Maintenance Technician

Palmer Foundry is seeking a skilled Maintenance Technician to join our team. In this role, you will play a critical part in minimizing downtime by maintaining, troubleshooting, and repairing heavy machinery and facility equipment unique to our high-precision aluminum casting operations. The ideal candidate possesses strong mechanical troubleshooting skills, thrives in a fast-paced industrial environment, and strictly adheres to OSHA and internal safety protocols.

Higher rate potential commensurate with experience.

This position may require access to export-controlled technology or software source code that is subject to export controls restrictions under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (“ITAR”) and the Export Administration Regulations (“EAR”) and will therefore be required to meet eligibility criteria under ITAR and EAR regulations.

Duties include

• Works closely with Production, Quality, Engineering, and EHS to maintain safe, reliable, and efficient manufacturing operations
• Visually inspects, tests, maintains and troubleshoots foundry equipment, including melting and holding furnaces, molding machines, sand systems, cut-off equipment, shot-blasting equipment, air compressors, pumps, motors, cooling systems, cranes, and related production equipment.
• Supports planned shutdowns, major repairs, equipment rebuilds, installations, upgrades, and other maintenance and capital improvement projects.
• Supports equipment modifications and process improvements while ensuring appropriate consideration of safety, quality, maintainability, and production requirements
• Provides troubleshooting support to maintenance personnel and production employees as needed.
• Listens for unusual sounds from machines or equipment to detect malfunction and resolve technical problems on the production lines to ensure equipment and machinery compliance with production procedures and process specifications.
• Dismantles defective machines and equipment; installs new or repaired parts.
• Completes preventative and predictive maintenance including cleaning and lubricating shafts, bearings, gears, and other parts of machinery.
• Repairs and maintains electrical and mechanical equipment throughout our manufacturing facility such as transformers and wiring, and electrical and electronic components of machinery and equipment.
• Lays out, assembles, installs, and maintains pipe systems and related hydraulic and pneumatic equipment, and repairs and replaces gauges, valves, pressure regulators, and related equipment.
• Responds to emergencies, breakdowns, malfunctions, etc. to minimize disruptions to manufacturing processes
• Installs, programs, or repairs automated machinery and equipment such as robots or programmable controllers.
• Sets up and operates machine tools such as lathe, grinder, drill, and milling machine to repair or fabricate machine parts, jigs and fixtures, and tools.
• Operates cutting torch or welding equipment to cut or join metal parts.
• Fabricates and repairs counters, benches, partitions, and other wooden structures.
• Interprets mechanical and electrical drawings
• Performs basic rigging
• Operate various PIVs (training provided)

Supervisory Responsibilities:

This job has no supervisory responsibilities.

Education:

Seeking candidates with proven experience in predictive maintenance and a strong documented track record of strict compliance with LOTO and OSHA safety standards. High school diploma or general education degree (GED) required. Two to five (2-5) years of industrial maintenance experience in a heavy manufacturing or casting environment (or equivalent combination of related experience, education, and/or training) preferred. 

Technical Skills

• Strong mechanical and electrical troubleshooting capabilities.
• Working knowledge of industrial motors, pumps, bearings, gearboxes, hydraulics, pneumatics, compressed-air systems, cooling systems, and material-handling equipment.
• Familiarity with industrial electrical systems, sensors, motor controls, VFDs, PLC-controlled equipment, and automated manufacturing systems.
• Experience managing preventive and predictive maintenance programs.
• Experience with managing equipment, preventive maintenance, work orders, spare parts, and maintenance history.
• Understanding of Root-Cause Analysis (RCA) or similar problem-solving techniques.
• Ability to read and interpret mechanical drawings, electrical schematics, equipment manuals, P&IDs, and technical documentation.
• Proficient with computers and standard workplace software including Microsoft Excel and other Microsoft Office applications.
• Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, TPM, 5S, and continuous improvement methodologies a plus.

  Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong hands-on troubleshooting and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to systematically diagnose complex equipment problems and develop practical, permanent solutions.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively with production employees, maintenance technicians, engineers, supervisors, vendors, and management.
• Demonstrated commitment to workplace safety, equipment reliability, product quality, and continuous improvement.

  Physical and Work Environment Requirements

• Ability to work in an industrial foundry environment involving heat, noise, dust, moving equipment, and varying temperatures.
• Ability to walk and stand for extended periods and access production and equipment areas throughout the facility.
• Ability to climb stairs and ladders and work around industrial machinery as required.
• Ability to lift and/or move equipment, tools, and components consistent with established company safety practices.
• Must be willing to respond to urgent equipment and production issues when necessary.

The statements contained in this job description are intended to describe the general content and requirements for performance of this job. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all job duties, responsibilities, and requirements. This job description is not an employment agreement or contract. Management has the exclusive right to alter the scope of work within the framework of this job description at any time without prior notice.

Palmer Foundry also complies with federal employment eligibility verification laws through the E-Verify process. To verify identity and legal authority to work in the U.S., on their first day of employment, employees must present either a document which establishes both identity and work authorization (e.g., a U.S. Passport or Permanent Resident Card), or provide one document for identity (e.g., a state-issued driver's license) and one for work authorization (e.g., a U.S. Social Security Card). All documents must be unexpired and presented in original form to Palmer Foundry for the completion of Form I-9 and the E-Verify process.