Northwest Grain Growers, Inc.
Position
Grain Elevator Maintenance Technician
Job Type
Permanent Full-Time
Location
Walla Walla, WA (Primary Work Location)
This position is based in Walla Walla and supports Northwest Grain Growers facilities throughout Eastern Washington and Northeastern Oregon. Regular day travel is required to perform maintenance activities, preventative maintenance, troubleshooting, equipment installations, facility projects, and emergency repairs in support of grain handling operations.
Schedule
Full-time position with hours that may vary throughout the year based on seasonal grain movement, maintenance projects, facility improvements, equipment repairs, weather conditions, and operational needs.
Extended and mandatory hours, including evenings, weekends, and holidays, may be required during harvest and other peak business periods.
Join Our Team
Northwest Grain Growers is seeking a skilled and motivated Grain Elevator Maintenance Technician to support our grain handling facilities throughout Eastern Washington and Northeastern Oregon. This position plays a critical role in maintaining the equipment and infrastructure that keep our grain receiving, storage, and shipping operations running safely and efficiently. Candidates with industrial maintenance, welding, fabrication, agricultural, grain handling, millwright, or manufacturing maintenance experience are encouraged to apply.
This position offers a variety of work, including equipment maintenance, troubleshooting, fabrication, facility improvements, equipment installation, and emergency repairs. Hours may fluctuate throughout the year based on seasonal grain movement, maintenance schedules, facility projects, equipment failures, and business needs.
Successful candidates must be able to think critically, troubleshoot complex mechanical issues, and develop practical solutions when standard repair procedures or manuals are not available. This role often requires ingenuity, creativity, and real-world experience to diagnose problems, fabricate repairs, modify equipment, and keep grain handling operations running safely and efficiently. The ideal candidate is someone who can identify a problem, evaluate available options, and implement effective solutions with confidence and sound judgment.
What You'll Do
As a Grain Elevator Maintenance Technician, you will:
· Inspect, maintain, troubleshoot, and repair grain handling and conveying equipment, including bucket elevators, belt and screw conveyors, drag conveyors, augers, spouting, gates, dryers, motors, belts, bearings, and pulleys.
· Perform welding and fabrication projects using MIG, Stick, and/or TIG welding to repair, modify, and improve equipment and structures.
· Fabricate and install metal components such as chutes, transitions, brackets, frames, guards, platforms, and supports.
· Install, align, and commission conveying equipment and related material handling systems.
· Troubleshoot and repair mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, and pneumatic systems.
· Perform preventative and predictive maintenance to maximize equipment reliability and minimize downtime.
· Assist with new equipment installations, facility upgrades, and expansion projects.
· Maintain grain elevator structures, including bins, catwalks, ladders, handrails, and structural supports.
· Follow all safety procedures related to lockout/tagout, confined space entry, fall protection, hot work, and combustible dust hazards.
· Maintain maintenance records, work orders, inspection reports, and related documentation.
· Coordinate maintenance activities with operations personnel to minimize interruptions to grain receiving and shipping activities.
· Respond to emergency repairs, equipment failures, and operational issues during harvest, shipping, and other peak business periods, including working extended hours as needed to support elevator operations.
· Maintain a clean, organized, and safe work environment.
· Occasionally assist with grain warehousing and other operational duties as needed.
Qualified candidates should possess the following:
· Minimum 3–5 years of maintenance experience in grain handling, agriculture, industrial, manufacturing, construction, or related environments.
· Experience installing, maintaining, troubleshooting, and repairing equipment and mechanical systems.
· Strong mechanical aptitude and troubleshooting skills.
· Experience with welding and metal fabrication.
· Experience with conveyors, augers, motors, bearings, hydraulic systems, pneumatic systems, and other industrial equipment.
· Ability to read blueprints, schematics, equipment manuals, and technical documentation.
· Electrical troubleshooting experience.
· Commitment to workplace safety and following established safety procedures.
· Ability to work independently, prioritize tasks, and contribute as part of a team.
· Technical, vocational, trade school, apprenticeship, military maintenance training, or equivalent hands-on experience.
