Maintenance Technician - Indoor Farm

GreenOnyx, a cutting-edge Ag-tech/Food-tech startup, is seeking a Maintenance Technician to maintain and troubleshoot cultivation and facility systems, with emphasis on sterile processing equipment. The role includes preventive and corrective maintenance of mechanical, electrical, and utility systems to ensure uptime, safety, and product quality in a sterile indoor growing environment.

Responsibilities:

• General Maintenance & Troubleshooting:
• Execute routine preventative and corrective maintenance tasks across all production and facility equipment according to established schedules and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
• Diagnose and troubleshoot complex mechanical, electrical (up to 480V 3-Phase), pneumatic, and basic control system issues to identify root causes and implement effective repairs.
• Respond promptly to equipment breakdowns and perform necessary repairs to minimize operational downtime and impact on cultivation cycles.
• Read and interpret technical manuals, schematics, and blueprints for equipment installation, troubleshooting, and repair.
• Sterile Cultivation Equipment:

Perform comprehensive preventative maintenance (PM) on a wide range of sterile cultivation equipment such as:

• Autoclaves: Perform gasket inspection, chamber cleaning, steam trap checks, and filter replacements, ensuring proper sterilization cycles and integrity of the sterile barrier.
• Bio-welder: Conduct routine checks, basic repairs, and ensure proper functionality of bio welders critical for maintaining sterile connections in the cultivation process.
• Water Management Systems (Water Filtration & Chiller Units): Execute preventative and corrective maintenance on all water filtration systems, including Reverse Osmosis (RO) units, Deionized (DI) water systems, UV sterilization units, and associated pumps and piping. Tasks include filter changes, membrane cleaning, pressure checks, membrane replacements, and leak detection.
• Water cooling system: Maintain chillers and associated cooling loops, ensuring optimal temperature control for cultivation systems and sterile water modules. This includes refrigerant checks, coil cleaning, and fan motor maintenance
• Compressed air unit: Service and maintain industrial air compressors, air dryers, and associated pneumatic lines to ensure a consistent supply of clean, dry, and oil-free compressed air for process operations.
• General Facility Equipment: Conduct maintenance and repairs on a wide range of auxiliary equipment, including pumps, valves, motors, conveyors, sensors, and lighting systems throughout the facility. Perform light electrical work, including wiring, circuit testing, fuse/breaker replacement, and ensuring compliance with electrical safety standards.
• Equipment calibration: Assist with the calibration and verification activities for these critical sterile process instruments, adhering to established protocols.
• Understand and strictly adhere to aseptic technique requirements and procedures when performing maintenance activities within sterile or cleanroom environments.
• Documentation & Compliance:
• Manage and write maintenance protocols and policies, ensuring they are clear, comprehensive, and up to date.
• Accurately and completely document all maintenance activities, including work performed, parts used, downtime, and observations, in the CMMS or designated logs.
• Ensure all maintenance activities strictly comply with GreenOnyx Ltd.'s SOPs, internal quality standards, food safety regulations (e.g., HACCP, cGMP for food), and external regulatory requirements.
• Maintain a clean, organized, and safe workspace, adhering to 5S principles and sterile environment protocols as applicable.
• Safety:
• Strictly adhere to all company safety policies and procedures, including Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) protocols, confined space entry, chemical handling, and personal protective equipment (PPE) requirements.
• Proactively identify and report potential safety hazards to facility Manager or quality assurance department
• Collaboration:
• Work closely and collaboratively with Production, R&D, and Quality Assurance teams to coordinate maintenance activities, schedule downtime effectively, and minimize disruption to cultivation cycles.
• Collaborate with the R&D department on the installation, commissioning, and acceptance testing of new equipment and systems, providing technical expertise and ensuring future maintainability.
• Provide technical support and guidance to production staff on basic equipment care and operational best practices.

Qualifications:

• Education: An associate’s degree or completion of a vocational/technical program in Industrial Maintenance, Electrical Technology, Mechanical Systems, HVAC, or a related field.
• Experience: Minimum of 5 years of hands-on maintenance experience in a manufacturing, food production, pharmaceutical, or similar industrial environment.
• Technical Skills:
• Proven proficiency in troubleshooting and repairing electrical mechanical, and pneumatic systems.
• Demonstrated experience with preventative maintenance programs and the use of Computerized Maintenance Management Systems (CMMS).
• Basic understanding of industrial controls and automation (PLCs, VFDs) is a strong advantage.
• Physical Requirements: Ability to lift up to 25 kg, stand for extended periods, bend, kneel, climb ladders/stairs, and work in various environmental conditions (e.g., varying temperatures, humidity, confined spaces).
• Other: Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, meticulous attention to detail, and ability to read and interpret technical manuals, schematics, and P&IDs. Good verbal and written communication skills.
• Prior experience: Working in a sterile, cleanroom, or controlled environment facility. Familiarity with HACCP, GMP, and other relevant food safety or quality assurance principles. Experience in technical writing for maintenance procedures.