Kitchen Equipment Technician
Uncle Giuseppe’s Marketplace is seeking a skilled, hands-on Kitchen Equipment Technician to help keep our gourmet markets operating at their best. With busy kitchens and specialty food departments preparing fresh products every day, dependable equipment is essential to delivering the quality our customers expect.
This position will focus primarily on the maintenance, troubleshooting, and repair of commercial kitchen and food preparation equipment. The ideal candidate will also bring HVAC and commercial refrigeration experience to support our stores’ heating, cooling, and cold-storage needs.
Key Responsibilities
- Diagnose, troubleshoot, maintain, and repair commercial kitchen equipment, including ovens, ranges, fryers, grills, steamers, proofers, dishwashers, and food preparation equipment.
- Perform preventive maintenance to improve equipment reliability, extend service life, and minimize interruptions to store operations.
- Troubleshoot and service commercial refrigeration equipment, including walk-in coolers and freezers, reach-in units, refrigerated displays, and ice machines.
- Will have a basic understanding of HVAC systems, including heating, air conditioning, ventilation, and kitchen exhaust systems.
- Respond promptly to service requests, prioritizing equipment failures that affect food safety, production, or customer service.
- Coordinate with store management and the Facilities team to schedule repairs and communicate equipment status.
- Work with outside service providers and equipment manufacturers when specialized repairs or technical support are needed.
- Maintain accurate records of service calls, inspections, repairs, parts used, and follow-up needs.
- Maintain an organized inventory of commonly used parts, tools, and maintenance supplies.
- Follow manufacturer specifications, safe work practices, and company procedures when servicing equipment.
- Travel to assigned store locations to provide maintenance and repair support.
- Perform additional facilities maintenance duties as needed.
Qualifications
- Previous experience maintaining and repairing commercial kitchen equipment in a grocery, restaurant, hospitality, or foodservice environment.
- Hands-on experience troubleshooting and servicing HVAC and commercial refrigeration systems.
- Strong working knowledge of electrical and mechanical components, controls, motors, compressors, thermostats, and related equipment systems.
- Ability to read wiring diagrams, technical manuals, and equipment schematics.
- Proficiency using diagnostic instruments, hand tools, and power tools.
- Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to identify the cause of equipment failures.
- Ability to manage multiple service requests and work independently in a busy retail environment.
- Clear communication skills and a professional, service-focused approach when working with store teams and vendors.
- Valid driver’s license and ability to travel between store locations.
- Technical school training or an apprenticeship in commercial equipment repair, HVAC, refrigeration, or a related field preferred.
- Relevant trade certifications preferred; appropriate refrigerant-handling certification required for assigned work involving refrigerants.
Physical Requirements and Work Environment
- Ability to perform hands-on repairs that involve standing, bending, kneeling, reaching, and climbing ladders, with or without reasonable accommodation.
- Ability to safely move tools, parts, and equipment using appropriate assistance and lifting devices.
- Comfortable working in active kitchens, refrigerated spaces, mechanical areas, and varying temperatures.
- Flexibility to support maintenance needs outside regular store hours, including occasional evenings, weekends, or emergency service calls.