Refrigeration Technician
Location: Montgomery, MN
Facility Type: Seasonal food manufacturing, canning, and cold storage
Employment Type: Full-time, hourly
Openings: 1
Union Status: Non-union
Role Overview
This is a critical industrial refrigeration role supporting food production, freezing, and cold storage operations at Seneca’s Montgomery facility. Refrigeration reliability directly impacts food safety, product quality, and plant uptime, especially during pack season.
This role supports ammonia-based industrial refrigeration systems, not light commercial HVAC. The ideal candidate understands the difference and is comfortable working in a high-responsibility, high-accountability environment.
The position follows the same seasonal schedule structure as the maintenance team, with long hours and rotating shifts during pack season and a stable off-pack schedule the rest of the year.
Schedule & Shift Structure
Off-Pack Season (Approx. October–May)
- Monday–Thursday
- 6:00am–4:30pm
- Focus on inspections, preventive maintenance, repairs, and system readiness
Pack Season (Approx. June–September)
- 12-hour rotating shifts required
- 6:00am–6:00pm
- 6:00pm–6:00am
- Weekends required as production dictates
- Night shift work is non-negotiable during peak season
Recruiter note: This role must be comfortable with schedule volatility and long pack hours.
Pay
- $28.00–$32.00/hr, based on refrigeration experience and industrial background
- Strong industrial ammonia or large-scale refrigeration experience may place higher in range
- Paid hourly
- Significant overtime opportunity during pack season
Core Responsibilities
- Maintain, repair, and troubleshoot industrial refrigeration systems supporting production and cold storage
- Work safely with ammonia-based systems (industrial refrigeration environment)
- Support freezer warehouse and cold storage operations
- Diagnose mechanical and system issues under production pressure
- Perform preventive maintenance and system inspections
- Respond to refrigeration-related downtime events during pack
- Ensure compliance with:
- Food safety standards
- GMPs
- Environmental and safety regulations
- Document work performed and maintenance activities accurately
- Collaborate closely with maintenance, production, and leadership teams
- Provide day-off relief or limited support to other departments during pack season when needed
Candidate Profile That Wins Interviews
Strong Fits
- Industrial refrigeration technicians
- Ammonia refrigeration backgrounds
- Industrial HVAC professionals who understand large-scale systems
- Candidates from food manufacturing, cold storage, or heavy industrial environments
Not a Fit
- Residential HVAC only
- Light commercial HVAC only
- Candidates unfamiliar with ammonia systems or industrial safety expectations
Required Qualifications
- Hands-on refrigeration experience in an industrial or manufacturing environment
- Understanding that ammonia systems differ from Freon-based systems
- Strong mechanical and troubleshooting skills
- Ability to work independently and make sound decisions
- Willingness to work:
- Nights
- Weekends
- Extended hours during pack season
- Strong communication skills and team mindset
- High integrity, accountability, and safety awareness
Preferred Qualifications
- 2-year vocational degree in refrigeration or HVAC, or equivalent hands-on experience
- Experience in food manufacturing or cold storage facilities
- Familiarity with GMPs and regulated production environments
Work Environment
- Industrial food manufacturing and cold storage facility
- Exposure to:
- Cold environments
- Noise
- Moving equipment
- Refrigeration systems
- PPE required, including hearing and eye protection
Why This Role
- Refrigeration reliability is mission-critical at this plant
- High trust and high responsibility role
- Strong off-season schedule with predictable hours
- Significant earning potential during pack season
- Long-term stability for technicians who succeed through pack
- Team-oriented culture with hands-on leadership and clear expectations
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