Maintenance & Operations Technician

Cold Steppe Inc.

Stuttgart, AR

Pay: $30-$35/hr

Shift: Full time

**ABOUT COLD STEPPE**

Cold Steppe converts agricultural waste - rice hulls, sawdust, and other overlooked biomass - into biochar and renewable energy. Our mission is simple: To find what is left behind and turn it into something that moves us forward. Our first facility, AR-1, is coming online in Stuttgart, Arkansas, and the people who join now will help set the standard for every site that follows. Cold Steppe is a certified service-disabled veteran-owned business, and veterans, tradespeople, and anyone ready to learn are welcome here.

*Steward What Matters • Speak Up Stand Together • Safe Space No Exceptions • Stack the Impact • Set the Standard*

**At a Glance**

Location

Stuttgart, Arkansas (on-site, AR-1 facility)

Reports To

Site Operations Director, AR-1

Employment Type

Full-time, hourly

Schedule

Days, with occasional call in’s as needed.

Compensation

$30 - $35/hour (approx. $64,00 - $73,000/year), based on experience and certifications, plus benefits - consistent with our commitment to pay above local prevailing wage

**About Cold Steppe**

Cold Steppe converts agricultural waste - rice hulls, sawdust, and other overlooked biomass - into biochar and renewable energy. Our mission is simple: To find what is left behind and turn it into something that moves us forward. Our first facility, AR-1, is up and running in Stuttgart, Arkansas, and the people who join now will help set the standard for every site that follows. Cold Steppe is a certified service-disabled veteran-owned business, and veterans, tradespeople, and anyone ready to learn are welcome here.

*Steward What Matters • Speak Up Stand Together • Safe Environment No Exceptions • Stack the Impact • Set the Standard*

**The Role**

The Maintenance & Operations Technician keeps AR-1 running. You'll own the hands-on care of our processing equipment - including our rotary kiln, feedstock handling, conveying, and related biomass-to-biochar and energy systems - through preventive maintenance, fast troubleshooting, and solid repairs. When something goes down, you're the one who figures out why and gets it back up safely. As AR-1's first dedicated maintenance hire, you'll help build the maintenance program itself: the PM schedules, the parts inventory, and the habits every future Cold Steppe site will run on.

**What You'll Do**

• Perform scheduled preventive and predictive maintenance on plant equipment, including the rotary kiln, augers, conveyors, hoppers, bucket elevators, blowers, dust collection, and heat-recovery systems.
• Troubleshoot and repair mechanical, electrical controls, hydraulic, and pneumatic issues, and know when to repair in place versus when to escalate or bring in a specialist.
• Respond to breakdowns and callouts quickly, working closely with Floor Technicians and Shift Supervision to minimize downtime.
• Weld, fabricate, and modify parts, guards, and supports as needed to keep equipment running and safe.
• Help build and maintain AR-1's preventive maintenance program, including PM schedules, equipment histories, and work order records (CMMS or equivalent).
• Track and manage critical spare parts and maintenance supplies so the right parts are on hand when we need them.
• Lead and follow lockout/tagout (LOTO), confined space, hot work, and other safety procedures on every job.
• Partner with the Engineering team on equipment improvements, installs, and root-cause analysis on recurring failures.
• Coordinate with outside vendors and contractors during repairs, installs, and planned shutdowns.
• Train Floor Technicians on basic equipment care and first-line checks.

**What You Bring**

• 3+ years of hands-on industrial maintenance experience in a manufacturing, processing, agricultural, or heavy-equipment setting.
• An eagerness to learn new systems and processes - a willingness to improve what we do on a daily basis.
• A firm understanding of PPE uses and requirements.
• Multi-craft skills across mechanical systems (bearings, gearboxes, chains, belts, pumps) and industrial electrical equipment (motors, controls, troubleshooting up to 480V).
• Ability to read and work from schematics, mechanical drawings, and equipment manuals.
• Working welding and fabrication skills (MIG/stick).
• A safety-first mindset and working knowledge of LOTO and OSHA safety practices.
• A valid driver's license, and reliable transportation.
• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs, climb ladders, work at heights and in tight spaces, and work around heat, dust, and outdoor/semi-outdoor conditions.
• A team-first attitude, AR-1's first crew sets the tone for every site that follows.

**Nice to Have**

• Trade certification or journeyman card (industrial maintenance, electrical, millwright, HVAC, or diesel/heavy equipment).
• Experience in a rice mill, grain elevator, feed mill, sawmill, or similar ag or biomass processing operation.
• Experience with rotary kilns, dryers, boilers, or other thermal processing equipme