Lead Maintenance Technician

Job Details: Job Location: SCHATTDECOR

• MO
• MARYLAND HEIGHTS, MO, Salary Range: Undisclosed, If you enjoy solving complex equipment problems and taking ownership of critical repairs, this is an opportunity to make a real impact. Working with sophisticated German and European production machinery, you'll lead diagnostics and troubleshooting efforts when issues arise, focusing on root cause analysis rather than simply replacing components. Your expertise will help drive equipment reliability, reduce downtime, and improve overall plant performance. Beyond troubleshooting, you'll help strengthen the maintenance team by sharing your expertise, supporting other technicians, and helping build a culture of technical excellence. This is a hands-on leadership role focused on influence, knowledge-sharing, and problem-solving, not direct supervision.

Essential Functions

Troubleshoot and repair production machinery, finding the root cause of a failure instead of just replacing parts; Diagnose single-phase and three-phase electrical problems, including motors, contactors, relays, safety circuits, VFDs and motor controls; Troubleshoot PLC-controlled equipment and use PLC diagnostics to pinpoint machine and process issues; Troubleshoot sensors and instrumentation, including proximity, photoelectric, pressure and temperature sensors and limit switches; Repair pneumatic and hydraulic systems, including valves, cylinders, pumps and regulators; Make mechanical repairs to bearings, shafts, couplings, gearboxes, chains, belts and rollers, including alignment and adjustment; Serve as the technical go-to on complex breakdowns and help other technicians build their troubleshooting skills; Perform preventive and predictive maintenance and recommend permanent fixes for recurring failures; Support installation, commissioning and modification of production equipment; Work with German and European equipment manufacturers and their service technicians, including remote troubleshooting sessions; Keep accurate maintenance records and equipment history and help manage critical spare parts; Perform basic fabrication and occasional TIG and MIG welding; Follow all safety procedures, including Lockout/Tagout, and keep the work area clean and organized; Other duties as assigned; Required Qualifications Minimum of seven (7) years of hands-on industrial maintenance experience in a manufacturing or industrial environment.

Technical degree, apprenticeship, vocational training, or an equivalent combination of technical education and extensive industrial maintenance experience; Demonstrated proficiency in three-phase electrical systems, motor controls, pneumatics, and hydraulics; Ability to read, interpret, and troubleshoot using electrical schematics, wiring diagrams, and hydraulic drawings; Proven experience diagnosing and repairing PLC-controlled equipment and automated machinery; Strong troubleshooting, problem-solving, and root cause analysis skills; Qualifications: Experience programming and troubleshooting Siemens S7 PLCs and TIA Portal software; experience with Allen-Bradley systems is also desirable; Working knowledge of Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs), including diagnostics and parameter configuration; Background in mechatronics, automation, machine building, or advanced manufacturing systems; Experience with TIG and MIG welding, fabrication, and basic machining repairs; Familiarity with SAP Plant Maintenance (PM) or other computerized maintenance management systems (CMMS); Experience supporting continuous improvement, reliability, and preventive maintenance initiatives.