Maintenance Technician

Otterbase, Inc.; Michigan; On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Otterbase, Inc. is seeking a Maintenance Technician in Michigan to install, troubleshoot, repair, and maintain plastics manufacturing equipment and facility systems to ensure safe, reliable, and efficient production.

The role supports preventive maintenance on molding, extrusion, and auxiliary processing equipment and drives continuous improvement to maximize uptime and product quality. Responsibilities include diagnosing electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, and pneumatic issues, performing PM on

Qualifications

• Associate degree or equivalent in industrial maintenance or a related technical field.
• Minimum 1 year maintenance experience in plastics or industrial manufacturing preferred.
• Experience with PLC-controlled equipment and CMMS is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Troubleshoot, diagnose, and repair electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, and automated plastics manufacturing equipment.
• Perform preventive and predictive maintenance on injection molding machines, extrusion equipment, presses, robotics, conveyors, chillers, dryers, blenders and other processing equipment.
• Respond quickly to equipment breakdowns to minimize downtime and maintain production schedules.
• Inspect machinery for wear, leaks, vibration, and indicators of potential failure; implement corrective actions.
• Maintain hydraulic systems including pumps, valves, cylinders, reservoirs, filters, and fluid levels.
• Lubricate and service production equipment according to manufacturer recommendations and PM schedules.
• Repair and replace motors, gearboxes, bearings, belts, chains, sensors, valves, pneumatic components, and other mechanical systems.
• Assist with troubleshooting PLC-controlled equipment and automated systems.
• Inspect, test, and maintain machine safety systems and emergency stop devices.
• Follow LOTO procedures and all plant safety requirements before maintenance.
• Complete equipment installations, changeovers, modifications, and capital projects as assigned.
• Accurately document maintenance activities and parts usage in CMMS.
• Collaborate with Production, Engineering, Tooling, and Quality teams to identify root causes and implement corrective actions.
• Participate in continuous improvement initiatives focused on reliability, OEE, and efficiency.

Skills

Troubleshooting

Electrical systems

Mechanical systems

PLC control

CMMS

Education

Associate degree in Industrial Maintenance or related technical field

Tools

CMMS software

Electrical schematics

Hydraulic/Pneumatic systems

Job description

Job Description

Position Summary

The Maintenance Technician is responsible for installing, troubleshooting, repairing, and maintaining plastics manufacturing equipment and facility systems to ensure safe, reliable, and efficient production. This position supports preventive and predictive maintenance activities on molding, extrusion, and auxiliary processing equipment, responds to equipment failures, and drives continuous improvement initiatives that maximize equipment uptime, product quality, and operational efficiency.

Essential Responsibilities

• Troubleshoot, diagnose, and repair electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, and automated plastics manufacturing equipment.
• Perform preventive and predictive maintenance on injection molding machines, extrusion equipment, presses, robotics, conveyors, chillers, dryers, blenders, grinders, and other auxiliary processing equipment.
• Respond quickly to equipment breakdowns to minimize downtime and maintain production schedules.
• Inspect machinery for wear, leaks, vibration, and other indicators of potential failure, implementing corrective actions as needed.
• Maintain hydraulic systems, including pumps, valves, cylinders, reservoirs, filters, and fluid levels.
• Lubricate and service production equipment according to manufacturer recommendations and preventive maintenance schedules.
• Repair and replace motors, gearboxes, bearings, belts, chains, sensors, valves, pneumatic components, and other mechanical systems.
• Assist with troubleshooting PLC-controlled equipment and automated manufacturing systems.
• Inspect, test, and maintain machine safety systems, guarding, and emergency stop devices.
• Follow Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) procedures and all plant safety requirements before performing maintenance activities.
• Complete equipment installations, changeovers, modifications, and capital improvement projects as assigned.
• Accurately document maintenance activities, repairs, parts usage, and work orders within the computerized maintenance management system (CMMS).
• Partner with Production, Engineering, Tooling, and Quality teams to identify root causes of equipment failures and implement long-term corrective actions.
• Participate in continuous improvement initiatives focused on equipment reliability, Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), and manufacturing efficiency.
• Maintain a clean, organized, and safe maintenance work area.
• Perform additional duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Education & Experience

• Associate degree in Industrial Maintenance, Mechatronics, Electrical Technology, or a related technical field preferred.
• Equivalent combination of education, technical training, military experience, and industrial maintenance experience will be considered.
• Minimum of one (1) year of maintenance experience in a plastics manufacturing or industrial manufacturing environment preferred.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Experience maintaining plastics processing equipment, including injection molding, extrusion, blow molding, or thermoforming equipment is highly preferred.
• Strong troubleshooting skills involving electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic, mechanical, and automated manufacturing systems.
• Working knowledge of PLC-controlled equipment, industrial sensors, and automated production machinery.
• Ability to read electrical schematics, mechanical drawings, blueprints, and equipment manuals.
• Familiarity with hydraulic systems, pneumatic controls, industrial motors, variable frequency drives (VFDs), and conveyors.
• Knowledge of industrial safety practices, including Lockout/Tagout (LOTO).
• Experience using hand tools, power tools, precision measuring equipment, and diagnostic instruments.
• Strong analytical and root cause problem-solving skills.
• Effective communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively across departments.
• Basic computer skills and experience with CMMS software preferred.
• Basic math skills including measurements, percentages, decimals, and ratios.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to lift up to 75 pounds.
• Ability to apply torque up to 180 pounds.
• Ability to stand, walk, bend, kneel, climb ladders, work at heights, and perform physically demanding maintenance activities throughout the shift.
• Ability to work in a manufacturing environment with exposure to heat, noise, moving machinery, oils, and plastics processing equipment.
• Ability to work overtime, weekends, and respond to emergency maintenance needs as required.

Safety & Quality Responsibilities

• Comply with all company safety policies and OSHA regulations.