Junior Industrial Mechanic

Company Overview

Ancient Crunch Inc. is the fastest-growing healthy snack brand in the U.S. Our flagship product, MASA Chips, is the #1 selling tallow-fried tortilla chips in premium retailers like Erewhon. We manufacture all MASA products in-house at our Hackettstown facility using real ingredients—no seed oils, artificial flavors, or preservatives. All operations adhere to strict Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and food safety standards.

Reports To: Maintenance Supervisor

Department: Maintenance

Location: Onsite, Hackettstown NJ

Schedule: Monday - Friday; weekend availability and a flexible working schedule are required for this 40-hour per week position. Specific shift assignments will be determined by the direct supervisor or manager and are subject to change based on evolving departmental and operational requirements.

Position Summary

We're looking for a Junior Industrial Mechanic to join our maintenance team and help keep our production equipment running safely and reliably. This is a hands-on, entry-to-early-career role for someone who wants to build a career as a millwright, industrial mechanic, or maintenance technician. You'll work alongside our mechanics, learning our equipment and systems while taking on increasing responsibility for repairs, preventive maintenance, and installations.

The responsibilities listed below are not exhaustive. As Ancient Crunch scales, the requirements of this position will expand and adapt. The Junior Industrial Mechanic is expected to lead new initiatives and assume additional duties consistent with this title and the long-term evolution of our maintenance and operations strategy.

Key Responsibilities

Equipment Maintenance & Repair

• Assist with maintaining and repairing industrial food manufacturing equipment including fryers, ovens, packaging machines, conveyor belts, air compressors, and control systems
• Support upkeep of hydraulic loading dock plates, forklifts, and pallet jacks
• Perform routine lubrication, inspections, and basic troubleshooting on assigned equipment
• Execute scheduled Preventive Maintenance (PM) tasks and document work completed
• Respond to emergency maintenance needs under the guidance of mechanics
• Consult equipment manuals and other resources to help diagnose issues

Installations & Support

• Assist mechanics with installation, commissioning, and modification of equipment
• Help set up and break down equipment for cleaning, changeovers, and repairs

Organization & Compliance

• Keep tools, spare parts, and work areas clean, organized, and stocked
• Communicate clearly with Production and QA teams to minimize workflow disruptions
• Follow all plant safety, USDA, SQF, and GMP guidelines
• Support continuous improvement efforts related to product safety and quality

Required Skills & Competencies

• 1-3 years of relevant experience (or completion of a trade/vocational program) in mechanical, electrical, or industrial maintenance work
• Basic understanding of hand and power tools, and a willingness to learn proper use, torque specs, and safety procedures
• Strong desire to learn and grow into a more senior maintenance role
• High attention to detail and a safety-first mindset
• Ability to follow instructions and equipment manuals accurately
• Basic computer literacy: email, Word, Excel
• Good communication skills and comfort working as part of a team

Physical Requirements (Onsite)

• Ability to stand and walk for extended periods
• Ability to lift, push, pull, and carry materials throughout the shift
• Ability to use stairs and ladders throughout the shift
• Ability to work in hot, humid, wet, and industrial production environments
• Ability to wear required PPE, including respirators, gloves, hearing protection, face shields, and protective clothing

Qualifications

• Authorized to work in the U.S. and able to commute to Hackettstown, NJ
• Good memory, follow-up skills, and ability to manage multiple priorities
• Interest in product quality, manufacturing, or food/science environments a plus
• Graduate of a vocational/trade program preferred, or equivalent hands-on experience
• Fluent in verbal and written English; bilingual in Spanish and English a plus

What We Offer

• Medical, Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance
• A health and wellness-focused culture
• All the chips you can eat!

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) & Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) & E-Verify Statement

Ancient Crunch Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

All employment decisions at Ancient Crunch Inc.—including hiring, promotion, discipline, or discharge—are based on business needs, job requirements, and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion, belief, national, social or ethnic origin, sex (including pregnancy), age, physical, mental or sensory disability, HIV Status, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, marital, civil union or domestic partnership status, past or present military service, family medical history or genetic information, family or parental status, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate.

In accordance with the ADA, we provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities to enable them to perform the essential functions of the job, unless doing so creates an undue hardship for the company. Applicants requiring accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should contact the HR Department.

This employer participates in E-Verify. As part of our hiring process, we electronically confirm the employment eligibility of new hires through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Social Security Administration. E-Verify is only used after a candidate has accepted a job offer and completed Form I-9 — it is never used to pre-screen applicants