Senior Plant Maintenance Tech

Vulcan Materials Company; Athens (TN); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Vulcan Materials Company in Athens, TN is seeking a Senior Plant Technician to troubleshoot, tear down, and rebuild onsite equipment. You will weld, cut, and fabricate parts to maintain plant machinery, drive reliability, and efficiency.

This role requires strong mechanical aptitude, 5+ years of operations experience, and adherence to MSHA/OSHA regulations. Responsibilities include preventive maintenance, inspections, part orders, and record-keeping, with on-site work and safety-focused culture.

Qualifications

• Two-year technical degree or accredited apprenticeship preferred.
• Minimum 5+ years of operations experience, preferably in aggregates.
• Proficient in welding (stick, flux-core) and cutting torches.

Responsibilities

• Inspect and maintain plant equipment; perform preventive maintenance.
• Troubleshoot and replace components (belts, pulleys, pumps).
• Rebuild, repair, and fabricate parts as needed.
• Order parts and drive pickup to collect parts.
• Ensure MSHA and OSHA compliance; follow LOTO procedures.
• Maintain service logs and maintenance records.

Skills

Mechanical aptitude

Welding

Troubleshooting

LOTO compliance

Safety compliance

Heavy equipment knowledge

Reading blueprints

Education

Two-year technical degree

High School diploma or GED

Tools

Welding equipment

Cutting torches

Power tools

Hand tools

Conveyor belts

Jaw crushers

Cone crushers

Vibrating screens

Pumps

Job description

Job Summary The Senior Plant Technician is a highly skilled individual contributor responsible for troubleshooting, tearing down, and rebuilding all equipment on-site. With a strong mechanical aptitude, this role involves using advanced tools, welding, and cutting to maintain and repair plant machinery. The technician plays a critical role in ensuring site reliability and operational efficiency.

Essential Functions

• Conduct pre-shift and post-shift equipment inspections, lubricate moving parts, and complete scheduled preventative maintenance tasks to prevent component failures.
• Troubleshoot and replace basic mechanical components, including conveyor belts, idlers, pulleys, and water pumps.
• Perform structural repairs, hard facing, and replace heavy wear-parts (such as crusher liners and shaker screens) using welding, cutting, and grinding equipment.
• Rebuild and fabricate parts.
• Order parts from approved vendors and drive Company pick-up/repair truck to pick up parts.
• Strictly adhere to MSHA (Mine Safety and Health Administration) and OSHA regulations, execute Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) protocols, and maintain a hazard-free work area.
• Observe aggregate crushing, washing, and screening areas during operation to identify anomalies by sight or sound and perform minor adjustments.
• Record and maintain service logs, lubrication reports, and maintenance records for plant equipment.
• Assist in the maintenance and repair of mobile equipment.
• Perform other duties as directed by supervisor.

Critical Competencies

• Communication - Ability to clearly and effectively convey information, ideas, and messages to others in both written and verbal formats; can express one's thoughts clearly but also demonstrate active listening, understands the needs of the audience, and adapts the message to ensure it is understood.
• Safety Awareness - Ability to recognize, understand, and adhere to safety protocols and procedures in the workplace; proactive in identifying potential hazards, taking steps to mitigate risks, and ensuring that both personal and collective safety are maintained in all tasks and environments.
• Work Ethic - Demonstrates commitment and dedication toward completing tasks with high standards of quality, responsibility, and diligence; demonstrates reliability, professionalism, and a strong sense of personal responsibility in fulfilling job duties.
• Attention to Detail- Ability to thoroughly and accurately complete tasks, ensuring that no aspects or elements are overlooked; meticulous and precise when handling information, performing tasks, or delivering work, and is critical in ensuring the quality, accuracy, and integrity of the results.
• Collaboration - Ability to work effectively with others to achieve common goals by fostering teamwork, open communication, and mutual respect. It involves actively listening, sharing ideas, problem-solving collectively, and leveraging diverse skills and perspectives. Strong collaboration requires adaptability, conflict resolution, and a willingness to support team members, ensuring productivity and a positive work environment.
• Technical Expertise -Solid mechanical understanding of mobile equipment, including basic maintenance checks and troubleshooting minor issues. Ability to identify signs of equipment malfunction, understand and report them to the maintenance team.

Responsibilities

Education

• Two-year technical degree or accredited apprenticeship program or the equivalent in a technical field is preferred
• High School diploma or GED equivalent required.

Experience

• Minimum of 5 plus years of experience in operations, preferably within the aggregate industry.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong mechanical aptitude with hands-on experience in welding (stick, flux-core), cutting torches, and using power/hand tools.
• Familiarity with heavy equipment commonly found in quarries, like jaw/cone crushers, vibrating screen decks, material screws, and heavy-duty pumps.
• Understanding of plant operations, processes, and performance goals
• Knowledge of inspection procedures for critical areas of the site
• Knowledge of routine maintenance tasks and troubleshooting techniques
• Understanding of larger maintenance tasks and repair processes

Other Requirements

• Strong mechanical aptitude with hands-on experience in welding (stick, flux-core), cutting torches and using power/hand tools.
• Knowledge of wide variety of hand and power tools, cutting torches and welding equipment.
• MSHA Certified (or willingness to complete required MSHA training).
• An active valid driver's license.

Vulcan Materials Company is an equal opportunity employer.

Job Info

• Job Identification 896
• Job Category Plant/Equip Maint
• Job Schedule Full time
• Locations 110 County Road 173, Athens, TN, 37303, US (On-site)