Maintenance Engineer

The Maintenance Engineer is responsible for ensuring the availability, reliability, and continuous improvement of plastic injection molding machines and auxiliary equipment. This includes leading and implementing corrective, preventive, and predictive maintenance strategies, as well as implementing continuous improvement projects to optimize the area's KPIs (OEE, MTTR, MTBF, Uptime). He or she works collaboratively with the Production, Quality, Tool Room, and Projects departments.

Key Responsibilities

• Corrective and Preventive Maintenance
• Inspect and maintain equipment, conduct routine inspections, tests, and maintenance to prevent breakdowns and ensure maximum operation efficiency
• Trouble shoot and repair, through structured methods for diagnosis on mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, and pneumatic failures in plastic injection molding machines.
• Install equipment, overseeing or performing the installation of new machinery and systems.
• Provide support for auxiliary equipment: chillers, temperature regulators, material handlers, compressors, robots, and extraction systems.
• Document activities and ensure traceability in the IQMS system.
• Manage resources, handle budgets, supervise contractors, and coach technical staff.
• Planning and Continuous Improvement
• Develop, create and implement maintenance plans and procedures.
• Develop, execute, and monitor PM/TPM/RCM maintenance plans.
• Propose and implement improvements to reduce downtime, scrap, and energy consumption.
• Participate in Kaizen, SMED, equipment standardization, and critical spare parts optimization projects.
• Indicator Monitoring
• Analyze and report on department KPIs: MTBF, MTTR, PM compliance, unscheduled downtime, OEE.
• Submit weekly/monthly performance reports to operations/maintenance leadership.
• Machine Maintenance and Continuous Improvement
• Monitor machine performance and support preventative maintenance schedules.
• Initiate and implement improvements to increase machine longevity, reduce downtime, and improve product quality.
• Support quick-change tool designs and lean manufacturing principles.
• Lead cost reduction initiatives through machine/EOAT improvements or process improvements.
• Documentation and Reporting
• Maintain up-to-date machine records, including drawings, BOMs, maintenance logs, and project tracking.
• Generate and present reports on maintenance development progress, issues, and performance metrics to stakeholders.
• Use analytical tools and systems to track machine cycle times, scrap rates, and changeover efficiencies.
• Cross-Functional Support
• Collaborate with Production and Tool Room for rapid mold startups, validations, and releases.
• Coordinate support with external suppliers when specialized intervention is required.
• Ensure compliance in audits under ISO/IATF/FDA/Medical-grade standards (if applicable).

Specific Skill Set

Communication

Strong verbal and written communication skills to interact with vendors, internal teams, and customers.

Presentation

Ability to develop and deliver effective presentations for machines design reviews, project status meetings, and root cause investigations.

System

Familiarity with ERP/MRP systems for BOM management, part tracking, and cost analysis.

Analytics

Data-driven mindset, using statistical analysis and SPC data to drive decisions and improvements.

Exposure

• Mechanical Engineering, Electromechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, or similar field.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in plastic injection machinery maintenance.
• Advanced knowledge of mechanical, electrical, and hydraulic systems, with familiarity in areas like PLC programming and automation systems.
• Knowledge of hydraulics, pneumatics, PLCs, servo drives, robotics, and electrical schematics.
• Experience in TPM, Lean Manufacturing, Kaizen, or Six Sigma is desirable.
• Management of OEE, MTTR, and MTBF indicators.
• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills to diagnose and resolve complex issues.
• Technical leadership, and work under pressure skills.
• Advanced English and Spanish language skills (preferable)

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
• Must be able to lift and move 100lbs