Maintenance Lead Techician - Volga, South Dakota, United States

Prairie AquaTech Manufacturing, LLC dba Houdek is a manufacturing company based in Volga South Dakota that is improving animal health and nutrition by providing high-quality feed ingredients. Using patent-pending technologies licensed on a worldwide, exclusive basis from South Da ...

Job description

Prairie AquaTech Manufacturing, LLC dba Houdek is a manufacturing company based in Volga South Dakota that is improving animal health and nutrition by providing high-quality feed ingredients. Using patent-pending technologies licensed on a worldwide, exclusive basis from South Dakota State University and developed internally, the Company is upgrading soybean meal to high-quality ingredients used in aquaculture and other animal feeds.

Position Summary

The Maintenance Lead Technician is a frontline leadership role responsible for coordinating the daily activities of the maintenance team to ensure safe, reliable, and efficient operation of plant equipment. Reporting to the Maintenance Manager, this position provides hands‑on technical support, assigns and oversees daily work, ensures completion of preventive and corrective maintenance tasks, and helps maintain a culture of accountability, communication, and continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities

Daily Team Leadership

Coordinate and assign daily maintenance tasks based on priority, staffing, and production needs.

Provide hands‑on guidance, troubleshooting support, and technical direction to maintenance technicians.

Ensure work is completed safely, efficiently, and in accordance with plant standards.

Support onboarding and skill development for new and existing team members.

Reinforce a positive, accountable team culture aligned with company values.

Maintenance Execution

Perform and oversee preventive, predictive, and corrective maintenance activities.

Troubleshoot mechanical, electrical, and instrumentation issues in real time.

Assist with root‑cause analysis (RCA) and implementation of corrective and preventive actions (CAPA).

Support planned shutdowns by coordinating tasks, resources, and timelines.

Parts Inventory & Work Readiness

Ensure technicians have the tools, parts, and information needed to complete assigned work.

Assist in maintaining accurate bench stock, spare parts, and critical spares inventories.

Communicate parts shortages or equipment needs to the Maintenance Manager promptly.

Compliance, Safety & Quality

Enforce safety procedures including LOTO, confined space, hot work, and other EH&S requirements.

Ensure maintenance work areas are cleaned and organized after repairs.

Document maintenance activities accurately in the maintenance management system.

Support feed safety, FSMA compliance, and audit readiness through proper documentation and equipment care.

Cross‑Functional Coordination

Communicate with Production, Quality, and Engineering to align daily maintenance priorities.

Provide timely updates on equipment status, downtime risks, and work progress.

Escalate issues requiring additional resources or managerial support.

Support for Maintenance Manager

Provide input on team performance, training needs, and workload planning.

Assist with implementing maintenance strategies, PM improvements, and reliability initiatives.

Serve as acting lead during the Maintenance Manager's absence.

Physical Requirements

Ability to lift up to 60 pounds.

Ability to work in industrial environments, including elevated areas, confined spaces, and varying temperatures.

Participation in rotational on‑call duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications

2+ years of experience in industrial or manufacturing maintenance.

Demonstrated ability to lead or coordinate the work of others.

Strong troubleshooting skills across mechanical, electrical, and instrumentation systems.

Experience with equipment maintenance, mechanical assembly, and electrical assembly.

Familiarity with repair of electronics or instrumentation.

Fabrication or welding experience desirable.

Proficiency with maintenance management software and basic computer applications.

Strong communication, organization, and teamwork skills.

This position is not eligible for sponsorship

Compensation: Pay based on experience and education. Additional employee benefits include generous PTO, quarterly bonuses, 100% employee paid health, dental, vision, 15K basic life insurance, STD, LTD, 401K match, ten paid holidays, gym membership, yearly clothing allowance and more

Prairie AquaTech Manufacturing, LLC dba Houdek is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.

Please note that submission of an application does not guarantee employment. As part of our hiring process, Houdek reserves the right to conduct background investigations, which may include verification of education, past employment, and professional references, as well as criminal history checks where permitted by law. Background checks will be conducted when deemed necessary and appropriate for the role being considered, and any such inquiries will be handled in accordance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws. A criminal conviction does not automatically disqualify a candidate from employment consideration. Each situation will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, considering the nature of the offense, its relevance to the role, and the time that has passed since the conviction. By submitting an application, you acknowledge that the information provided is accurate to the best of your knowledge and understand that falsification of information may result in removal from the hiring process or termination if already employed.