Lead Maintenance Technician

Lead Maintenance TechnicianThis working lead role oversees a team of maintenance technicians while performing hands-on, multicraft industrial maintenance in a high-volume manufacturing environment. You will lead daily safety and pre-shift meetings, monitor preventive maintenance activities, and participate in continuous improvement initiatives. The position requires strong mechanical and electrical troubleshooting skills, experience with complex production equipment, and a commitment to safety and reliability.ResponsibilitiesLead and oversee a team of approximately 5–9 maintenance technicians during the shift, providing direction, guidance, and support.Conduct daily safety meetings and pre-shift meetings to review priorities, address safety concerns, and align the team on maintenance activities.Monitor the status of preventive maintenance (PM) tasks conducted on the shift and ensure timely completion in accordance with schedules.Attend monthly improvement meetings and contribute to continuous improvement initiatives related to equipment reliability, safety, and productivity.Perform hands-on multicraft maintenance, including both mechanical and electrical troubleshooting and repair, in a manufacturing environment.Troubleshoot and repair a wide range of machinery and equipment, including stamping presses, injection molding machines, PLC-controlled systems, 6-axis robots (Fanuc, Yamaha, Mitsubishi), automated assembly lines, conveyors, molding equipment, and rubber mixing machinery.Inspect and monitor boilers and air compressors to ensure safe and reliable operation.Use a laptop to troubleshoot machinery, access technical documentation, and accurately document work orders and maintenance activities.Work within a Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS) to receive, complete, and track work orders and to follow preventive maintenance schedules.Troubleshoot and repair hydraulic and pneumatic systems, including cylinders, valves, lines, and related components.Maintain and repair pumps, motors, conveyor systems, and gearboxes to minimize downtime and extend equipment life.Read and interpret electrical schematics, mechanical drawings, and blueprints to diagnose issues and perform repairs.Troubleshoot and work with PLCs, including PLC control systems and ladder logic, particularly Mitsubishi PLCs, to diagnose and resolve control-related issues.Diagnose and repair electrical systems, including 208V and 24V AC/DC circuits, with exposure to 480V and 3-phase power systems.Troubleshoot and maintain robotics systems, including 6-axis robots, sensors, and related controls.Apply welding and/or basic fabrication skills when needed to support equipment repair and modification.Follow and implement safety measures at all times, including proper use of arc flash uniforms and adherence to lockout/tagout procedures.Collaborate with other departments, including production and engineering, to minimize downtime and support manufacturing goals.Support and promote a strong safety culture by modeling safe behaviors, addressing hazards, and participating in safety initiatives.Assist with training and mentoring other maintenance technicians, helping them develop technical and troubleshooting skills.Support stamping, molding, and other production processes by ensuring equipment is properly maintained and available.Document all work performed in detail, including parts used, root cause analysis, and corrective actions taken.Essential SkillsAt least 5–8 years of industrial maintenance experience in a manufacturing environment (experience cannot be exclusively in distribution).Proven experience performing both mechanical and electrical troubleshooting on industrial equipment.Hands-on experience working with hydraulic systems, including troubleshooting and repair.Hands-on experience working with pneumatic systems, including troubleshooting and repair.Experience maintaining and repairing pumps, conveyors, motors, and gearboxes.PLC troubleshooting experience, preferably with Mitsubishi PLCs, including working with PLC control systems.Robotics experience, including troubleshooting and maintaining 6-axis robots (such as Fanuc, Yamaha, and Mitsubishi).Experience working with 208V and 24V AC/DC electrical systems; exposure to 480V and 3-phase power is a plus.Ability to read and interpret electrical schematics, mechanical drawings, and blueprints.Demonstrated leadership experience or a strong desire to move into a leadership position.Strong skills in industrial maintenance, including preventive maintenance, repair, and troubleshooting.Ability to use a laptop for troubleshooting, documentation, and working within a CMMS.Experience with electrical troubleshooting, including 3-phase systems and industrial controls.Competence in mechanical and electrical troubleshooting in a manufacturing setting.Ability to follow and enforce safety procedures, including lockout/tagout and arc flash safety practices.Additional Skills & QualificationsExperience with sensors and variable frequency drives (VFDs).Additional experience troubleshooting robotics systems beyond basic operation.Familiarity with ladder logic programming and interpretation.Welding and/or fabrication experience to support equipment repair and modification.Experience with stamping operations and equipment.Comfort working with PLC control systems and conveyor systems in an industrial environment.Experience using CMMS software for work orders and preventive maintenance scheduling.Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to perform detailed root cause analysis.Effective communication skills to coordinate with maintenance team members and other departments.Ability to work independently and as part of a team while managing multiple tasks during a shift.Why Work Here?You will join a company that invests heavily in its people, providing tools, uniforms, and a structured pay progression tied to skills and performance. All tools and toolboxes are supplied, and arc flash uniforms are provided at no cost. The organization emphasizes work-life balance by not mandating overtime throughout the week or requiring seven-day schedules, while still offering overtime appreciation hours that convert into additional vacation time. Healthcare benefits are highly competitive, with no-cost coverage in the first year and wellness incentives that can significantly reduce premiums for you and your family thereafter. A robust 401(k) program offers a 50-cent match on every dollar up to 6%, supporting long-term financial security. Time off is generous, with a clear vacation accrual structure, holiday pay, floating holidays, and additional PTO for perfect attendance. The company rewards reliability through a structured perfect attendance program that provides incremental wage increases and extra vacation hours. Career growth is a core part of the culture, with a strong track record of promoting from within—maintenance technicians have advanced into team leadership, engineering roles, and executive positions. Safety is a top priority, with a strong safety culture and ongoing initiatives to protect employees on the job.Work EnvironmentThis is a 6-month contract-to-hire position in a large manufacturing plant with approximately 400 employees and a maintenance team currently targeting 21 technicians across three shifts. The role is on 3rd shift, with core hours of 10:50 p.m. to 7:10 a.m., and initial training on 1st shift (6:50 a.m. to 3:10 p.m.). Additional shifts in the facility include 2nd shift from 2:50 p.m. to 11:10 p.m. The plant environment is typical for automotive manufacturing, with older machinery, a loud atmosphere, and a noticeable rubber smell, but it is well lit and organized. The facility produces automotive components such as fuel hoses, air conditioning hoses, turbo air hoses, water and vacuum hoses, mounts, transmission parts, suspension parts, and chassis parts. Maintenance technicians work with a wide range of industrial equipment, including stamping presses, injection molding machines, automated assembly lines, conveyors, molding and rubber mixing machinery, boilers, air compressors, and 6-axis robots. Each technician is provided with a laptop for troubleshooting and documentation and works within a CMMS to manage work orders and preventive maintenance schedules. The role involves regular use of industrial electrical systems (including 208V and 24V AC/DC, with exposure to 480V and 3-phase), hydraulic and pneumatic systems, PLCs (particularly Mitsubishi), sensors, VFDs, and robotics. Arc flash uniforms are provided, and lockout/tagout procedures are strictly followed, with a strong emphasis on safety. The dress code includes appropriate industrial attire, including composite-toe footwear, supported by an annual stipend for steel/composite-toe shoes.Job Type & LocationThis