Jobs › SmartCare

Preventative Maintenance Technician

SmartCare · CA · Remote available · $35.00–$42.00 an hour · Full time

Posted Sep 1, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

Apply at SmartCare

Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

You leave from home each morning and work alone at customer sites. How do you plan your day?

What they are checking: Whether they can organize routes and visits efficiently without a supervisor nearby.

Tell me about a time you noticed a small issue that prevented a bigger breakdown.

What they are checking: Whether they pay attention to detail, which is the whole point of preventive maintenance.

How do you make sure you do not skip steps when doing the same checks every day?

What they are checking: Whether they stay thorough with routine work instead of cutting corners over time.

What would you do

During a routine PM visit, you find a problem that needs a bigger repair. What do you do?

What they are checking: Whether they document it, explain it to the customer, and set up the follow-up service.

A customer says the PM visits are a waste of money. How would you respond?

What they are checking: Whether they can show the value of preventive work in terms that matter to the customer.

You get an emergency repair call while on a PM route. How do you handle your schedule?

What they are checking: Whether they balance emergencies with planned work and communicate changes to dispatch and customers.

About the work

Walk me through a performance check on an ice machine.

What they are checking: Whether they know the cleaning, inspection and adjustment steps that keep ice machines running.

What would you look for during a preventive check on a reach-in refrigerator?

What they are checking: Whether they can spot early warning signs like dirty coils, worn gaskets and temperature drift.

You are the main technician for beverage equipment. How would you handle installing or removing a beverage system at a customer site?

What they are checking: Whether they can plan the work, protect the site, and leave equipment ready to use.

How do you document a PM visit so the customer and the company know exactly what was done?

What they are checking: Whether their records support billing, warranty and future service decisions.

Practice this interview out loud.

Offer builds a real interview for this exact role at SmartCare from your resume and this job description, asks the questions one at a time, and tells you what landed. The first one is free.

Practice this out loud

The full job description

As published by SmartCare.

PM Technician Commercial Kitchen Equipment Location: Greater Bay Area, CA - Hayward Pay Range: $35-$42Hr DOE Summary of the Job: As a Preventative Maintenance Service Technician, you will deliver our performance check programs by providing pro-active maintenance to keep our customers’ kitchen equipment running at optimum efficiency and limit breakdowns. You will also be the primary service technician for our beverage business by completing installations, removals, preventative maintenance, and emergency repairs. What’s in it For You: • On-the-job training with available on-demand technical support, as well as ongoing formal hands-on and classroom training at our National Training Kitchen. Professional CFESA certifications with the potential for advancement. • Receive a company service vehicle, fuel card, computer, and cell phone for business use • Market-leading benefits program, including 401k and paid time off • Take charge of your career through growth opportunities, including advanced technician and management positions. What You Will Do: • You will leave from home each morning and independently work at customer sites to complete performance checks on commercial foodservice equipment, including refrigerators, ice machines, ovens, fryers, and complete beverage equipment preventative maintenance, emergency repairs, installations, and removals • Complete in-service training of the customer’s staff on proper cleaning and daily maintenance of equipment • Effectively manage time and resources to control costs, enhance efficiencies, and meet customer commitments • Identify operating challenges that lead to kitchen equipment failure in restaurants, hotels, hospitals, and other commercial customers • Attend appropriate technical and manufacturer training to obtain additional licenses and certifications to progress in your career. Physical Requirements: • Ability to frequently kneel, bend, squat, push, pull, reach, and occasionally lift and carry up to 70 pounds • Ability to work with moving mechanical parts, pressurized steam equipment, open flames, heated surfaces, liquids, and risk of electrical shock in damp, humid, or freezing conditions • Ability to work on ladders, roofs, and other high places. Minimum Qualifications: • High School diploma or equivalent • Valid driver’s license and acceptable motor vehicle record • Willingness to be on call or work shifts according to customer needs • Availability for occasional overnight travel as assigned • Immigration sponsorship not provided for this role. Preferred Qualifications: • Relevant technical training, licenses, and/or certifications (i.e. EPA, CFESA) • Technical experience with refrigeration, appliance repair, kitchen equipment, HVAC, or relevant military service • Self-motivated with the proven ability prioritize and work independently with minimal direct supervision. As a Technician you will be at the heart of our operations by diagnosing, repairing, and providing planned maintenance on a broad range of cooking, refrigeration, and dishwashing equipment. Your work makes you a valuable partner to our customers by helping them improve their food service operations, equipment uptime, and overall profitability. Smart Care’s industry-leading technical training, mobile-technologies, and technical support provide the opportunity for you to rapidly expand your expertise and grow your career in this dynamic industry. If you’re ready for a new and exciting challenge, it’s time to get smart with Smart Care! About Smart Care Smart Care is a national repair and service provider for commercial foodservice, refrigeration, and cold storage equipment. Our offering of comprehensive mechanical services includes hot side cooking equipment, stand-alone refrigeration, specialty coffee and beverage, complex rack refrigeration and HVAC. Smart Care is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or other protected class status. All qualified individuals are encouraged to apply. If you need a reasonable accommodation with respect to Smart Care’s application or hiring process due to a disability, please contact the Human Resources department at HR@smartcaresolutions.com .

Apply at SmartCare

More preventative maintenance technician roles