Vending Machine Refrigeration & Smart Technology Technician

Company: Healthy Options Vending
Position Type: Refrigeration, Technical Service & Smart Vending Systems
Service Area: California

Position Overview

Healthy Options Vending is seeking an experienced, dependable, and technically skilled Vending Machine Refrigeration & Smart Technology Technician to install, maintain, diagnose, and repair refrigerated vending machines, smart coolers, micro-market equipment, and related automated retail systems throughout our California service area.

This is a specialized field-service position requiring hands-on knowledge of commercial refrigeration, electrical and mechanical systems, electronic controls, and smart/connected vending technology.

The ideal candidate can independently diagnose refrigeration and equipment failures while also working with modern vending technologies, including cashless payment systems, telemetry, remote monitoring, inventory-management technology, smart controllers, sensors, cellular/Wi-Fi connectivity, and other integrated automated retail systems.

Candidates must possess and maintain all licenses, certifications, registrations, and credentials required by federal, California, and applicable local law for the refrigeration work they are assigned to perform. Appropriate EPA Section 608 certification is required when servicing equipment containing regulated refrigerants.

Healthy Options Vending is looking for more than a parts-replacement technician. We want someone who can identify the root cause of equipment problems, perform professional repairs, test equipment for proper operation, document completed work, and help us maintain a reliable and increasingly technology-driven vending operation.

Key Responsibilities

• Diagnose, service, maintain, and repair refrigerated vending machines, smart coolers, beverage machines, food vending machines, and related equipment.
• Troubleshoot refrigeration problems involving compressors, condensers, evaporators, fans, thermostats, temperature controls, relays, capacitors, wiring, sensors, and related components.
• Perform refrigeration work in accordance with applicable federal, California, and local requirements.
• Recover, handle, and service refrigerants only when properly certified and authorized to do so.
• Diagnose electrical, mechanical, electronic, refrigeration, and control-system failures.
• Perform preventive maintenance to reduce equipment failures and extend machine life.
• Inspect and clean condensers, evaporators, fans, drains, ventilation areas, and other refrigeration components.
• Verify operating temperatures and ensure refrigerated equipment maintains proper and safe temperature ranges.
• Install, configure, test, and troubleshoot vending-machine control systems and electronic components.
• Install and support smart vending and automated retail technology, including telemetry, remote monitoring, inventory-management systems, electronic controllers, sensors, and connected equipment.
• Install, configure, and troubleshoot cashless payment systems, credit/debit card readers, cellular communication devices, Wi-Fi-connected equipment, and related vending technology.
• Diagnose communication and connectivity issues between vending equipment, payment devices, monitoring platforms, and cloud-based systems.
• Perform authorized software, firmware, controller, and device updates according to manufacturer requirements.
• Assist with integrating new smart vending technologies as Healthy Options Vending expands its automated retail capabilities.
• Test machines following repairs, installations, and upgrades to verify safe and reliable operation.
• Respond to service calls and equipment outages in a timely and professional manner.
• Identify machines requiring major repairs, replacement components, or removal from service.
• Maintain an appropriate inventory of common replacement parts, tools, and service supplies.
• Maintain accurate service, repair, parts, maintenance, and equipment records.
• Communicate professionally with customers, location managers, equipment manufacturers, vendors, and technical-support representatives.
• Provide technical guidance to route personnel regarding machine operation and basic troubleshooting.
• Assist with vending-machine installations, relocations, commissioning, and equipment upgrades as needed.
• Protect customer property and maintain a clean and professional work area at every service location.

Required Qualifications

Candidates must meet the following requirements:

• Valid California Driver's License.
• Clean and safe driving record.
• Ability to safely operate a company or authorized service vehicle.
• Possess and maintain all licenses, certifications, registrations, and credentials required under applicable federal, California, and local requirements for the specific refrigeration work performed.
• Possess appropriate EPA Section 608 Technician Certification when performing work that involves regulated refrigerants.
• Demonstrated knowledge of refrigeration principles, electrical systems, electronic controls, and mechanical troubleshooting.
• Ability to safely use refrigeration gauges, electrical meters, diagnostic equipment, hand tools, power tools, and other field-service equipment.
• Ability to read wiring diagrams, schematics, service manuals, equipment specifications, and technical documentation.
• Ability to diagnose the root cause of equipment problems rather than simply replace components.
• Strong understanding of workplace, electrical, refrigeration, and equipment-safety procedures.
• Ability to work independently and make sound field-service decisions.
• Strong communication, organization, documentation, and customer-service skills.
• Ability and willingness to travel throughout Healthy Options Vending's service area.
• Ability to safely lift and handle tools, replacement parts, vending components, and related equipment.

