Maintenance Technician III (Plastics Manufacturing)

SCHAEFER PLASTICS NA • Charlotte, NC

1d • Onsite

About The Position

Schaefer Plastics is seeking a senior-level Maintenance Technician III for their Charlotte facility. This role is crucial for ensuring equipment reliability, production uptime, safety, and long-term operational performance in a fast-paced, highly technical manufacturing environment. The Maintenance Technician III will be responsible for advanced troubleshooting, repair, and reliability support for injection molding machines, auxiliary equipment, robotics, automation, and facility systems. The ideal candidate will possess a high level of technical skill in electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic, mechanical, and electronic systems, with the ability to independently diagnose complex equipment failures and lead repairs. This position also involves serving as a technical resource for the maintenance team, supporting root-cause analysis, mentoring junior technicians, and contributing to equipment reliability improvements.

Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• 5+ years of industrial maintenance, manufacturing maintenance, or related technical experience preferred.
• Strong injection molding maintenance experience strongly preferred.
• Experience with hydraulics, electrical troubleshooting, robotics, automation, controls, and computerized maintenance systems strongly preferred.
• Ability to navigate and close out work orders properly in the CMMS system.
• Strong ability to read, understand, and troubleshoot from hydraulic, pneumatic, electrical, and mechanical symbols, schematics, wiring diagrams, and technical manuals.
• Ability to diagnose and repair complex mechanical, electrical, electronic, hydraulic, pneumatic, robotic, and control system issues.
• Ability to use electrical testing equipment, diagnostic tools, meters, and computerized maintenance systems.
• Strong understanding of machine safety systems, sensors, controls, motors, drives, heating systems, and industrial equipment components.
• Ability to support root-cause analysis and recommend practical corrective actions.
• Ability to read and interpret operating instructions, maintenance manuals, procedure manuals, diagrams, and technical documents.
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to document work accurately.
• Ability to work independently, prioritize urgent equipment issues, and communicate effectively with production, maintenance, and leadership teams.
• Ability to mentor and support less experienced maintenance technicians.
• Ability to obtain forklift and aerial lift certification.
• Ability and willingness to work a 12-hour rotating shift schedule, including nights, weekends, and overtime as needed.

Nice To Haves

• Technical school, maintenance certification, electrical certification, military technical training, or apprenticeship experience is a plus.
• Prior experience serving as a senior technician, lead technician, technical trainer, or subject matter expert is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Perform advanced troubleshooting and repair of injection molding machines, auxiliary equipment, robotics, automation, and related production systems.
• Diagnose complex mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, electrical, electronic, and control system issues.
• Read, interpret, and apply hydraulic, pneumatic, electrical, and mechanical schematics, including advanced symbols, wiring diagrams, component layouts, sequence of operations, and technical manuals.
• Troubleshoot electrical circuits, motors, drives, controls, sensors, relays, switches, heaters, thermocouples, safety circuits, and related machine components.
• Troubleshoot complex hydraulic systems, including pumps, valves, proportional valves, cylinders, hoses, fittings, accumulators, pressure issues, flow issues, leaks, and repeat failures.
• Support troubleshooting of robotics, automation, material handling systems, conveyors, dryers, loaders, grinders, chillers, compressors, and other auxiliary equipment.
• Perform preventive and predictive maintenance and recommend improvements to reduce downtime and repeat failures.
• Lead or support root-cause analysis for major equipment breakdowns and recurring maintenance issues.
• Complete assigned work orders using a computerized maintenance system and document findings, repairs, parts used, and follow-up needs.
• Assist with mold changes, machine start-ups, equipment adjustments, and complex production support issues.
• Operate shop equipment, including milling machines, band saws, drill presses, lathes, welders, concrete drills, torches, electrical testers, and other maintenance tools.
• Use advanced diagnostic tools, meters, electrical testing equipment, and technical resources to resolve equipment issues.
• Monitor and maintain facility services, including water, compressed air, and electrical supply.
• Identify and communicate the need for spare or replacement parts and provide input on critical spare parts needs.
• Mentor and support Tier I and Tier II technicians through technical guidance, troubleshooting support, and on-the-job training.
• Provide input on equipment reliability improvements, safety improvements, preventive maintenance updates, and maintenance best practices.
• Follow all safety rules and procedures, including lockout/tagout, fall protection, PPE, and company safety standards.
• Support housekeeping, equipment reliability, and continuous improvement efforts throughout the facility.
• Perform additional duties as assigned based on business needs.

Benefits

• Industry-leading solutions
• Responsible practices for a more sustainable future
• Family-owned company since 1937
• Commitment to quality, innovation, and exceptional customer care
• Global injection molding manufacturer
• Durable waste and recycling carts
• Reusable packaging systems designed to reduce environmental impact
• Fast-paced, highly technical manufacturing environment
• Senior maintenance talent is essential
• Equipment reliability
• Production uptime
• Safety
• Long-term operational performance
• Advanced troubleshooting, repair, and reliability support
• High level of technical skill in electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic, mechanical, and electronic systems
• Ability to independently diagnose complex equipment failures and lead repairs
• Advanced hydraulic and electrical troubleshooting knowledge
• Ability to read, interpret, and apply electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic, mechanical schematics, symbols, wiring diagrams, component layouts, and technical documentation
• Technical resource for the maintenance team
• Support root-cause analysis
• Mentor less experienced technicians
• Improve equipment reliability
• Computerized maintenance system
• Mold changes
• Machine start-ups
• Equipment adjustments
• Complex production support issues
• Shop equipment operation
• Advanced diagnostic tools
• Facility services monitoring and maintenance
• Spare parts identification and input
• Technical guidance
• Troubleshooting support
• On-the-job training
• Equipment reliability improvements
• Safety improvements
• Preventive maintenance updates
• Maintenance best practices
• Safety rules and procedures
• Lockout/tagout
• Fall protection
• PPE
• Company safety standards
• Housekeeping support
• Continuous improvement efforts
• Additional duties as assigned

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: High school or GED