PAY RANGE (California-Compliant)
Pay: This position pays $36.48 per hour, which is the established base hourly rate for the Industrial Mechanic Lead classification.
POSITION SUMMARY
The Industrial Mechanic Lead is a highly skilled maintenance professional responsible for performing advanced mechanical, electrical, pneumatic, and hydraulic maintenance while also providing daily leadership and coordination for the maintenance crew on their assigned shift.
This role ensures safe and reliable plant operation in a continuous 24/7 glass manufacturing environment and serves as the working lead for Industrial Mechanics and maintenance trainees.
The Lead collaborates closely with operations, engineering, and maintenance leadership to minimize downtime, maintain equipment integrity, and support production needs through effective troubleshooting, work coordination, and adherence to safety and quality standards.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS
Technical & Maintenance Responsibilities
- Perform skilled diagnostic, repair, installation, and fabrication work on mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, and electrical systems.
- Troubleshoot equipment failures and implement corrective actions, including during emergency breakdowns.
- Conduct bench repair, welding, cutting, brazing, and machining (lathe, mill, etc.).
- Interpret blueprints, schematics, drawings, SOPs, and work orders.
- Perform scheduled and unscheduled maintenance across furnaces, batch operations, compressors, pumps, conveyors, automation systems, and high-energy equipment.
- Use SPF or other maintenance systems for data entry, history, and closure of work orders.
- Safely operate forklifts, boom lifts, scissor lifts, and personnel carriers.
- Support power distribution systems, cooling systems, compressed air systems, gas/oil firing systems, and automated packers/line drives.
Ensure proper use of PPE and full compliance with safety procedures including Lockout/Tagout, confined space, respiratory protection, elevated work protocols, and electrical PPE.
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LEADERSHIP RESPONSIBILITIES
- Serve as the working lead for Industrial Mechanics and maintenance trainees.
- Assign and coordinate daily maintenance tasks.
- Provide hands-on direction during troubleshooting and repairs.
- Train and mentor maintenance personnel.
- Maintain documentation, logs, and shift-handoff notes.
- Coordinate with operations and other departments to prioritize work.
- Track inventory and required materials.
- Enforce safety, quality, and housekeeping standards.
- Communicate equipment status and priorities across shifts.
Support reliability and improvement initiatives.
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TRAINING & TECHNICAL DEVELOPMENT
The Lead must maintain proficiency in:
- Production line maintenance
- Hydraulics & pneumatics
- Industrial wiring, controls, and PLC-supported systems
- Power distribution
- Pumps, compressors, and mechanical drive systems
- Welding/fabrication
- Cooling towers, water systems, and fire systems
- Furnace/tank systems and runout/BER drives
- Automated packers, cutters, and glass-handling equipment
- LOTO, electrical PPE, confined space
Computer-based maintenance systems
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WORKING CONDITIONS
- High heat areas (up to 3000°F)
- Noise, dust, fumes, chemicals
- Elevated work areas, ladders, confined spaces
- Exposure to mechanical, electrical, and hydraulic systems
- Indoor/outdoor industrial setting
Frequent walking, climbing, and lifting up to 75 lbs
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PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
- Walk 2–4 miles per shift
- Frequent bending, climbing, lifting
- Ability to navigate elevated or restricted spaces
- Manual dexterity for precision work
- Work safely in high-noise environments
Adequate vision for mechanical and electrical tasks
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QUALIFICATIONS
Required
- 3+ years Industrial Mechanic or Maintenance Technician experience
- Expertise in mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, and electrical troubleshooting
- Ability to read blueprints, schematics, and diagrams
- Welding/fabrication and machining experience
- Strong communication and leadership skills
- Ability to work any shift in a 24/7 environment
Pass the internal maintenance and electrical exam.
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Preferred
- Previous lead experience
- Experience in glass or continuous-process manufacturing
- PLC exposure (Modicon, Allen-Bradley)
Experience training or mentoring staff
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ABOUT VITRO
Vitro Flat Glass offers competitive wages, full medical/dental/vision benefits, Savings Plan participation, paid vacation, paid holidays, and opportunities for advancement in a large-scale industrial manufacturing environment.
UNION & EMPLOYMENT STATEMENT
This position is part of a USW Local 474 bargaining unit. All working conditions, wages, hours, and job bidding processes are governed by the CBA.
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
Vitro Flat Glass, LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants are considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, military or veteran status, or any other status protected by law.
DISCLAIMER
This job description outlines the general nature and level of work performed. It is not an exhaustive list of duties or requirements. The company may modify tasks in accordance with operational needs and consistent with the CBA.
