Head of Maintenance & Reliability

Kindly be advised that we are handling the recruitment for this position internally and are not partnering with external recruiters. 

We are a Biology Company

Plantible, backed by Astanor Ventures, Lerer Hippeau, Piva Capital, Kellogg’s, and Vectr Ventures, is a vertically integrated biology company that is unlocking the power in plants in service of people & planet. Our mission is to create solutions that empower customers to make sustainable and regenerative choices without compromising on quality. We are beginning with the food industry. Please visit our website to learn more about our mission and continued success: https://www.plantiblefoods.com/

How you will contribute:

You are a hands-on mechanical systems expert to lead our maintenance team and maintain the bar on technical excellence across the facility high. You’ll bring the knowledge of an experienced tradesperson, the systems thinking of an engineer, and the leadership to guide others in solving problems right—the first time. You quickly understand why something broke, and help others build that understanding too. You know your way around the various trades and repairs better than anyone else so it doesn’t break again, and you know how to teach someone else to do it the right way as well.

Location Requirements:

Plantible’s commercial production facility in Eldorado, Texas. The candidate is expected to be on-site when engineering support is needed to work with the operations teams, construction team, and contractors. Responsibilities include engineering solutions to enhance the performance and robustness of our commercial facility as well as technology transfer and scale-up of new and existing technologies.

If working from Austin, Texas, this role requires 80%+ travel to Eldorado, Texas.

What you will be working on:

Providing Technical Leadership

• Act as the go-to expert for mechanical, electrical, and infrastructure systems.
• Set the standard for quality repairs and builds—welding, wiring, piping, troubleshooting.
• Coach the team and operators on how equipment works, and why it’s worth doing it right.

Maintenance Execution & Ownership

• Lead and manage day-to-day maintenance operations.
• Reduce outsourcing by bringing more capability in-house.
• Ensure repairs, preventive maintenance, and upgrades are done with speed and integrity.

Reliability & Systems Improvement

• Solve recurring problems at the root, not just symptoms.
• Help redesign and improve systems to be more efficient with lower maintenance requirement.
• Make infrastructure and equipment better over time: more reliable, less downtime.

Maintaining a Culture of Ownership of the Facility

• Shift the mindset from “maintenance will fix it” to “we all own this.”
• Support operators in learning basic troubleshooting and care routines.
• Drive the cycle of clear accountability, preventative maintenance, and low downtime.

What success in this role looks like:

• Showing continuous improvement in uptime per maintenance $ spent.
• Leading with focus on downtime reduction with strong prioritization of tasks and projects.
• Maintenance, repairs and improvements done well with very few repeats.
• Driving operating teams to learn and ask questions to increase turnaround of root cause analyses.
• Maintenance team trusting the new lead and having clear expectations.
• You’re not the only one who knows how to do it right because you scaled your skills into the team.

What you bring to Plantible:

• At least 8 to 10 years of experience and deep hands-on experience across multiple trades: mechanical, electrical, plumbing, welding
• Strong understanding of how mechanical systems work (pumps, motors, gearboxes, PLCs, etc.)
• Ability to teach, lead, and build out the team’s capabilities
• A track record of problem-solving and building things that last
• Comfort reading mechanical and electrical drawings
• Bonus: experience with PLCs, automation, or Lean/TPM principles
• Nice to have: formal training or degree in mechanical or industrial engineering

Choose Plantible Foods

Joining Plantible means contributing to a sustainable future for all. We are a venture backed startup that is both spreading happiness amongst our employees and to current and future generations. We believe diversity creates uniqueness. Our team is composed of highly talented people with different interests and hobbies, which makes for a rich working environment.

At Plantible we are continually working on our offerings to foster the best team. Check it out!

• Competitive health and wellness benefits
• Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance
• Discretionary Unlimited PTO Program
• Paid Holidays
• 401k Program
• Career Stipend
• Career development and growth opportunities
• Working in a rapidly growing, flexible and entrepreneurial environment
• Team building and company-wide events
• Financial support with your relocation, if necessary, ensuring a smooth transition
• And of course, lots of beautiful land for outdoor activities!

Plantible Foods is an equal employment opportunity employer. Candidates are considered for employment without regard to race, creed, color, national origin, age, sex, religion, ancestry, veteran status, marital status, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, liability for military service, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. If you are interested in learning the status of your application, please note you will be contacted directly by the appropriate human resources contact person if you are selected for further consideration. Plantible Foods reserves the right to defer or close a vacancy at any time. 

If you feel your skill set does not meet all listed qualifications for the role, we still encourage you to apply. As we continue to grow our company, we are seeking a range of candidates and would gladly consider you for other current or upcoming roles that may be a fit!

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