Senior Operator

Senior Operator

Company History:

• Dr. Praeger's was founded in 1994 with the mission to bring delicious frozen food to everyone. It's not every day that two heart surgeons get into the food business, but over 20 years ago that's exactly what our dads did. Motivated by what they saw in their practice, our parents set out on a mission to encourage sensible eating. They knew ingredients had to be nutritious and simple, that everything had to be delicious, and that their products needed to be super simple to make. While the world has changed since our little family business first got started, our focus remains true to our dads' vision and we work every day to make them proud.

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The Senior Production Operator plays a critical hybrid role between a regular machine operator and a maintenance mechanic. This individual is responsible for operating, setting up, and troubleshooting automated production equipment, performing basic mechanical repairs, and leading continuous machine uptime during production. The Senior Operator supports efficient changeovers, replaces consumables and spare parts, and acts as a point of contact between production and maintenance to minimize downtime.

While not responsible for performing in-depth repairs or planned maintenance, this role ensures basic issues are addressed quickly and production stays on track. The Senior Operator also serves as a trainer and mentor to new operators and works with equipment vendors or contractors during site visits.

Key Responsibilities:

Machine Operation & Troubleshooting

• Operate, set up, and change over machines such as Syntegon TTM's and Elematics, etc.
• Troubleshoot equipment malfunctions, perform minor repairs, and replace parts such as belts, sensors, and other consumables.
• Coordinate with mechanics on major issues and escalate problems when necessary.
• Conduct basic inspections of running equipment to identify early signs of malfunction.

Leadership & Communication

• Act as a senior point of contact for line operators during production.
• Support onboarding and training of new operators; model best practices in safety, quality, and efficiency.
• Communicate clearly with supervisors, maintenance, and quality assurance teams.
• Collaborate with equipment contractors or service techs when on-site for installations or troubleshooting.

Maintenance Support (Basic Only)

• Perform basic maintenance tasks such as minor adjustments, tightening, or sensor replacement.
• Assist in preparing machines for planned maintenance by mechanics.
• Perform basic equipment checks (routine visual inspections, cleaning).

Documentation & Quality

• Accurately complete and review production and maintenance logs in Redzone.
• Verify proper setup and operation to meet production standards.
• Report and log any quality or safety or maintenance concerns in Redzone.

Qualifications & Requirements:

• 2+ years of machine operation experience, preferably in food manufacturing or packaging.
• Basic mechanical aptitude: comfortable using hand tools and identifying common machine issues.
• Able to read and write in English; bilingual (English/Spanish) required.
• Strong communication skills and ability to work in a team environment.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to multitask in a fast-paced environment.
• Basic math skills and ability to understand standard operating procedures.
• Comfortable with production software and reporting tools.

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to lift and carry at least 50 lbs.
• Must be able to stand/walk for extended periods and frequently push, pull, bend, and reach.
• Able to work in cold environments (56–59°F) and handle frozen products (approx. 4°F).
• Good vision (color, depth, peripheral) and manual dexterity required.

Food Safety & Quality Responsibilities:

• Ensure machines are operating to maintain quality and safety standards.
• Adhere to SSOPs, GMPs, and all food safety policies.
• Maintain a clean and organized work area.
• Promptly report safety or quality issues to appropriate leadership.

**Disclaimer:

**Employee must be able to perform the essential functions of the position satisfactorily and, if requested, reasonable accommodation will be made to enable employees with disabilities to perform the essential functions of their job, absent undue hardship.

• Dr. Praeger's Sensible Foods is an Equal Opportunity Employer that does not discriminate on the basis of actual or perceived race, creed, color, religion, alienage or national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, disability or handicap, sex, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, genetic information, arrest record, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws. Our management team is dedicated to this policy with respect to recruitment, hiring, placement, promotion, transfer, training, compensation, benefits, employee activities and general treatment during employment.

Salary info:

$20 - $20 / hr