Production Machine Operator
Location: Jacksonville, FL
Employment Type: Contract-to-Hire
Conversion Timeline: Eligible for conversion after 90 days
Pay: $25/hr
Openings: 2
Long-Term Schedule: 2x2x3 rotating night schedule, 6:00pm-6:30am
Job Overview
We are seeking hands-on Production Machine Operators to support a high-speed food and beverage manufacturing environment in Jacksonville, FL.
This is a machine operation role working directly with production, filling, sanitation, and packaging equipment. This is not a forklift-only, warehouse-only, or monitoring-only position. The right candidate will be mechanically inclined, dependable, comfortable working around industrial equipment, and able to help keep production lines running safely and efficiently.
This is a strong opportunity for candidates with production equipment experience, strong mechanical aptitude, good work tenure, and a willingness to learn a fast-paced food and beverage manufacturing environment.
Schedule
Training is expected to last approximately 2-3 months and will take place on 1 of the current Monday-Friday shifts:
- 6:00am-2:30pm
- 2:00pm-10:30pm
- 10:00pm-6:30am
After training, candidates are expected to move to a 2x2x3 rotating night schedule from 6:00pm-6:30am.
The 2x2x3 schedule follows this rotation:
- 2 days on
- 2 days off
- 3 days on
- 2 days off
- 2 days on
- 3 days off
Candidates must be comfortable with 12-hour night shifts long term.
Key Responsibilities
- Operate ESL filling and down-line packaging equipment.
- Monitor production equipment and keep lines running safely and efficiently.
- Clean, sanitize, and sterilize tank lines and filling equipment according to established procedures.
- Perform sanitation duties according to the master sanitation schedule.
- Verify and maintain correct chemical concentrations during cleaning.
- Inspect equipment for leaks, jams, product issues, and mechanical concerns.
- Clear jams and make minor mechanical adjustments as needed.
- Sanitize fillers during startup, changeovers, and as required.
- Read and follow production sheets, specifications, and work instructions.
- Verify product location and instructions with the processing team.
- Discard initial product at startup and during product changeovers.
- Perform weight checks at startup and every 30 minutes during production runs.
- Verify coding accuracy and product quality on a routine basis.
- Conduct dye checks to help prevent leaking cartons.
- Minimize downtime during carton and product changeovers.
- Maintain cleanliness and organization of machine surfaces and work areas.
- Remove waste throughout the shift and at the end of the shift.
- Operate down-line equipment as required.
- Complete required documentation accurately, including startup, downtime, HACCP, and production paperwork.
- Follow all food safety, GMP, sanitation, quality, and safety requirements.
Required Qualifications
- Prior hands-on experience operating production, manufacturing, packaging, filling, or other industrial equipment.
- Strong mechanical aptitude and comfort working around industrial machinery.
- Ability to troubleshoot basic equipment issues, clear jams, and keep production lines moving.
- Strong attendance, reliability, and work tenure.
- Ability to follow detailed work instructions, production sheets, quality standards, and sanitation procedures.
- Strong attention to detail and documentation accuracy.
- Ability to work in a fast-paced production environment.
- Ability to stand, walk, lift, bend, reach, and work hands-on throughout the shift.
- Willingness to train on 1 of the current Monday-Friday shifts before transitioning to the 2x2x3 night schedule.
- Ability to work 12-hour night shifts long term.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience in food, beverage, dairy, packaging, consumer packaged goods, or another regulated manufacturing environment.
- Experience operating high-speed filling, packaging, or down-line production equipment.
- Experience with sanitation, chemical concentration checks, GMPs, HACCP, or regulated production documentation.
- Experience performing product quality checks, weight checks, code checks, or leak/dye checks.
- Experience with changeovers, startup checks, and production line troubleshooting.
- Military mechanical experience, industrial maintenance-adjacent experience, or other mechanically focused backgrounds may be considered with strong tenure and hands-on aptitude.
Work Environment
This is a hands-on production role in a food and beverage manufacturing environment. Candidates should expect to work around high-speed production equipment, sanitation processes, packaging lines, quality checks, and required PPE.
Why This Role
This position offers a contract-to-hire path with a well-established food and beverage manufacturing operation. Candidates who are dependable, mechanically inclined, detail-oriented, and comfortable working in a high-speed production environment can build long-term stability in this role.
Benefits
Contract employees have access to benefits through CRG during the contract period. Additional benefits may become available if converted to a full-time employee after the contract-to-hire period.
Eligible to apply for Healthcare, Dental, Vision, Disability, Life Insurance after 30 days of employment.