How to hire a process and maintenance technician

How to hire a process and maintenance technician, step by step

Here's a step-by-step process and maintenance technician hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a process and maintenance technician job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new process and maintenance technician
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your process and maintenance technician job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a process and maintenance technician for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

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   A process and maintenance technician's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, process and maintenance technicians from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   The following list breaks down different types of process and maintenance technicians and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Process And Maintenance Technician	Description	Hourly rate
   Process And Maintenance Technician	General maintenance and repair workers fix and maintain machines, mechanical equipment, and buildings. They paint, repair flooring, and work on plumbing, electrical, and air-conditioning and heating systems.	$19-31
   Maintenance Engineer	A maintenance engineer is responsible for the maintenance of industrial machinery and inspects equipment defects for immediate troubleshooting or replacement as needed. Maintenance engineers install and upgrade system components to improve system optimization and perform diagnostic systems to locate any adjustments... Show more	$13-35
   Maintenance Worker	Maintenance workers are employees assigned to oversee the equipment, furniture, and fixtures in the office. They ensure that these items work correctly by doing routine check-ups, identifying any problems, anticipating challenges, sourcing for spare parts, and repairing problems... Show more	$12-24

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Preventative Maintenance
   • Industrial Maintenance
   • Process Maintenance
   • PLC
   • Hand Tools
   • GMP
   • Process Equipment
   • Plumbing
   • HVAC
   • Production Equipment
   • Safety Procedures
   • Gear Boxes
   • Control Systems
   • Logic Controllers

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Spearhead inspection and packaging equipment for pharmaceutical products per FDA regulations to achieve production goals ahead of schedule.
   • Experience in troubleshooting SPC, PLC, electrical circuits, pneumatic and hydraulic systems.
   • Supervise operators on the line and ensure following of company policy and guidelines of SQF's and GMP's.
   • Monitor and adjust production processes or equipment for quality and productivity, which include programming robotic and PLC devices.
   • Work closely with maintenance department to troubleshoot and resolve mechanical and quality issues, proactively using SPC data analysis.
   • Solve problems associate with the operation and set-up of CNC mill and lathe machines.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your process and maintenance technician job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A process and maintenance technician salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, process and maintenance technicians' average salary in new mexico is 42% less than in district of columbia.
   • Seniority. Entry-level process and maintenance technicians earn 39% less than senior-level process and maintenance technicians.
   • Certifications. A process and maintenance technician with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a process and maintenance technician's salary.

   Average process and maintenance technician salary

   $51,645yearly

   $24.83 hourly rate

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   Entry-level process and maintenance technician salary

   $40,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 27, 2025

4. Writing a process and maintenance technician job description

   A job description for a process and maintenance technician role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a process and maintenance technician job description:

   Process and maintenance technician job description example

   Schedule: Sunday-Wednesday 8:30PM-7:00AM
   
   This position is in the Processing facilities. Employees perform the more routine duties while learning processing policies and procedures
   
   + Ensures operation of machinery and mechanical equipment by completing preventive maintenance requirements, general maintenance, troubleshoot and repair of production machines, conveyors systems and supporting equipment; following diagrams, sketches, operations manuals, manufacturer's instructions.
   
   + Complete and document with accuracy all required forms
   
   + Maintains continuity between maintenance by documenting and/or communicating actions, irregularities, and continuing needs.
   
   + Monitor and correct situations which activate the HACCP alarming control system
   
   + Maintains equipment, parts and supplies inventories by checking stock to determine inventory level; anticipating needed equipment, parts and supplies; placing and expediting orders; verifying receipt.
   
   + Provides mechanical maintenance information by answering questions and requests.
   
   + Adjusts functional parts of equipment by using hand tools, measuring devices, levels and straightedges.
   
   + Maintains technical knowledge by attending educational workshops, reviewing technical publications, establishing personal networks, etc.
   
   + Maintains safe and clean working environment by complying with procedures, rules and regulations.
   
   + Contributes to team effort by accomplishing related results as needed.
   
   Qualifications:• Must be at least 18 years of age• Adjusts functional parts of equipment by using hand tools, measuring devices, levels, and straight edges.• Ability to maintain equipment, parts, and supplies inventories by checking stock to determine inventory level; anticipating needed equipment, parts, and supplies; placing and expediting orders; verifying receipt.• Proven mechanical / electrical aptitude as tested with Herbruck's approved test through training department• Able to work around moving machinery comfortably.• Working in a farm environment with various conditions.• Does not own or maintain routine contact with swine or birds.
   
   Physical Demands:• Ability to perform essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodations.• Capable of working weekends and maintaining a flexible schedule. This includes regularly scheduled shifts Saturday and Sunday as well as holidays. (Being on Call).• Ability to remain standing and/or walking for extended periods of time on concrete floors.• Ability to stoop, bend, climb, and lift at least 50 lbs. continuously throughout the day.
   
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5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find process and maintenance technicians for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your process and maintenance technician job on Zippia to find and recruit process and maintenance technician candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with process and maintenance technician candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new process and maintenance technician

   Once you have selected a candidate for the process and maintenance technician position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new process and maintenance technician. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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