Job Details

Maintenance Lead (Working Lead)

Position Overview

The Maintenance Lead (Working Lead) is a hands-on leader responsible for performing maintenance work while directing the daily activities of the maintenance team. This role ensures equipment reliability, safety, and minimal downtime by combining technical expertise with team coordination. The position partners closely with Production, Engineering, Quality, and EHS to support efficient, compliant, and uninterrupted operations. Reports to the Maintenance Supervisor.

Key Responsibilities:

Hands-On Technical Maintenance

• Perform mechanical, electrical, and automation troubleshooting and repairs.
• Lead emergency response and root-cause problem solving for equipment failures.
• Conduct routine inspections and ensure preventative and predictive maintenance tasks are completed.
• Support equipment upgrades, system improvements, and adoption of new technologies.

Team Leadership & Daily Coordination

• Assign work, set priorities, and guide maintenance technicians on daily tasks.
• Provide on-the-job training, coaching, and informal performance feedback.
• Serve as an escalation point for complex technical issues and ensure the team follows best practices.

Safety, Compliance & Risk Management

• Enforce safety procedures including PPE use, lockout/tagout (LOTO), and hazard mitigation.
• Partner with EHS to report, investigate, and document any incidents or near misses.
• Conduct risk assessments and ensure maintenance work meets regulatory and company safety standards.

Maintenance Planning & Scheduling

• Coordinate maintenance activities to minimize production disruptions.
• Collaborate with the Maintenance Supervisor on preventive maintenance programs and scheduling.
• Ensure accurate documentation of maintenance activities, inspections, repairs, and equipment issues.
• Occasionally prepare maintenance reports and downtime analyses when covering for the Supervisor.

Inventory & Resource Management

• Monitor and maintain spare parts inventory, tools, and critical supplies.
• Coordinate with procurement and vendors to source materials cost-effectively.
• Track usage trends and help forecast inventory needs to prevent shortages or excess.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with Production, Engineering, and Quality teams to align maintenance priorities with operational goals.
• Communicate equipment status, risks, progress, and resource needs to management.
• Support planned maintenance windows and communicate timing to minimize disruption.

Continuous Improvement

• Identify and implement opportunities to increase equipment reliability and extend machinery life.
• Analyze recurring issues and maintenance trends to recommend process or equipment improvements.
• Promote a culture of continual learning and improvement within the maintenance team.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of hands-on industrial maintenance experience (mechanical, electrical, automation).
• Prior lead or informal leadership experience strongly preferred.
• Strong troubleshooting skills and ability to make quick, safety-focused decisions.
• Experience with CMMS systems, maintenance planning tools, and Microsoft Office.
• Ability to train and develop technicians while balancing hands-on repair work.
• High school diploma required; technical/vocational training or certifications a plus.
• Bilingual Spanish preferred.
• Must be able to work with required PPE and perform physical duties including standing, kneeling, climbing, and lifting up to 25–30 lbs.
• Strong communication, organization, reasoning, and mathematical competency (arithmetic, algebra, geometry; ability to apply technical math in diagnosing equipment).

Work Environment

• Based in the maintenance cage/industrial facility environment.
• Exposure to noise, fumes, moving mechanical parts, and variable temperatures.