Junior Maintenance Engineer

Natureplex is a dynamic, privately held pharmaceutical manufacturer dedicated to revolutionizing over-the-counter medicines and electrolytes. Founded in 2001, we proudly offer proprietary brands, private label products, and contract packaging services. With our two locations in Memphis, Tennessee, and Olive Branch, Mississippi, we are on an exciting journey of rapid expansion, creating incredible career advancement and personal growth opportunities.

We are eager to welcome a motivated Junior Maintenance Engineer to our dynamic engineering team at our state-of-the-art liquids and ointments manufacturing facility. In this role, you will collaborate closely with the Maintenance Supervisor to enhance the performance of production equipment and facility systems, with a strong focus on innovative automation initiatives. The ideal candidate will bring technical expertise and practical problem-solving skills to ensure peak equipment performance and propel our automation advancements. Join us in driving excellence and making a significant impact!

This position offers excellent opportunities for professional growth, including:

• Mentorship from senior engineering staff
• Training on advanced automation systems
• Exposure to diverse technical challenges
• Potential career progression to Senior Engineer roles
• Professional certification support

In addition to career growth, we also offer our employees a range of benefits and perks.

These include:

- Paid Vacation

- Medical Insurance with 80% coverage for employees and 20% for dependents

- Dental and vision insurance

- Short-term Disability

- Voluntary Life Insurance

- Company-paid life insurance

- 401 (k) plan with company-matching

- Weekly pay

We provide equal employment opportunities and create a safe and fair work environment for all employees.

Natureplex is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Natureplex participates in E-Verify.

Essential Functions

Equipment Maintenance Support

• Assist in preventive and corrective maintenance of production equipment, including mixers, homogenizers, filling machines, and packaging lines.
• Support the troubleshooting of mechanical, electrical, and control system issues.
• Participate in the installation, commissioning, and validation of equipment.
• Maintain documentation, drawings, and records for maintenance equipment.
• Help develop and update Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for equipment.

Facility Maintenance

• Support the maintenance of HVAC, compressed air, steam, and utility systems.
• Assist with building maintenance projects and infrastructure improvements.
• Monitor the performance of facility systems and energy consumption.
• Help maintain essential utilities, including purified water and clean steam systems.
• Support activities related to environmental monitoring and compliance.

Automation Projects

• Assist in implementing automation solutions for manufacturing processes.
• Support PLC programming and HMI development projects.
• Help integrate new automated equipment into existing systems.
• Participate in automation feasibility studies and cost-benefit analyses.
• Document automation changes and provide operator training support.

Technical Support

• Address production equipment breakdowns and minimize downtime effectively.
• Collaborate with production teams to enhance equipment performance.
• Assist in conducting root cause analysis for equipment failures.
• Support the management and procurement of spare parts inventory.
• Participate in activities related to equipment qualification and validation.

Continuous Improvement

• Identify opportunities for process automation and efficiency improvements.
• Support data collection and analysis for equipment performance metrics.
• Participating in cross-functional improvement projects
• Help implement predictive maintenance strategies.
• Assist in cost-reduction initiatives.

Safety and Compliance

• Adhere to all safety protocols and lockout/tagout procedures.
• Support safety assessments and risk evaluations for equipment.
• Ensure that maintenance activities meet GMP requirements.
• Participate actively in safety meetings and training programs.
• Help maintain compliance with equipment and regulatory standards.

Other duties as needed

Competencies

Decision Making: Uses sound judgment by considering all facts and alternatives before making committed decisions

Teamwork: Interacts effectively with others; Shares and receives information; Cooperate between and across groups; Prioritize group goals

Work Standards: Motivation; Demonstrate energy and enthusiasm; Commit extra effort; Maintain high productivity and self-direction

Reliability: Take responsibility for job performance; Consistently complete work on time; Honors commitments

Problem Solving: Analyzes problems by gathering relevant information; Identify cause-and effect relationships; Propose appropriate solutions

Adaptability: Adjusts to changing environments and priorities while effectively interacting with diverse individuals

Planning and organizing: Plans and organizes tasks to achieve objectives; Sets priorities; Allocates resources effectively

Communication: Clearly expresses ideas; Organizes information; Listen actively

Integrity: Share accurate information; Maintain confidentiality; Adheres to policies and procedures

Initiative: Take proactive action; Generates ideas for improvement; Suggest innovations

Stress Tolerance: Demonstrates emotional resilience; Manage pressure effectively; Seek support when needed

Skills, Knowledge, Abilities

• A basic understanding of mechanical and electrical systems
• Familiarity with PLCs (such as Allen Bradley and Siemens) and HMI systems
• Knowledge of AutoCAD or similar design software
• Understanding of control systems and instrumentation
• Basic programming skills in languages like ladder logic or Python
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite

Work Environment

• Manufacturing facility environment with exposure to production areas

Equipment Used and Physical Demands

• May require working at heights or in confined spaces
• Required to wear appropriate PPE, including safety glasses and hearing protection
• Move, Traverse frequently
• Reaching, bending, and kneeling
• Occasionally Ascends/Descends may need to climb ladders or stairs to reach various heights
• Manual dexterity and Hand-Eye Coordination
• Stationary position seldom to occasionally
• Frequently communicate and converse with co-workers
• Occasionally, position oneself in a confined space

Expected Hours of Work

Monday Friday, 40+ hours per week

Saturdays as needed

Occasional overtime and on-call support may be required

Travel

About 10% between the Olive Branch, MS, and Memphis, TN, facilities

Required Education and Experience

• Bachelors degree in mechanical engineering, Electrical Engineering, Automation Engineering, or a related technical field
• 0-2 years of experience in manufacturing, maintenance, or automation
• Internship or co-op experience in pharmaceutical, food, or chemical manufacturing preferred
• Hands-on experience with industrial equipment is a plus

Additional Eligibility Qualifications

• Experience with automation software (Wonderware, Ignition, etc.)
• Knowledge of Industry 4.0 concepts and IoT applications
• Familiarity with GMP and FDA regulations
• Experience with predictive maintenance technologies
• Basic understanding of robotics and vision systems
• Certification in relevant technical areas (ISA, etc.)