Industrial Ammonia Refrigeration Technician

Elizabeth's Food Co. Inc.

Fountain Inn, SC

Pay: $32-$34/hr

Shift: Full time

**Overview**

As an Industrial Ammonia Refrigeration Technician, you’ll be responsible for the safe operation, daily monitoring, preventative maintenance, and repair of our facility's multi-state ammonia refrigeration systems. Because we operate a fast-paced food processing facility, you will play a critical role in ensuring both employee safety and strict regulatory compliance (OSHA PSM/EPA RMP) while maintaining optimal production temperatures.

Your impact: By keeping refrigeration equipment operating safely and reliably, you help facility teams protect products and maintain essential operations.

**Responsibilities**

• **System Operation & Maintenance:** Inspect, operate, maintain, and troubleshoot two-stage ammonia refrigeration systems, including screw compressors, evaporative condensers, recirculating pumps, and evaporators.
• **Compliance & Documentation:** Maintain accurate daily logs, round sheets, and maintenance records in full compliance with **OSHA Process Safety Management (PSM)** and EPA Risk Management Plan (RMP) standards.
• **Safety & Emergency Response:** Actively participate in the facility's Emergency Response Team (ERT). Respond immediately to system alarms or potential ammonia leaks using appropriate PPE.
• **Preventative Maintenance (PM):** Perform routine PMs, including safely draining oil from the system, testing safety cutouts, checking water chemistry, and rebuilding valves/pumps.
• **Defrost Management:** Monitor and optimize hot gas defrost cycles to maintain evaporator efficiency and prevent hydraulic shock.
• **Process Improvement:** Participate in Management of Change (MOC) protocols, Process Hazard Analyses (PHA), and Pre-Start Up Safety Reviews (PSSR) for system alterations.

**Required Qualifications & Certifications**

• **Certification:** **RETA CARO required** (Certified Assistant Refrigeration Operator); **RETA CIRO strongly preferred** (Certified Industrial Refrigeration Operator).
• **Experience:** Minimum of 2–3 years of hands-on experience operating industrial ammonia refrigeration systems, ideally within a food processing, cold storage, or manufacturing environment.
• **Regulatory Training:** Valid **HAZWOPER 24-Hour or 40-Hour certification** (or willingness to obtain within 90 days of hire).
• **Technical Skills:** Deep understanding of Piping & Instrumentation Diagrams (P&IDs), electrical schematics, PLC controls, and automated refrigeration software.
• **Physical Demands:** Ability to work at heights, in confined spaces, and in extreme temperature environments (ranging from blast freezers to hot mechanical rooms). Must be fit-tested to wear a full-face respirator.

**What We Offer**

· **Employee Assistance Program**

· **Paid Vacation**

· **Paid Holidays**

· **401(k) Retirement Plan**

· **Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance**

· **Life Insurance**

Pay: $31.93 - $33.98 per hour

Expected hours: 40.0 per week

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person