Maintenance Technician - HYCO - Lemont, IL

Matheson Tri-Gas; Romeoville (IL); On-site; USD 48,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

Nippon Sanso Matheson in Lemont, IL is seeking a Maintenance Technician to perform preventive, predictive, and corrective maintenance on the SMR hydrogen production facility. This safety‑sensitive role requires strong troubleshooting, ownership of reliability, and hands‑on shop and field work.

You will lead Lockout/Tagout activities, coordinate contractors, support outages, and maintain documentation while complying with site procedures and regulatory requirements.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED required.
• Valid driver’s license and ability to meet site access requirements.
• Demonstrated experience performing and leading Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) activities.
• Minimum 3–5 years of industrial maintenance experience in relevant environments.
• Ability to read and interpret P&IDs, mechanical drawings, equipment manuals, equipment specifications, electrical schematics.
• Experience supporting industrial process operations and troubleshooting plant systems.
• Experience managing contractor and vendor activities in an industrial setting.
• Familiarity with CMMS systems such as SAP, Maximo, or Maintenance Connection.
• Experience with centrifugal pumps and rotating equipment reliability programs.

Responsibilities

• Perform preventive, predictive, and corrective maintenance on SMR hydrogen production facility equipment.
• Troubleshoot failures and performance issues across mechanical, electrical, pneumatic, hydraulic, and process systems.
• Lead Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) activities and ensure safe isolation of energy sources.
• Coordinate contractor activities and manage spare parts and replacement equipment.
• Support outages, turnarounds, and major maintenance projects.
• Complete maintenance documentation and assist with root cause investigations.

Skills

LOTO execution

CMMS systems

P&ID reading

Vibration monitoring

Hydrogen production

Troubleshooting

Rotating equipment

Electrical safety

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Tools

SAP

Maximo

Maintenance Connection

Job description

Maintenance Technician - HYCO - Lemont, IL

Wage $35.00 - $41.00 per hour

Nippon Sanso Matheson Steam Methane Reforming (SMR) Hydrogen Production Site

Maintenance Technician Position Summary

The Maintenance Technician will be expected to perform preventive, predictive, and corrective maintenance on equipment and systems supporting an industrial Steam Methane Reforming (SMR) hydrogen production facility. Beyond traditional maintenance responsibilities, the technician serves as a key site resource for Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) execution, contractor and vendor coordination, equipment reliability, improvement, and operational support. The Maintenance Technician position is a highly safety sensitive role. The successful candidate will be responsible for ensuring all maintenance, contractor, and operational support activities are performed safely, reliably, and in compliance with site procedures and regulatory requirements. Due to the nature of the process, and to ensure the well‑being of personnel and equipment, safety must be the highest priority and foundation of all work activities. The successful candidate will demonstrate strong safety leadership, continual proof of self-motivation, possess strong technical troubleshooting skills, show ownership of site reliability, take pride in their craftsmanship, manage work area and shop housekeeping tasks, willing to be on‑call, and desire to develop process knowledge and operational control competencies.

Safety Responsibilities

Safety performance is the most important responsibility of this position. Serve as a visible safety leader by promoting and enforcing all company safety policies, procedures, and expectations. Perform all work with a zero-injury mindset and stop work whenever unsafe conditions or behaviors are identified. Lead and execute Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) activities to ensure proper isolation of electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, thermal, and process energy sources. Verify equipment isolation boundaries and establish safe work conditions prior to maintenance activities. Conduct field-level hazard assessments, Job Safety Analyses (JSA), and pre-job safety meetings. Support and administer permit processes, including:

• Energy Isolation
• Line Breaking
• Hot Work
• Elevated Work
• Confined Space Entry

Monitor contractor compliance with site safety standards and intervene when unsafe conditions or practices are observed. Participate in incident investigations, corrective action development, and continuous improvement initiatives. Maintain emergency response awareness and provide support during plant emergency situations.

