Job Description
Just Summary
The Senior Maintenance Engineer is a critical, hands-on leader responsible for ensuring the reliability, safety, and performance of all facility and production equipment at Mama Lola’s. This role is deeply embedded in operations and requires a true
roll-up-your-sleeves
mindset—someone who understands how equipment works, how it fails, and how to fix it quickly and correctly.
This position leads the Maintenance Department while partnering closely with Production, Operations, QA, and Management to maximize equipment uptime, reduce downtime, and support continuous growth. The Senior Maintenance Engineer will design and enforce preventive maintenance programs, develop and standardize operating procedures, oversee equipment installations, and drive capital improvement initiatives with clear ROI justification.
Success in this role requires strong technical expertise, disciplined execution, empathetic leadership, and a passion for building efficient, safe, and scalable food manufacturing operations.
Key Responsibilities
Facility & Equipment Reliability
Maintain overall health of the facility through routine inspections, identifying cleanliness issues, safety risks, and required repairs or upgrades.
Develop, implement, and enforce preventive maintenance (PM) programs for all major equipment and building systems.
Ensure PM compliance and continuously improve maintenance processes to maximize efficiency and minimize unplanned downtime.
Maintain appropriate spare parts inventory to support rapid repairs and reduce production disruptions.
Leadership & Team Management
Lead, supervise, and develop the Maintenance Department in alignment with company policies and performance expectations.
Delegate preventive and corrective maintenance tasks to AM and PM technicians using an intuitive tracking and documentation system called MaintainX.
Coach, counsel, and support maintenance team members on performance, attendance, safety, and professional growth.
Review timecards and partner with Human Resources on payroll accuracy and overtime management.
Compliance, Safety & Food Manufacturing Standards
Ensure all maintenance and facility activities comply with OSHA, HACCP, SQF, and food safety regulations.
Monitor and update cleaning and sanitation schedules in alignment with SQF program requirements.
Support Operations and QA during SQF audits by providing accurate maintenance, sanitation, and equipment documentation.
Enforce lockout/tagout (LOTO), confined space, and other critical safety procedures.
Projects, Capital & Continuous Improvement
Supervise and execute installation of new equipment and production lines, ensuring proper commissioning and documentation.
Train maintenance and production teams on new and existing equipment for safe, efficient operation.
Partner with management to identify, evaluate, and justify capital expenditure projects with clear ROI.
Brainstorm and implement cost-reduction and efficiency-improvement initiatives across the facility.
Cross-Functional & External Coordination
Coordinate with external vendors, contractors, and service providers for preventive and emergency maintenance.
Inspect and validate the quality of work performed by contractors and external service partners.
Serve as liaison with landlords, property management firms, and the City of Phoenix during inspections and regulatory interactions.
Track maintenance expenses, utilities, and anomalies; generate and present monthly reports.
Additional Duties
Assist production with troubleshooting, retraining, and process optimization as needed.
Perform other duties as assigned to support operational excellence.
Required Skills & Competencies
Strong mechanical and electrical aptitude with hands-on troubleshooting expertise
Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Proven leadership with empathy, accountability, and teamwork
High initiative, adaptability, and problem-solving ability
Strong organizational and documentation skills
Positive attitude, dependability, and strong work ethic
Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred
Education & Experience Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or a related technical field
Minimum of 5 years of experience managing facilities and production equipment in a manufacturing environment, preferably food manufacturing
At least 3 years of experience developing and managing preventive maintenance programs
Demonstrated experience in:
Building and equipment maintenance
HVAC and building systems
Construction planning and oversight
Facility and site planning
Strong understanding of financial principles including budgeting, ROI, P&L, and cost control
Proven project management experience, preferably within lean manufacturing environments
Proficiency in AutoCAD or other 2D drafting software preferred
Strong knowledge of:
Electrical, hydraulic, mechanical, and rotating equipment systems
Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC)
OSHA regulations and workplace safety standards
HACCP and food safety regulations
Hands-on experience with food manufacturing equipment including conveyors, ovens, fryers, flammable materials handling, LOTO, and confined space procedures
Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to interact professionally across all organizational levels, contractors, vendors, and regulatory agencies.
Salary -
80K - 90K paid on a bi-weekly basis.