Smart Technology Qualification

Because Healthy Options Vending is expanding its use of connected and automated retail equipment, candidates must have demonstrated professional experience, technical training, manufacturer training, or certification involving smart technology integration, connected equipment, IoT systems, or comparable technology.

Relevant qualifications may include experience with:

• Smart vending machines and smart coolers
• IoT-connected equipment
• Vending telemetry and remote monitoring
• Cashless payment and card-reader systems
• Cellular and Wi-Fi connectivity
• Electronic inventory-management systems
• Temperature sensors and remote temperature monitoring
• Electronic controllers and programmable equipment
• Cloud-connected equipment-monitoring platforms
• Equipment networking and device configuration
• Firmware and software updates
• Remote diagnostics, equipment alerts, and fault monitoring
• Automated retail technology
• Smart locks, sensors, cameras, or other integrated vending technologies

Manufacturer, vendor, networking, IoT, electronics, vending-technology, or smart-equipment certifications are strongly preferred.

Preferred Experience

Preference may be given to candidates with professional experience involving:

• Commercial refrigeration
• Vending-machine refrigeration
• Food and beverage equipment repair
• Smart coolers or smart vending machines
• HVAC/R service
• Convenience-store refrigeration
• Restaurant or commercial kitchen equipment
• Automated retail systems
• Electrical and electronic equipment repair
• Vending-machine controllers and control boards
• Cashless payment systems
• Vending telemetry systems
• IoT and remote equipment monitoring
• Cellular and Wi-Fi equipment connectivity
• Route vending operations
• Field-service technician work

Experience with Nayax, Cantaloupe, or comparable vending payment, telemetry, and management technology is highly desirable.

Professional Expectations

The successful technician must be:

• Dependable and punctual
• Honest and trustworthy
• Mechanically and technically capable
• Safety-conscious
• Organized and detail-oriented
• Professional when interacting with customers
• Comfortable working independently in the field
• Capable of documenting repairs and technical findings accurately
• Able to troubleshoot problems logically and efficiently
• Willing to continue learning as refrigeration, vending, payment, and smart-retail technologies evolve

Driver & Travel Requirements

Driving is an important function of this position.

The technician must maintain a valid California Driver's License and a clean, acceptable driving record throughout employment and must be able to safely operate company or authorized service vehicles.

The position requires regular travel to customer locations for installations, preventive maintenance, equipment repairs, troubleshooting, and emergency service.

When an employee is authorized or required to use a personal vehicle for company business, business mileage and other necessary business expenses will be handled in accordance with Healthy Options Vending policy and applicable California expense-reimbursement requirements.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate combines the capabilities of a refrigeration technician, equipment repair technician, and modern smart-technology specialist.

We want someone who is equally comfortable diagnosing a compressor, condenser, temperature-control, electrical, or mechanical problem and troubleshooting a smart controller, card reader, sensor, cellular connection, Wi-Fi connection, telemetry device, or remote-monitoring system.

This technician should be able to arrive at a customer location, professionally diagnose the problem, determine the correct repair, complete the work safely, test the machine, document the service performed, and leave the equipment operating properly.

As Healthy Options Vending expands into more sophisticated smart vending, refrigerated retail, cashless payment, telemetry, IoT, and remotely monitored equipment, this technician will play an important role in maintaining our existing equipment and helping integrate new technology.

How to Apply

Please submit your résumé or work history and include information regarding your:

• Refrigeration experience
• Refrigeration licenses, certifications, registrations, and other applicable credentials
• EPA Section 608 certification
• California Driver's License and driving qualifications
• Vending-machine or commercial equipment experience
• Electrical and electronic troubleshooting experience
• Smart vending, IoT, telemetry, or automated retail experience
• Cashless payment-system experience
• Manufacturer or technology certifications
• Field-service experience

Please also provide a brief explanation of how your refrigeration, mechanical, electrical, and smart-technology experience would make you a strong fit for Healthy Options Vending.

Chuck Callahan