Bakery Technician

Role Overview

This position is responsible for keeping bakery production lines operational through proactive electro-mechanical maintenance and rapid fault resolution. Day-to-day work involves servicing industrial mixers, ovens, proofers, slicers, and packaging machines in a high-volume food manufacturing plant. The role directly supports consistent output and product quality by minimising unplanned downtime and ensuring equipment runs safely within Good Manufacturing Practice standards.

Key Responsibilities

• Carry out scheduled preventive maintenance and unscheduled repairs on automated baking and packaging machinery, including deck ovens, spiral mixers, proofing chambers, and wrapping units.
• Conduct daily visual and sensory checks to detect mechanical wear, overheating, or electrical anomalies before they cause line stoppages.
• Troubleshoot and restore malfunctioning equipment during active production shifts, focusing on fast diagnosis of mechanical, pneumatic, hydraulic, and electrical faults.
• Calibrate thermal controls, gas burner assemblies, timing belts, pneumatic actuators, and electronic sensors to maintain precise processing parameters.
• Execute lubrication, filter replacement, and component overhaul tasks according to the preventive maintenance schedule, and document all work in service logs.
• Monitor spare parts inventory for critical items such as bearings, heating elements, drive belts, and relays, and raise replenishment requests to avoid stockouts.
• Apply Lockout/Tagout procedures and follow food safety rules during all maintenance work to prevent contamination or accidents in food processing zones.
• Collaborate with line operators to provide quick coaching on correct machine use, reducing human-error-related breakdowns.

Requirements & Qualifications

• Diploma or higher in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical/Electronics Engineering, Mechatronics, or a closely related technical discipline.
• Minimum of five years of hands-on maintenance experience in an industrial manufacturing setting; direct work inside a commercial bakery, dairy, or food processing plant is highly advantageous.
• Proven ability to diagnose and repair complex mechanical, pneumatic, hydraulic, and electrical faults under time pressure.
• Competence in reading technical manuals, mechanical assembly drawings, and electrical wiring schematics.
• Physical stamina to work in a warm, active production environment requiring standing, bending, and handling heavy machine parts.
• Strong communication skills to coordinate effectively with production supervisors, quality teams, and plant management.

What We Offer / Why Join

This role provides a gross salary between Kshs 40,000 and 60,000, reflecting experience and technical skill. You will gain exposure to advanced automation systems, thermal controls, and modern food packaging technology within an expanding manufacturing operation. The position offers a clear pathway to senior technical roles such as Senior Plant Engineer or Technical Operations Lead, based on demonstrated reliability and performance.