Mechanical Maintenance Lead

Who we are

Skjodt-Barrett is a world-class manufacturer of food solutions and custom ingredients for North America's most beloved and trusted brands. We take pride in working closely with our customers to understand their unique needs and create innovative, individualized solutions that deliver joy to their customers.

A family-founded company started over 40 years ago, we are backed by the investment company Axel Johnson Inc (AJI). With their investment and support, we are well-positioned to foster growth and explore new opportunities.

Our customers, blue-chip international brands and mid-sized producers alike, are why we exist. Our teams of innovators, communicators, and managers are the people who meet their needs, build trust, and exceed their expectations. 

Who we need

Reporting to the Maintenance Supervisor, we are looking for a Mechanical Maintenance Lead to join the team at our cutting-edge production facility. You will provide mechanical expertise, guide frontline technicians, and support coordinated decision making across both Mechanical and Electrical teams. You will take ownership of equipment performance, reliability, and efficiency while serving as a trusted escalation point during critical troubleshooting. This role offers an opportunity to gain visibility, influence equipment strategy, and contribute to a high-performing operation during day shift.

This is an onsite role working Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm at our Lebanon, Indiana plant.

What’s in it for you

Impact. This is an opportunity to significantly strengthen the reliability and performance of production equipment. It is a chance to take a lead role in supporting technicians, partnering with cross-functional teams, and improving operational uptime. You will be empowered to guide mechanical decision making, lead problem solving activities, and influence reliability standards. Your expertise will support efficient operations and safe, consistent quality output.

Career development. We value individuals who take initiative, model accountability, and demonstrate strong technical judgment. Mechanical Leads often grow into broader technical leadership roles, project-focused positions, or engineering support functions. This is a chance to build a stable, impactful career as you expand your capabilities through hands-on learning, exposure to complex automated systems, and collaboration with experienced Mechanical and Electrical teams.

Rewards and recognition. You will have opportunities to lead improvement initiatives, guide maintenance standards, and contribute to capital and equipment transfer projects. You will work with modern process and packaging technology and access training that strengthens your mechanical, analytical, and leadership skills. Your contributions will be visible, meaningful, and valued.

How you will make an impact:

• Improve reliability. You will apply mechanical engineering expertise to strengthen equipment performance and reduce chronic issues. You will lead root cause analyses, FMEA, and other structured problem solving activities to address failures and prevent recurrence.
• Support the team. You will provide leadership, coaching, and technical direction to maintenance technicians and frontline team members. You will ensure that work practices align with safety requirements, food safety standards, and mechanical best practices.
• Solve problems. You will troubleshoot process and packaging equipment, including blenders, fillers, form-fill-seal machines, robotics, carton formers, and food processing systems. You will use sound engineering judgment to assess mechanical schematics, resolve issues, and recommend effective corrective actions.
• Manage documentation. You will interpret and create technical drawings, prepare Bills of Materials, develop fabrication drawings for rebuilds, and support the completion of maintenance standards, SOPs, and Management of Change documentation.
• Lead projects. You will plan and execute small-scale maintenance and reliability improvements while supporting larger capital installation projects and equipment transitions from engineering to operations. You will coordinate with contractors, vendors, and the Maintenance Coordinator to support timely planning, parts procurement, and project execution.

What you bring to the role:

• The experience. You have a Bachelor's Degree or Diploma in Mechanical Engineering, or you are a licensed Millwright with maintenance experience in a manufacturing environment. Experience in a GMP-regulated facility, such as a food or pharmaceutical production facility, is preferred. You are skilled in troubleshooting mechanical systems, process equipment, packaging technology, and sanitary operations, including CIP, blending, pumps, and pasteurizers.
• The technical depth. You are proficient with Microsoft Office, AutoCAD, D365, and Computerized Maintenance Management Systems. You can interpret and create P&ID diagrams, schematics, and technical drawings to support equipment maintenance and rebuilds.
• The leadership. You have experience guiding and supporting technicians, setting expectations, and fostering accountability on the plant floor. You are comfortable providing direction during complex troubleshooting and collaborating with teams across Mechanical, Electrical, Production, and Quality.
• The interpersonal skills. You have clear, professional communication skills and the ability to build strong working relationships at all levels. You value teamwork, sound judgment, and shared success, and you bring a calm, solutions-focused approach to fast-paced manufacturing environments.

Why join?

We've got great taste. We care deeply about fostering a culture of transparency, responsibility, and integrity. It's what drives us to make great-tasting, convenient, and healthy ingredients and finished products that our customers depend on. With a focus on nurturing and growing our employees' careers and professional satisfaction, we believe in open communication, idea sharing, and knowledge building. Skjodt-Barrett is committed to building an inclusive culture that helps to create longevity, growth, and innovation in the food industry.

We are working towards a sustainable future. We believe that what's good for people and the planet is good for profit. It is everyone's responsibility to do their part. We recognize the growing need to prioritize sustainability in manufacturing, and we continue to take steps to evolve. We strive to accelerate the adoption of sustainable packaging and food products to be a responsible partner for our customers and for the greater good. We take our role as a supply chain partner to heart and adhere to a strict Supplier Code of Conduct to ensure that our vendors uphold the integrity and values we live by.

We believe actions speak louder than words. Every day, we come together to exceed the expectations of our customers, each other and ourselves, inspired by our values:

• We care. About family, honesty, and respect.
• We communicate. Across every level, often, effectively, and clearly.
• We Empower. With trust, integrity, and accountability.
• We Deliver. Every time, through teamwork, innovation, and results.

Apply now.

At Skjodt-Barrett, we aim for diversity, equality, accessibility and inclusion in all of our operations and interactions. We welcome and appreciate candidates with a range of backgrounds and experiences. If you have 70% of the qualifications we are looking for and want to play an integral role in delivering innovative food product solutions, apply to express your interest. 

What you can expect from our interview process:

1. A virtual interview with a Talent Advisor to discuss your interest in the role and to learn more about the organization. The conversation will be recorded using BrightHire, an AI-powered video interview tool. More details will be shared when you are invited to interview. 
2. An on-site skills assessment, interview with the Hiring Manager and HR Business Partner and a plant tour. This will be a chance to see the plant setup firsthand, understand current standards, and ask any additional questions you may have.

Skjodt-Barrett welcomes and encourages applications from people with disabilities. Please let us know what accommodations you require across the selection process.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran, and basis of disability or any other federal, state or local protected class.

#LI-DNI