtime, extend asset life, and lower maintenance costs. This position performs vibration analysis, thermography, ultrasound inspections, motor testing, and condition monitoring activities across the facility's manufacturing, packaging, utilities, refrigeration, and support systems.

The PdM Technician partners closely with the Reliability Engineer, Maintenance Supervisors, Asset Reliability Planner, Controls Engineering team, and Operations leadership to identify equipment failures before they occur and drive proactive maintenance actions.

The position plays a critical role in supporting Perry's reliability strategy, TPM deployment, and 2027 operational growth objectives.

Key Responsibilities

Predictive Maintenance Program Execution

• Conduct scheduled vibration analysis routes on critical rotating equipment.
• Perform infrared thermography inspections of electrical and mechanical assets.
• Execute airborne and structure-borne ultrasound inspections.
• Collect oil and lubricant samples for analysis.
• Conduct motor circuit testing and electrical condition assessments.
• Monitor equipment condition using predictive maintenance technologies.
• Maintain condition monitoring databases and historical equipment records.

Equipment Reliability

• Identify developing equipment failures before breakdown occurs.
• Generate work requests based on PdM findings.
• Recommend corrective actions to maintenance and reliability teams.
• Assist with asset criticality reviews.
• Support bad actor equipment analysis.
• Participate in root cause failure investigations.
• Assist in reducing repetitive equipment failures.

Reporting & Data Analysis

• Review vibration, thermal, oil analysis, and ultrasound results.
• Document findings and communicate risks to the Reliability Engineer.
• Develop equipment condition reports and maintenance recommendations.
• Maintain accurate PdM inspection records.
• Track equipment health indicators and reliability trends.

Maintenance Planning Support

• Provide condition-based maintenance recommendations.
• Assist Asset Reliability Planner with work prioritization.
• Help define repair scopes based on inspection findings.
• Identify equipment requiring immediate intervention.
• Support planned shutdown activities.

TPM and Continuous Improvement

• Support TPM implementation initiatives.
• Participate in focused improvement teams.
• Assist in developing operator asset-care programs.
• Support reliability-driven cost reduction projects.
• Recommend improvements to maintenance effectiveness and asset performance.

Food Safety and Regulatory Compliance

• Follow all food safety, GMP, HACCP, and sanitation requirements.
• Adhere to Lockout/Tagout procedures.
• Comply with all safety, environmental, and facility regulations.
• Maintain equipment access procedures that protect product integrity.

Primary Assets Supported

Packaging

• Multivac systems
• Thermoformers
• Packaging conveyors
• Labelers
• Checkweighers
• Metal detectors
• Vacuum systems

Processing

• Mixers
• Grinders
• Pumps
• Stuffers
• Conveying systems

Utilities

• Air compressors
• Boilers
• Water systems
• Refrigeration systems
• HVAC systems

Facility Equipment

• Motors
• Gearboxes
• Bearings
• Fans
• Electrical distribution equipment

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

The PdM Technician will be measured on:

Reliability

• Reduction in unplanned downtime
• Increase in Mean Time Between Failure (MTBF)
• Reduction in emergency work orders

Predictive Maintenance

• PdM route completion rate (>95%)
• PdM findings converted to planned work
• Defect identification rate
• Condition-monitoring compliance

Maintenance Performance

• Reduction in reactive maintenance
• Reduction in maintenance overtime
• Increased planned maintenance percentage
• Reduction in repeat failures

Financial

• Downtime cost avoidance
• Maintenance cost avoidance
• Reduced contractor spending
• Reduced emergency repair costs

Qualifications

Education

One of the following:

• Associate degree in Industrial Maintenance Technology, Engineering Technology, or related field; OR
• Technical certification in Predictive Maintenance Technology; OR
• Equivalent industrial experience

Experience

• Minimum 3 years of industrial maintenance experience.
• Minimum 2 years of condition monitoring experience preferred.
• Manufacturing experience required.
• Food manufacturing experience preferred.

Preferred Certifications

Preferred certifications include:

• Vibration Analysis Category I or II
• Infrared Thermography Certification
• Ultrasound Inspection Certification
• Machinery Lubrication Technician (MLT)
• Certified Maintenance & Reliability Technician (CMRT)

Technical Skills

Required

• Vibration analysis
• Root cause problem solving
• Mechanical troubleshooting
• Industrial maintenance practices
• CMMS systems
• Microsoft Excel

Preferred

• SKF vibration systems
• Emerson AMS
• Fluke reliability tools
• Infrared cameras
• Motor circuit analysis equipment
• SAP PM
• Maintenance Connection
• Fiix CMMS

Physical Requirements

• Ability to work in manufacturing environments.
• Ability to climb stairs and ladders.
• Ability to work in refrigerated areas.
• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds.
• Ability to stand and walk for extended periods.
• Ability to wear required PPE.

Success Measures - First 12 Months

The successful PdM Technician will:

Within 90 Days

• Establish PdM routes for critical assets.
• Complete baseline equipment health assessments.
• Develop asset condition reports.

Within 6 Months

• Achieve >95% route completion.
• Identify top reliability risks within Perry.
• Support reduction of maintenance emergency work.

Within 12 Months

• Reduce unplanned downtime on critical packaging assets.
• Contribute to lowering maintenance overtime from 12.9% toward <8%.
• Improve equipment reliability across packaging, utilities, and refrigeration systems.
• Support Perry's reliability strategy supporting 21MM+ pounds of annual production.

Why This Position Exists at Perry

The PdM Technician is a key component of Perry's Reliability Organization and serves as the primary execution resource for the facility's predictive maintenance program. The role exists to transition Perry from a reactive maintenance environment toward a predictive, reliability-centered maintenance culture capable of supporting future growth, reducing maintenance costs, increasing equipment uptime, and improving overall plant performance.

Additional Information

The pay range for this role is $35 -$38 (Hourly). Actual wage will vary based on several factors, including but not limited to external market data, internal equity, location, and candidate skill set and experience. Base pay is just one component of Link Snacks Total Rewards package for Team Members. Other rewards may include annual incentive and program-specific awards. Link Snacks provides a variety of benefits to eligible Team Members, including medical, dental and vision benefits, life and disability insurance, 401k participation, paid holidays, and paid time off.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to be successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, use hands to finger, handle, or feel, lift and/or move up to 25 pounds, and talk or hear.  The employee is occasionally required to sit, and reach with hands and arms.  The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. The work environment is a plant / office setting with varying degrees of temperatures and noise levels. Exposure to manufacturing equipment movement and wet / slippery floors. Travel may be required.

Equal Employment Opportunity Employer
Link Snacks is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation and gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

E-VERIFY:
Link Snacks is participant in the federal E-Verify program to confirm the identity and employment authorization of all newly hired employees.  For information about the E-Verify program, please visit:  http://www.uscis.gov/e-verify/employees

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.