Maintenance Mechanic

Aerotek; Chesapeake (VA); On-site; USD 28,000 - 47,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental & vision

401(k) Retirement Plan

Life Insurance

Disability insurance

Paid time off (PTO)

Job summary

Aerotek in Chesapeake, VA is seeking a Maintenance Mechanic to perform welding and fabrications, repair shredders, conveyors and other material-handling equipment in an outdoor industrial setting. The role requires mechanical aptitude, safe welding practices, and the ability to read drawings and schematics to diagnose mechanical issues.

The position emphasizes preventive and corrective maintenance, with responsibilities including gearboxes, hydraulics, bearings, and rigging, while adhering to

Qualifications

• Strong welding skills and metal fabrication ability.
• Solid mechanical aptitude for maintenance and repair.
• Ability to diagnose and repair heavy equipment issues.
• Ability to read mechanical drawings and schematics.

Responsibilities

• Perform preventive, corrective, and emergency maintenance on shredders, conveyors, magnets, and other equipment.
• Diagnose mechanical issues, repair bearings, gearboxes, hydraulics, and perform welding/fabrication.
• Inspect shredder systems and monitor wear components.
• Support startup/shutdown procedures and enforce lockout/tagout for safety.
• Respond quickly to breakdowns to minimize downtime and maintain production.
• Comply with safety policies, OSHA standards, and environmental regulations.
• Maintain clean, organized work areas and complete maintenance logs and parts usage docs.
• Communicate repair status and improvement opportunities to maintenance leadership.

Skills

Welding & fabrication

Mechanical aptitude

Troubleshooting heavy

Reading schematics

Rigging & lifting

Lockout/tagout awareness

Conveyor & material-handling knowledge

Tools

CMMS

Job description

Job Title: Maintenance Mechanic

Job Description

The Maintenance Mechanic will perform metal fabrication, repair heavy equipment, maintain yard infrastructure, and assist with cleaning as needed. This role requires strong welding skills, solid mechanical aptitude, and the ability to work safely in a demanding industrial outdoor environment. The position focuses on maintaining and repairing shredders, conveyors, magnets, eddy currents, shears, balers, and other material‑handling equipment to support continuous and efficient operations.

Responsibilities

• Perform preventive, corrective, and emergency maintenance on shredders, conveyors, magnets, eddy currents, shears, balers, and other material‑handling equipment.

• Diagnose and repair mechanical issues, including bearing replacement, gearbox repair, hydraulic system maintenance, pneumatic system maintenance, welding, fabrication, alignment, and rigging.

• Conduct routine inspections of shredder systems and monitor wear components such as hammers, grates, and liners.

• Assist equipment operators with startup and shutdown procedures and support proper lockout/tagout practices to ensure safe operation.

• Respond promptly to equipment breakdowns to minimize downtime and maintain consistent production flow.

• Comply with all company safety policies, OSHA standards, and applicable environmental regulations.

• Participate in safety meetings, audits, and job hazard analyses to help identify and mitigate risks.

• Maintain clean, organized, and safe work areas throughout the facility, including proper selection and use of personal protective equipment (PPE).

• Inspect tools and equipment regularly to verify safe and reliable operation.

• Complete maintenance work orders, logs, and parts usage documentation accurately and in a timely manner.

• Communicate equipment conditions, repair needs, and improvement opportunities clearly to maintenance leadership.

• Assist with maintaining parts inventory and recommending critical spare components to reduce downtime.

• Support overall yard infrastructure maintenance and assist with general cleaning and housekeeping tasks as needed.

Essential Skills

• Strong mechanical aptitude with hands‑on experience in equipment maintenance and repair.

• Proficiency in welding and metal fabrication in an industrial environment.

• Ability to diagnose and troubleshoot mechanical issues on heavy equipment and material‑handling systems.

• Working knowledge of mechanical systems, including bearings, gearboxes, and alignment.

• Working knowledge of hydraulic systems, including maintenance and repair of hydraulic components.

• Working knowledge of pneumatic systems and associated maintenance requirements.

• Ability to read and interpret mechanical drawings, schematics, and equipment manuals.

• Experience working with conveyor systems and other material‑handling equipment.

• Ability to use industrial tools and rigging equipment safely and effectively.

• Basic understanding of electrical and diesel‑powered equipment as it relates to mechanical maintenance.

• Ability to lift, carry, push, and pull heavy materials safely.

• Ability to stand or walk for extended periods in an industrial environment.

• Ability to climb, balance, crouch, and perform manual labor safely while following proper safety procedures.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience using computerized maintenance management systems (CMMS) is preferred.

• Experience performing troubleshooting on complex mechanical, hydraulic, and pneumatic systems.

• Familiarity with lockout/tagout procedures and safe work practices in industrial settings.

• Comfort working outdoors in a heavy industrial yard environment.

• Strong attention to detail when completing documentation, work orders, and maintenance logs.

• Effective communication skills to convey equipment status and repair needs to leadership and operators.

• Commitment to maintaining a clean, organized, and safety‑focused work area.

Why Work Here?

This opportunity offers a competitive pay structure and steady, reliable work that is not dependent on weather conditions. The role supports long‑term, permanent employment in a stable industrial operation, providing consistent hours and the chance to build and grow your skills over time. You can expect a culture that values safety, reliability, and teamwork, with ongoing opportunities to work on a wide range of equipment and systems.

Work Environment

The work takes place in an industrial outdoor yard environment with heavy equipment such as shredders, conveyors, magnets, eddy currents, shears, and balers. The role involves regular exposure to noise, dust, and moving machinery, and requires the use of appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE). Work is hands‑on and physically demanding, including lifting heavy materials, standing and walking for extended periods, climbing, balancing, and crouching. The environment emphasizes safety, adherence to OSHA standards, and maintaining clean, organized work areas. Industrial tools, rigging equipment, and maintenance documentation systems are used regularly to support equipment reliability and efficient operations.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Chesapeake, VA.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $20.00 - $34.00/hr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job‑related factors.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following:

Medical, dental & visionCritical Illness, Accident, and Hospital401(k) Retirement Plan Pre‑tax and Roth post‑tax contributions availableLife Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)Short and long‑term disabilityHealth Spending Account (HSA)Transportation benefitsEmployee Assistance ProgramTime Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Chesapeake, VA.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Nov 10, 2026.

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Chesapeake,VA.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regards to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance:

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector:

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI):

We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.