Maintenance Technician Lead

Job Summary

The Maintenance Technician Lead is responsible for performing, overseeing, and guiding preventive, corrective, and emergency maintenance activities at the pellet mill facility. This role leads a team of Maintenance Technicians with varying levels of experience and is a hands-on contributor, especially in mechanical and electrical troubleshooting and repair. The Lead ensures equipment reliability, adherence to safety protocols, and supports optimal production uptime. This position requires strong mechanical aptitude, leadership capabilities, and at least 2–3 years of applied electrical experience in an industrial setting.

Duties and Responsibilities

Leadership & Team Oversight

• Provide day-to-day direction and support to Maintenance Technicians, assigning tasks and following up to ensure quality and timely completion.
• Serve as the technical lead and mentor for team members; support onboarding and skills development for less experienced technicians.
• Coordinate with production and maintenance leadership to prioritize repair and preventive maintenance needs.
• Act as liaison between the maintenance team and site leadership to communicate downtime, delays, or maintenance-related concerns.

Preventive & Corrective Maintenance

• Perform and oversee scheduled preventive maintenance on pellet mills, conveyors, motors, fans, gearboxes, and other production machinery.
• Lead troubleshooting and repairs of mechanical and electrical systems including motors, sensors, control panels, and switchgear.
• Support root cause analysis for equipment failures and recommend long-term solutions to prevent reoccurrence.
• Monitor maintenance logs and ensure work orders are completed accurately and efficiently using the CMMS system.

Safety, Quality & Compliance

• Ensure all maintenance activities are performed in compliance with company safety policies and OSHA regulations.
• Participate in safety audits, lockout/tagout procedures, and inspections; promote a culture of safety within the team.
• Identify equipment safety hazards and communicate findings to leadership for resolution.
• Support quality control by ensuring all repairs and installations meet operational standards.

Inventory, Tools & Equipment Readiness

• Assist in tracking parts inventory, tool calibration, and ensuring all maintenance tools are in proper working order.
• Recommend spare parts and supplies for inventory stocking to reduce downtime.

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Qualification Requirements

• High school diploma or GED; trade school, technical certification, or vocational training preferred.
• Minimum of 6 years’ experience in industrial or manufacturing maintenance roles, including at least 2–3 years of hands-on electrical work.
• Strong understanding of mechanical, pneumatic, and electrical systems.
• Experience with PLCs, drives, and troubleshooting automated equipment preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to lead or mentor junior team members.
• Must be available to work shifts, weekends, holidays, or respond to emergency repairs as needed.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Strong troubleshooting and diagnostic skills.
• Effective communication and team leadership abilities.
• Ability to read schematics, blueprints, and technical manuals.
• Working knowledge of CMMS systems, Microsoft Office, and digital maintenance gs.
• Ability to work independently and make sound decisions in high-pressure situations.

Physical Requirements

• Strong troubleshooting and diagnostic skills.
• Effective communication and team leadership abilities.
• Ability to read schematics, blueprints, and technical manuals.
• Working knowledge of CMMS systems, Microsoft Office, and digital maintenance logs.
• Ability to work independently and make sound decisions in high-pressure situations.
• Physical stamina to stand, walk, climb, bend, and lift up to 75 pounds.
• Must be able to work in dusty, hot, cold, and loud industrial environments.
• Must be able to climb ladders, work at heights above 6 feet, and enter confined spaces using proper PPE.