Maintenance and Reliability Responsibilities

Perform preventive, predictive, and corrective maintenance on facility equipment and systems. Troubleshoot failures and performance issues involving mechanical, electrical, pneumatic, hydraulic, and process equipment. Maintain and repair:

• Reciprocating compressors
• Pumps
• Heat exchangers
• Steam generation equipment
• Pressure vessels
• Piping systems
• Valves and actuators
• Water treatment systems
• Instrument air systems
• Hydrogen production equipment

Operate switchgear breakers and components up to 4160V. Conduct equipment inspections and condition assessment activities. Support predictive maintenance programs, including vibration monitoring, lubrication, alignment verification, and equipment health assessments. Perform equipment overhauls and rebuilds as required. Complete maintenance documentation and work orders. Support root cause investigations and implementation of corrective actions to improve reliability and reduce downtime. Assist with facility outages, turnarounds, and major maintenance projects.

Vendor and Contractor Management

Serve as a site contact for maintenance‑related contractors, service providers, and equipment manufacturers. Coordinate contractor activities to ensure work is executed safely, efficiently, and according to site standards. Support contractor onboarding, work planning, permit coordination, and field oversight. Review technical recommendations and repair strategies provided by equipment vendors and service contractors. Coordinate field service resources during equipment outages and emergency repair activities. Work closely with procurement personnel to identify, source, and manage critical spare parts and replacement equipment. Develop productive working relationships with vendor representatives to support equipment reliability and lifecycle management.

On‑Call Responsibilities

Respond to equipment failures, operational disruptions, and emergency maintenance situations outside normal working hours. Maintain readiness to provide technical support during nights, weekends, holidays, and weather‑related events. Support rapid restoration of equipment to maintain safe and reliable plant operation.

Operations Support and Process Development

Develop a strong understanding of hydrogen production processes and associated systems. Work collaboratively with Operations personnel to identify and resolve issues. Support plant startups, shutdowns, and abnormal operating conditions as required. Learn process control philosophies and the relationship between equipment performance and production reliability. Develop competency in:

• Distributed Control Systems (DCS)
• Human Machine Interface (HMI) systems
• Process alarm management
• Process troubleshooting
• Operational procedures
• Equipment operating limits

Participate in continuous improvement initiatives focused on safety, reliability, and operational excellence. Actively pursue opportunities to build operational knowledge and broaden plant responsibilities.

Required Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED required.
• Valid driver's license and ability to meet site access requirements.
• Demonstrated experience performing and leading Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) activities.
• Minimum 3-5 years of industrial maintenance experience in one or more of the following environments:
  • Hydrogen production
  • Industrial gases
  • Petrochemical
  • Chemical manufacturing
  • Energy production
  • Refining
  • Natural gas processing
• Ability to read and interpret: Piping and Instrumentation Diagrams (P&IDs), Mechanical drawings, Equipment manuals, Equipment specifications, Electrical schematics.
• Experience supporting industrial process operations and troubleshooting plant systems.
• Experience managing contractor and vendor activities in an industrial setting.
• Familiarity with CMMS systems such as SAP, Maximo, or Maintenance Connection.
• Experience with centrifugal pumps and rotating equipment reliability programs.

Preferred Qualifications

• Technical degree, industrial maintenance certification, apprenticeship, military technical experience, or equivalent work experience.
• Hands‑on experience with reciprocating compressors, including:
  • Valve replacement
  • Packing replacement
  • Crosshead and piston inspections
  • Lubrication systems
  • Troubleshooting vibration and performance issues
  • Understanding of steam systems, heat transfer equipment, compressed gas systems, and utility infrastructure.

Key Competencies

• An uncompromising commitment to safety.
• Mechanical troubleshooting and problem‑solving abilities.
• Strong Lockout/Tagout ownership and energy isolation expertise.
• Experience working independently in remote or minimally staffed industrial environments.
• Effective communication with operators, contractors, vendors, and management.
• Strong organizational and planning skills.
• Ownership mentality for equipment reliability and facility performance.
• Ability to remain calm and make sound decisions during abnormal operating conditions.
• Desire to expand into operational support and process control responsibilities.

Career Growth Opportunity

This position provides a pathway toward advanced maintenance, reliability, and operations‑focused roles through increased involvement in equipment reliability, contractor management, plant operations, and operational control systems.

Nippon Sanso Matheson is an Equal Opportunity Employer that complies with the laws and regulations set forth under EEOC.. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. EOE AA M/F/VET/Disability.

This is a safety sensitive position.