Maintenance Engineer

Wow Bao is seeking a dedicated and skilled Maintenance Engineer for our new production facility in Forest City, NC. The Maintenance Engineer will be responsible for performing hands-on maintenance and repair of a wide range of specialized food production equipment, infrastructure systems, and material handling equipment, ensuring operational efficiency and minimal downtime. This role involves executing a preventive maintenance program, troubleshooting equipment issues, supporting Root Cause Corrective Action (RCCA) processes, and assisting with initial equipment installation. The ideal candidate will have a strong technical background in industrial equipment and facility systems maintenance, a proactive approach, and a commitment to safety and quality standards. 

The manufacturing facility is set to open later this year, and we’re excited to begin reaching out to candidates in the coming weeks. We truly appreciate your patience during this process.

In the meantime, if you have any questions, feel free to contact our Human Resources team at careers@wowbao.com—we’re happy to assist!

Thank you for your interest in joining our team—we look forward to connecting soon!

ABOUT WOW BAO

 At Wow Bao, we believe that life is too short for uninspired food.  We’re here to transform the Asian Street Food experience from every day and expected to extraordinary and inventive. Wow Bao is the fastest growing Frozen Asian Snack brand in the United States growing retail sales over 370% in 2024. Through strategic relationships with retail partners Wow Bao is now available in over 15,000 grocery stores nationwide!

 Wow Bao has a long history of manufacturing restaurant quality food, that started in 2003 when the first Wow Bao restaurant location was opened. Today, our omni-channel brand operates several Chicago restaurants, airports, virtual kitchens, and universities.  Wow Bao is poised for continued growth within all its verticals, as well as in the corporate setting.

 Wow Bao is the only brand to be recognized three times by Fast Casual magazine as a Top 100 Movers & Shaker. Ranked no. 1 in 2019 and 2022 and no. 4 in 2023, we are the only brand to have the honor more than once.

WE FOSTER A CULTURE OF CARING

 At Wow Bao, every team member leads from a place of care. Whether it’s our guests or employees, we put people first.  We strive to inspire, motivate, and appreciate one another every day.  We live by the golden rule and treat everyone with kindness, empathy, respect, and a healthy dose of humor.  We take our work, not ourselves, seriously.

RESPONSIBILITIES (Other duties will be assigned as needed)

1. Equipment Maintenance & Repair:

• Perform hands-on maintenance, troubleshooting, and repair of production equipment, including but not limited to mixers, choppers, dicers, formers, steamers, ovens, and packaging equipment.
• Maintain and repair infrastructure and material handling equipment, including ammonia refrigeration systems, elevators, spiral freezers, forklifts, racking, lighting, boilers, dock doors, HVAC systems, and Reverse Osmosis (RO) water systems.
• Diagnose mechanical, electrical, electronic, pneumatic, and hydraulic issues across all equipment types, and execute repairs in accordance with manufacturer specifications and safety guidelines.
• Maintain an inventory of tools and spare parts for immediate repairs, notifying supervisors of procurement needs for critical components.

2. Preventive Maintenance Program:

• Execute scheduled preventive maintenance tasks on all facility equipment, including production machinery (e.g., forming machine, steamers, spiral freezer), infrastructure systems (e.g., HVAC, boilers, ammonia refrigeration), and material handling equipment (e.g., forklifts, dock doors).
• Document maintenance activities accurately, ensuring records are up-to-date.
• Report any recurring issues or potential risks identified during maintenance.

3. Root Cause Corrective Action (RCCA) Support:

• Assist in investigations of equipment and system failures by providing detailed observations and technical input to identify root causes.
• Implement corrective actions to resolve issues and prevent recurrence, documenting outcomes for future reference.

4. Initial Equipment Installation:

• Assist in the initial installation and setup of production equipment during the facility setup phase, following technical manuals and manufacturer guidelines.
• Ensure proper alignment, calibration, and testing of newly installed equipment to meet operational standards before production use.
• Work with external contractors or vendors as needed during installation to verify correct assembly and functionality.

5. Safety & Compliance:

• Adhere to food safety standards (e.g., FDA, SQF, USDA, HACCP), Wow Bao’s internal policies, and OSHA regulations during all maintenance and installation activities, especially when working with ammonia refrigeration systems and other high-risk equipment.
• Conduct basic safety checks on equipment, infrastructure systems, and work areas, reporting hazards or unsafe conditions to supervisors immediately.
• Maintain an organized workspace, ensuring tools and equipment are stored properly after use.

6. Cross-Functional Collaboration:

• Work closely with production staff, supervisors and external vendors/contractors to align maintenance and installation activities with production schedules, minimizing downtime during peak operational periods.
• Communicate effectively with team members to provide updates on repair status, installation progress, and equipment or system availability.

BASIC REQUIREMENTS

• High School Diploma or GED
• Proven hands-on experience (typically 3-5+ years) in industrial maintenance
• Demonstrated expertise in troubleshooting and repairing a variety of industrial equipment, including mechanical, electrical, pneumatic, and hydraulic systems
• Proficiency in executing preventive maintenance programs
• Ability to read and interpret technical manuals, blueprints, and schematics
• Knowledge of maintenance best practices
• Basic computer proficiency for documenting maintenance activities
• Attention to detail and commitment to performing high-quality work
• Ability to work indepently without supervision throughout the day
• Ability to prioritise between scheduled and unscheduled equipment issues

PREFERRED REQUIREMENTS

• Associate's degree, technical certification in Industrial Maintenance, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related field is preferred
• Specific experience maintaining and repairing food production machinery (such as mixers, formers, steamers, ovens, packaging equipment) and facility systems (including ammonia refrigeration, boilers, HVAC, RO water systems, spiral freezers, elevators, dock doors)
• Experience within a USDA food manufacturing or processing environment
• Experience with Computerized Maintenance Management Systems (CMMS)
• Experience with ammonia refrigeration systems is highly desirable
• Experience with RCCA methodology & documentation

WORKING CONDITIONS & PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• Full-time position based at the Forest City, NC food manufacturing facility
• Occasional overtime, including weekends, may be required based on production schedules
• Occasional travel (up to 20%) for off-site training
• Must be able to access and navigate all areas of the production facility
• Frequent standing, walking, bending, and lifting up to 50 pounds at a time
• Ability to work in various environments including cold environments for extended periods
• Use of protective equipment such as gloves, safety glasses, and ear protection
• Manual dexterity for handling tools and parts

Wow Bao is an Equal Opportunity Employer

• Health Insurance (medical, dental, vision)

• 401(k) Retirement Plan

• Voluntary life insurance

• Voluntary disability insurance

• Paid Time Off

• Paid Sick Leave
• Employee Discount Programs with Perkspot and Working Advantage

• We foster a culture of CARE