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Service Technician

Smithfield Foods · St Charles, IL · $19.23–$28.85 an hour · Full time

Posted Sep 23, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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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

Tell me about a time you noticed data that didn't look right. What did you do?

What they are checking: Whether they question odd readings instead of just writing them down and moving on.

Tell me about a time you had to learn a new piece of equipment or control system quickly.

What they are checking: Whether they can pick up oven controls and mechanicals with reasonable training.

What would you do

Internal temperature on a batch comes in below the lethality target. Walk me through what you do.

What they are checking: Whether they treat a missed cook temperature as a critical control point failure that requires holding product.

The line lead pushes you to release product while you're still waiting on a temperature check. How do you handle it?

What they are checking: Whether they hold firm on quality steps under production pressure.

How do you share quality problems with production without making people defensive?

What they are checking: Whether they can raise concerns in a way that gets problems fixed instead of starting arguments.

What would you do if you weren't sure whether a product met a customer specification?

What they are checking: Whether they would ask and hold product rather than guess when they are unsure.

About the work

You'll be overseeing oven processes. What would you watch for to make sure a batch is cooked consistently?

What they are checking: Whether they understand how oven settings, load and airflow affect product consistency and safety.

What is HACCP, and what does a critical control point mean on an oven line?

What they are checking: Whether they understand the food safety system behind the temperature checks they will be recording.

How do you make sure the temperatures and production records you enter are accurate every time?

What they are checking: Whether they see records as legal evidence for USDA, so a careless entry can be as bad as a bad cook.

A thermometer reads differently from the oven's built-in sensor. How do you figure out which one to trust?

What they are checking: Whether they understand calibration and know how to verify their measuring tools.

Practice this interview out loud.

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The full job description

As published by Smithfield Foods.

If you are currently employed at Smithfield, please log into Workday and submit your application through the Jobs Hub. Have a seat at our table. When you join Smithfield, you become part of something special – a company that's sustainably feeding people around the world, producing good food the right way with respect for our people, animals, communities and planet. With opportunities across locations and functions, a culture grounded in our Core Four values - gratitude, communication, respect and accountability - and a strong commitment to learning, collaboration, and innovation, Smithfield offers challenging and rewarding careers where you can grow, contribute and make a real impact. Apply Now! Your Opportunity: In addition, we offer opportunities for career growth, professional development, and tuition assistance. This position is responsible for testing products at various stages throughout the production process and compiles and evaluates data to determine and maintain quality and reliability of products. The technician will monitor the overall quality in their assigned areas through the application of regulatory, company and customer guidelines. Core Responsibilities: • Oversight of oven processes and controls. • Operation of oven mechanicals for product consistency. • Perform data entry of production records and temperatures. • Follow all Quality and HACCP procedures (SOP’s) • Follow USDA requirements for product aging. • Troubleshoot issues and make corrections, as needed. • Schedule oven loading and unloading with material handling for delivery of unfinished/finished product to production/packaging. • Take pH measurements on regularly scheduled intervals and make process adjustments, as needed. • Check fermenting and cooking product on a regular basis for product condition, proper temperature and humidity. • Maintain a safe environment and recommend improvements. • May operate various equipment, including powered industrial material moving equipment. • In the employee’s absence, the Process Control Technician or other Oven/ Aging Technician(s) will complete the roles and activities this position is responsible for. Knowledge/Education/Skills/Certificates: • Specific job skills training which is delivered post-employment. Broad Range of Dimensions Reflecting Job Scope: • Interact with supervision and hourly paid employees. • Follow schedule prepared by Aging Supervisor. Provide coverage in the absence of other Oven Aging Technicians, which may require extended hours and days. Qualifications: • High School diploma 2-3 years of related work experience Knowledge of SAP and/or production software Good verbal/written communication skills • Near acuity and accommodation is required for reading literature, reports and computer screen. • Ability to conduct phone, two-way radio and direct conversations. • Ability to communicate well in written and oral reports. • Good phone skills. • Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instruction, and procedure manuals. • Ability to write routine reports and correspondence. • Detail oriented and able to read, understand and execute instructions. • Ability to think logically, unemotionally and quickly to take appropriate actions needed to correct impromptu situations. • Must be observant and aware of surroundings and be able to transfer accumulated knowledge to differing situations. • Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form. • Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations. Work Environment & Physical Demands The work environment characteristics and physical demands described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. • The employee is required to stand, sit, walk, push, pull, climb, reach overhead and bend to the floor. Exert 15 to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or exert up to 15 pounds of force frequently. • The employee is subject to a production environment approximately 75 percent of the work time. Production and outside environment. High noise levels from operating machines. Physical hazards from moving equipment and machine parts. Skin exposure to animal fat, grease, wastewater and chemicals. Heat and cold, both outside and in the plant. Oven/ Aging Technicians are primarily involved in monitoring processes essential to the production of product that is food-safe. On an annual basis, this job position will receive a special training for food safety monitors that is intended to keep the individual up-to-date on the methods and regulations surrounding the production of safe, wholesome product via the plant’s two Critical Control Points (CCP’s). 
The expected pay range for this position is $19.23 - $28.85 per hour.

 Smithfield Foods provides pay ranges that reflect its good faith estimate of the salary or hourly wage the company reasonably expects to pay for a position at the time of hire. Individual compensation will be determined based on several factors, including but not limited to, the scope and responsibilities of the role, location of the position, the candidate’s qualifications and experience, internal equity, external market pay for comparable positions and budget considerations. At Smithfield Foods, base pay represents only one aspect of the comprehensive total rewards package. Learn more about our benefits package here. 

Relocation Package Available

No

 EEO Information Smithfield is an equal opportunity employer committed to workplace diversity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, gender identity, protected veterans status, status as a disabled individual or any other protected group status or non-job characteristic as directed by law. If you are an individual with a disability and would like to request a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment selection process, please call us at 757-357-1595.

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