Maintenance Team Lead

TAI; Newark (DE); On-site; USD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

OT pay and profit sharing bonus

PTO & holidays

Health benefits (family coverage)

401(k) with employer match

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

TAI is seeking a Shift Team Lead to drive safe, reliable, and efficient plant performance on the production floor. You’ll lead daily shift activities, mentor operators, and partner with maintenance, engineering, and labs to resolve issues and optimize operations.

The role requires hands-on leadership in a chemical/industrial setting, strong problem solving, and a commitment to safety and continuous improvement. Night and day shifts are available, with competitive compensation and benefits.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 7 years in chemical, industrial, or continuous manufacturing environments.
• Experience as a lead operator, shift lead, crew lead, or frontline manufacturing leader.
• Hands-on experience troubleshooting industrial process equipment and supporting daily production.

Responsibilities

• Lead daily shift activities and remain actively involved in plant operations.
• Serve as the technical resource for operators for process troubleshooting and equipment issues.
• Work with operations to safely operate, monitor, and optimize manufacturing processes.
• Coach and mentor operators through hands-on training and real-time problem solving.
• Promote a strong safety culture by ensuring OSHA compliance and safe work practices.
• Perform plant rounds, monitor equipment performance, and identify reliability improvements.
• Respond to process upsets and implement corrective actions; participate in root-cause analyses.
• Coordinate with maintenance, engineering, labs, and other groups to resolve issues.

Skills

Leadership

Troubleshooting

Process operations

Rotating equipment

Pumps/Valves/Instrumentation

SAP

Microsoft Office

Education

Associate degree in Process Technology

B.S. in Chemical or Mechanical Engineering

Tools

SAP

Job description

About The Role

Join a critical manufacturing operation as a Shift Team Lead, where you'll play a key role in driving safe, reliable, and efficient plant performance. This is a hands‑on leadership position for someone who enjoys being on the production floor, solving real‑time process challenges, supporting operators, and making impactful operational decisions. You'll serve as the technical leader for your shift, partnering with cross‑functional teams to optimize production, troubleshoot equipment and process issues, and foster a culture of safety, teamwork, and continuous improvement.

About TAI

TAI brings together engineering, construction, systems integration, on‑site services, and technical services — combining proven execution with trusted expertise to support clients across the entire project lifecycle. Team members at TAI are capable, well‑rounded, flexible, and optimistic. We have found that the best employees are the ones who recognize the importance of what they do and the ones who let that guide them in the actions they take. More than any skill, we seek people who make decisions that support the common good. We work for our clients, and we work for one another.

Here’s a Glimpse Into Your Day To Day

• Lead daily shift activities while remaining actively involved in plant operations and production.
• Serve as the technical resource for operators, assisting with process troubleshooting, equipment issues, and operational decision‑making.
• Work alongside operations personnel to safely operate, monitor, and optimize manufacturing processes.
• Coach and mentor operators through hands‑on training and real‑time problem solving.
• Promote and reinforce a strong safety culture by ensuring compliance with OSHA regulations, company policies, and safe work practices.
• Perform routine plant rounds, monitor equipment performance, and identify opportunities to improve reliability, efficiency, and production.
• Respond to process upsets and equipment failures, helping diagnose issues and implement corrective actions.
• Participate in incident investigations, root cause analyses, and corrective action implementation.
• Coordinate with maintenance, engineering, laboratory, and other support groups to resolve operational issues.
• Ensure safe work permits, lockout/tagout procedures, and other operational controls are properly executed.
• Support shift scheduling, work assignments, and daily operational priorities while maintaining an active presence in the field.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on safety, quality, reliability, and operational performance.

You’ll Be a Perfect Fit If You Have

• Minimum of 7 years of experience in a chemical, industrial, or continuous manufacturing environment.
• Previous experience serving as a lead operator, shift lead, crew lead, or frontline manufacturing leader.
• Demonstrated hands‑on experience troubleshooting industrial process equipment and supporting daily production operations.
• Strong understanding of process operations, rotating equipment, pumps, valves, instrumentation, and manufacturing systems.Li>
• Ability to diagnose and resolve process and equipment issues in a fast‑paced production environment.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office; experience with ERP systems (SAP preferred) and manufacturing/process control systems is a plus.
• Associate degree in Process Technology, Engineering Technology, or another technical discipline preferred.
• Equivalent industry experience will also be considered.
• Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field is a plus.
• Chemical Process Operator certification, HAZWOPER training, or other industrial certifications are preferred.

Hours

• Shifts: Night and Day shifts available

Compensation And Benefits

• Pay: $80,000-100,000 Annually (depending on experience)
• Eligible for overtime pay
• Annual Profit Sharing Bonus (variable)
• PTO and Paid Holidays
• Health Benefits: Employee through family level coverage for medical, dental, and vision insurances. Company funded life and long‑term disability insurances. Short Term Disability, FSA, HSA, EAP, and supplemental life insurances (employee – family) are also available!
• 401(k) with employer match

Other Offerings

• The opportunity to make a real impact on a variety of industry‑leading projects.
• The ability to balance your work and family activities.
• Flexible work schedule
• Work in a dynamic and collaborative environment that values creativity and innovation.
• A chance to learn and grow alongside some of the brightest minds in engineering.
• Professional Development, Tuition Reimbursement, and Association Membership Reimbursements.

Discover what makes TAI a top‑20 manufacturing partner, according to Engineering News‑Record (ENR), and one of the top‑50 fastest‑growing private companies in the Baltimore Business Journal. Learn more about us at https://www.tai.inc/