Ethanol plant maintenance operator

Location: King Ferry, NYFacility: King Ferry Distilled Spirits Plant

Department: Maintenance / Operations Employment: Full-Time, Hourly

Schedule: Rotating 8-hour or 12-hour shifts | 24-hour plant operation

Starting Pay: $25.00+ per hour, based on experience and qualificationsPOSITION SUMMARYCayuga Ingredients is seeking a skilled, hands-on Maintenance Operator to help maintain and operate the equipment supporting our 24-hour distilled spirits production facility. This is an industrial maintenance position focused on keeping critical plant equipment safe, reliable, and operational. The position will work directly with pumps, motors, piping, valves, plumbing, boilers, compressors, centrifuges, reverse-osmosis systems, distillation equipment, and electrical systems. The successful candidate should be mechanically strong, comfortable troubleshooting equipment, and able to work independently as well as with the Production team.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES: Preventive & Routine Maintenance Perform scheduled preventive and routine maintenance on plant equipment. Conduct maintenance rounds and identify equipment problems before failures occur. Grease and lubricate pumps, motors, bearings, and rotating equipment. Perform oil and filter changes and replace belts, seals, bearings, valves, and other wear components. Maintain accurate maintenance records and communicate equipment conditions between shifts. Mechanical Repair & Troubleshooting Diagnose and repair pumps, motors, gearboxes, valves, piping, and process equipment. Remove, repair, replace, and install pumps and motors. Troubleshoot equipment failures, alarms, and error codes. Perform basic root-cause troubleshooting of recurring equipment problems. Work with Production to minimize equipment downtime. Boiler, Steam & Utility Systems Perform routine maintenance and troubleshooting on the steam boiler and associated equipment. Maintain boiler feedwater systems, steam piping, valves, pumps, and related components. Maintain and troubleshoot the plant air compressor and compressed-air systems. Support maintenance of plant utility systems. Process Equipment Maintenance responsibilities include: Distillation columns and associated equipment Centrifuges Reverse-osmosis water purification system Process and transfer pumps Motors and rotating equipment Tanks, valves, piping, and process systems Air compressors Boiler and steam systems Welding, Piping & Fabrication Perform stainless-steel welding and fabrication. TIG/MIG welding experience is highly valued. Repair and modify stainless-steel process piping. Perform pipe fitting, plumbing, valve replacement, and equipment modifications. Fabricate brackets, supports, and other maintenance components. Electrical & Controls Perform basic electrical troubleshooting and repairs. Work with single- and three-phase equipment. Troubleshoot motors, starters, disconnects, breakers, fuses, and basic controls. Diagnose equipment error codes and control-system issues. Assist with electrical and equipment upgrades within the employee's training and authorization. PLANT PROJECTS & UPGRADESThe Maintenance Operator will also participate in equipment installation, replacement, and plant improvement projects, including: Pump replacements and installations Piping modifications Boiler and utility upgrades Equipment installation and relocation Stainless-steel fabrication Plumbing modifications Electrical modifications Process equipment upgrades Equipment startup and commissioningREQUIRED QUALIFICATIONSHigh school diploma or GED.Industrial maintenance, mechanical, millwright, manufacturing, utilities, or similar experience. Strong mechanical aptitude and troubleshooting ability. Experience working with pumps, motors, valves, and piping. Ability to safely use hand and power tools. Ability to read basic mechanical drawings, equipment manuals, and piping diagrams. Ability to work independently and make sound maintenance decisions. Strong safety awareness and reliable attendance. Willingness to work rotating shifts, nights, weekends, and overtime. Ability to work around operating industrial equipment and perform physical maintenance work. Ability to lift approximately 50 lbs. and work on ladders, platforms, and around industrial equipment.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS: Candidates with the following experience will be strongly considered:2-year technical/associate degree or trade-school training 3+ years of industrial maintenance experience Pump and mechanical-seal repair Three-phase electrical troubleshooting Stainless-steel TIG/MIG welding Industrial plumbing and pipefitting Boiler maintenance or operation Air compressor maintenance Centrifuge maintenance Reverse-osmosis or water-treatment equipment Distillery, ethanol, food/beverage, chemical, or other process-plant experiencePLC, DCS, or automated process-control experienceP&ID, mechanical drawing, or electrical schematic experience Preventive maintenance or CMMS experienceWORK SCHEDULECayuga Ingredients operates 24 hours per day, requiring maintenance coverage across all shifts. Full-time position Rotating 8-hour or 12-hour shifts, depending on plant requirements Day and night shifts Weekend and holiday coverage as required Overtime opportunities Employees must be willing to change or swap shifts when necessary to maintain plant coverage Night-shift bonus/differentialCOMPENSATION & BENEFITSStarting Pay: $25.00+ per hour Starting pay will reflect experience, technical qualifications, and demonstrated ability. Candidates with strong industrial maintenance, welding, electrical, boiler, pump, or troubleshooting experience may qualify for a higher starting rate.

Benefits include: Paid lunch Paid vacation Personal days Paid holidays Night-shift bonus/differential Overtime opportunities On-the-job training Opportunities for advancement based on demonstrated skills and performanceNEW-HIRE TRIAL PERIODAll new employees will complete a two-month introductory/trial period. Performance will be evaluated based on attendance, reliability, safety, mechanical ability, troubleshooting skills, quality of work, teamwork, and ability to perform maintenance independently. SAFETY & WORK ENVIRONMENTFollow all plant safety procedures and SOPs. Follow Lockout/Tagout (LOTO), hot-work, and other applicable safety procedures. Properly use required PPE, tools, and safety equipment. Maintain a clean and organized maintenance area. Work around steam, heat, water, chemicals, process equipment, and operating machinery. Work indoors and outdoors in varying conditions. Frequent standing, walking, bending, kneeling, climbing, and working on ladders/platforms. Lift up to approximately 50 lbs.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER: Cayuga Ingredients is an equal opportunity employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to legally protected characteristics.