Maintenance Lead

Maintenance Lead

The Maintenance Lead is responsible for leading, coordinating, and actively supporting the maintenance function of a high-volume production facility. This role supervises a team of maintenance technicians and ensures the reliability, safety, and optimal performance of manufacturing equipment and facility systems including rotational molding, extrusion, RF welding, CNC machines, and hydraulic systems. The Maintenance Lead will be hands-on, working alongside technicians to perform preventative, predictive, and corrective maintenance while ensuring adherence to safety, quality, and productivity standards. This position requires flexibility, including availability for nights and weekends, to support production demands and emergency maintenance needs.

Key Responsibilities:

• Leadership & Team Supervision
• Supervise, coach, and develop a team of maintenance technicians across multiple skill levels
• Assign daily and long-range work orders, prioritizing based on production needs, safety, and equipment criticality
• Provide hands-on technical support and troubleshooting for complex mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, and pneumatic issues
• Lead by example, maintaining a visible presence on the production floor
• Participate in hiring, onboarding, training, performance management, and corrective action processes

• Preventive & Predictive Maintenance
• Ensure PM schedules are followed, documented, and continuously improved
• Utilize CMMS system to manage work orders, PMs, labor tracking, and equipment history
• Identify recurring failures and lead root cause analysis and corrective actions
• Support predictive maintenance initiatives such as vibration analysis, thermography, and oil analysis where applicable

• Unscheduled & Emergency Maintenance
• Lead response to unplanned equipment failures and production interruptions
• Coordinate troubleshooting efforts to minimize downtime and restore operations quickly and safely
• Be available and responsive to after-hours, night, or weekend maintenance needs as required
• Communicate status, risks, and repair plans clearly to Maintenance Manager and relevant Production Teams

• Equipment & Facility Support
• Maintain and troubleshoot equipment including (but not limited to): rotational molding machines, extrusion lines, RF welding equipment, CNC machines (mills, lathes, routers), hydraulic and pneumatic systems, material handling equipment, plant utilities (compressed air, cooling systems, HVAC, electrical distribution)
• Support equipment installation, relocation, upgrades, and commissioning
• Coordinate external contractors and service providers as needed

• Safety, Compliance & Continuous Improvement
• Enforce safety policies, lockout/tagout (LOTO), confined space, and machine-guarding requirements
• Ensure compliance with OSHA, local, state, and federal regulations
• Participate in safety meetings, audits, and incident investigations
• Promote and participate in continuous improvement initiatives (Lean, 5S, TPM, reliability improvements)
• Identify opportunities to improve maintenance efficiency, reduce costs, and extend equipment life

• Planning, Budgeting & Communication
• Assist Maintenance Manager with spare parts management, inventory control, and budget planning
• Recommend capital improvements, equipment upgrades, and tooling needs
• Maintain accurate maintenance documentation and reports
• Communicate effectively with Operations, Engineering, Quality, and Leadership teams
• Provide regular updates on equipment status, downtime trends, and improvement initiatives

Required Qualifications:

• High school diploma or GED required; technical degree or trade certification preferred
• 7+ years of industrial maintenance experience in a manufacturing environment
• 2+ years of direct supervisory or lead maintenance experience
• Strong working knowledge of mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic, and controls systems
• Experience supporting automated and semi-automated production equipment
• Proficiency with CMMS systems and maintenance documentation
• Ability to read schematics, blueprints, electrical diagrams, and technical manuals
• Strong troubleshooting, problem-solving, and decision-making skills

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in plastics manufacturing, rotational molding, extrusion, or RF welding environments
• CNC troubleshooting and repair experience
• Familiarity with PLCs, HMIs, and basic industrial controls
• Lean Manufacturing, TPM, or Reliability-Centered Maintenance experience
• OSHA safety training or certification

Physical & Work Requirements:

• Must be able to work in a manufacturing environment, including standing, walking, climbing, bending, and lifting up to 50 lbs
• Willing and able to work off-shift hours, nights, weekends, and occasional holidays as maintenance requirements dictate
• Ability to respond to emergency maintenance situations outside normal business hours

Key Competencies:

• Hands-on leadership style
• Strong communication and teamwork skills
• High sense of ownership and accountability
• Safety-first mindset
• Organized, detail-oriented, and results-driven
• Adaptable to changing priorities in a fast-paced production environment