About the Opportunity
We are seeking an experienced Maintenance Manager to lead the engineering and maintenance team at a 24/7 bottling facility in Downey, CA.
This is a hands-on leadership role for someone who understands that effective maintenance leadership starts with strong people leadership, accountability, planning, and follow-through. You will work closely with Production, Quality, Engineering, Automation, and Plant Leadership to keep the operation running safely, efficiently, and reliably across all three shifts.
This is not a “glorified mechanic” role. The Maintenance Manager is expected to lead through direction, accountability, and follow-up, drive root cause analysis, and hold the team to a high standard. Hands-on involvement is expected occasionally when the team cannot solve a problem on its own, but the core of the job is leadership.
Team & Scope
- Direct/Indirect Team: Approximately 20 maintenance and engineering personnel, including a Chief Engineer, 3 Assistant Chief Engineers, approximately 15 Mechanics, and a Parts Manager
- Facility: 24/7 bottling operation running across three shifts
- Union Environment: The Maintenance Manager role is non-union; direct reports are union, with the exception of the Parts Manager
- Support Structure: Engineering Manager, Automation Engineer, Plant Manager, and VP of Engineering
Key Responsibilities
- Lead and develop a roughly 20-person maintenance organization, including coaching, counseling, skill development, and annual evaluations
- Own preventive maintenance programs, parts inventory, and a proactive work order system to keep utilization rates as close to 100% as possible
- Monitor and report on maintenance strengths and weaknesses, drive continuous improvement, and lead true root cause problem solving rather than repeat fixes
- Take the lead role in planning downtime windows and capital project downtime, and in getting the plant back up and running quickly when unplanned failures occur
- Build a close working relationship with Production and Quality
- Partner with the Plant Manager, Engineering Manager, Automation Engineer, and VP of Engineering to keep equipment running efficiently and safely
- Manage spending within the maintenance group, communicate high-dollar expenditures, support the annual budgeting process, and perform cost and energy studies to reduce operating costs
- Ensure proper GMP procedures are followed as outlined by the Quality department and champion plant safety awareness across the team
- Develop standard operating procedures for maintenance tasks and maintain an up-to-date action plan for active projects
- Carry a phone to support the plant during off hours and be available to support the team through mechanical failures across all three shifts
What We're Looking For
The ideal candidate will bring:
- Hands-on utility systems experience, including refrigeration, steam, and compressed air
- Proven people leadership and experience running a team, not just fixing equipment
- Experience in a manufacturing environment
- Beverage pasteurization experience is required
- Dairy bottling experience or other beverage manufacturing experience, such as Coca-Cola- or Pepsi-type bottling environments, is strongly preferred
- Dairy pasteurization experience is preferred but not mandatory
- A B.S. in Engineering or a related field is a plus, but not required
- Approximately 5–15+ years of relevant maintenance and leadership experience, depending on the candidate's background
- A mature, stable track record and the ability to move at the pace required by a 24/7 manufacturing operation
- The ability to lead a team of varying size; candidates who have managed smaller teams can be considered if the overall profile is right
- The ability to read, understand, and communicate all safety and operating procedures in English, including written reports and presentations
The Right Fit
This opportunity is ideal for a maintenance leader who combines strong technical knowledge with proven people leadership.
You should be comfortable leading an experienced maintenance team, driving accountability, identifying root causes rather than repeat fixes, partnering closely with Production and Engineering, and stepping in technically when needed.
The strongest candidate will be someone who can lead a tenured workforce, maintain a high standard of reliability and safety, and keep the plant moving in a demanding 24/7 manufacturing environment.
Compensation
$125,000–$160,000 base salary, commensurate with experience, plus bonus potential of up to 10%.