· Valid driver's license.
· High school diploma or GED.
Candidates with experience in the following areas are strongly encouraged to apply:
· Industrial maintenance and mechanical repair
· Grain elevators, grain handling, feed mills, seed plants, or bulk material handling systems
· Bucket elevators, conveyors, augers, bearings, pulleys, motors, and grain dryers
· Welding, fabrication, and equipment modification
· Hydraulic and pneumatic systems
· Equipment installation and precision alignment
· Preventative maintenance programs and reliability-focused maintenance practices
· Safe work practices and regulatory compliance
· Working independently and collaboratively within a team environment
Additional Work Schedule Expectations
Northwest Grain Growers operates within the agricultural industry, which includes an annual grain harvest period that requires increased operational support.
Harvest typically begins immediately following the 4th of July and generally lasts six to eight weeks. During harvest and other peak operational periods, employees should expect extended and mandatory work hours, including early mornings, evenings, weekends, and holidays as needed to support business operations.
Candidates must be available, flexible, and able to adjust their schedules to meet operational demands during harvest and other busy periods. Equipment reliability is critical to grain receiving, storage, and shipping activities, and maintenance personnel play an essential role in keeping operations running safely and efficiently.
Work schedules and hours may vary throughout the year and may be extended based on operational needs, equipment breakdowns, facility projects, preventative maintenance requirements, grain receiving volumes, shipping schedules, maintenance shutdowns, weather conditions, and other grain handling activities.
Regular Work Environment & Physical Requirements
· Lifting up to 50–75 pounds.
· Climbing ladders and working at elevated heights.
· Entering and working in confined spaces.
· Working in dusty, noisy, hot, cold, and outdoor environments.
Pay
$25.00 - $32.00 per hour DOE (Depending on Experience)
Benefits
Northwest Grain Growers offers a competitive compensation and benefits package, including:
· Medical Insurance
· Dental Insurance
· Vision Insurance
· 401(k) Retirement Plan with Company Contributions
· Annual Performance Bonus Opportunity Based on Company and Individual Performance
· Annual 401(k) Profit-Sharing Contribution Opportunity Funded by Northwest Grain Growers
· Paid Time Off (PTO)
· Paid Holidays
· Paid Sick Leave
· Company-Paid Life Insurance
· Long-Term Disability Insurance
· Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
· Flexible Spending Account (FSA) Options
· Ongoing Training and Career Development Opportunities
· Stable, Year-Round Employment with a Grower-Owned Agricultural Cooperative
Why Northwest Grain Growers?
Northwest Grain Growers is a grower-owned cooperative serving agricultural producers across the Pacific Northwest. Our employees help support local agriculture by maintaining the facilities and equipment that move grain from farms to domestic and international markets.
If you enjoy solving mechanical challenges, welding and fabrication projects, working outdoors, and being part of a team that supports agriculture, we encourage you to apply.
Apply Today
Qualified applicants are encouraged to submit a resume highlighting their maintenance, welding, fabrication, mechanical, electrical, agricultural, grain handling, industrial maintenance, manufacturing, millwright, or related experience.
Keywords: Grain Elevator Maintenance Technician, Industrial Maintenance Technician, Industrial Maintenance Mechanic, Maintenance Mechanic, Millwright, Welder, Fabricator, Grain Handling Equipment, Conveyor Systems, Material Handling Systems, Agricultural Maintenance, Mechanical Technician, Preventive Maintenance, Industrial Mechanic, Agricultural Equipment Technician.
Northwest Grain Growers is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Pay: $25.00 - $32.00 per hour
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- Dental insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Flexible spending account
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Retirement plan
- Vision insurance
Application Question(s):
- Are you available and able to work extended hours, weekends, holidays, and overtime as needed during harvest, facility projects, equipment outages, and other peak operational periods?
Experience:
- Industrial Maintenance: 3 years (Required)
- Electrical: 3 years (Preferred)
- Welding & Fabrication: 3 years (Preferred)
Ability to Commute:
- Walla Walla, WA 99362 (Required)
Work Location: In person
