Lead Plant Maintenance Technician

LBL • $144K *
Berkeley, CA 94704In-Person
Manufacturing & Automotive
Less than 5 years of experience
Today
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Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 4+ years of experience in maintenance or plant operations, or relevant apprenticeship and work experience.
  • In-depth knowledge of mechanical systems including air handlers, pumps, and boilers.
  • Valid California Driver's License required.
  • Demonstrated leadership and team management abilities.
  • Strong interpersonal and conflict resolution skills.
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

Responsibilities

  • Lead and supervise a team of up to 10 maintenance personnel.
  • Utilize CMMS tools to assign and track daily work.
  • Coordinate scheduling with supervisors to optimize resource allocation.
  • Conduct safety briefings and proactively identify hazards.
  • Mentor and develop maintenance staff, ensuring training requirements are met.
  • Represent the maintenance team during meetings, providing technical guidance.
  • Manage procurement and coordinate resources for maintenance tasks.

Benefits

  • Full-time career appointment with overtime eligibility.
  • Union representation for collective bargaining.
  • Work at a prestigious national laboratory in a specialized role.
Full Job Description
We are seeking a Lead Plant Maintenance Technician to join our dynamic team. In this role, you will provide leadership, oversight, and direction to assigned plant maintenance personnel, ensuring work is executed safely and efficiently to high standards. You will assign daily work using computerized maintenance software (e.g., Maximo), perform pre-job safety briefs, collaborate across multidisciplinary craft teams, and maintain critical equipment and systems across the Lab. This is an exceptional opportunity to utilize your technical expertise in plant operations while serving as a key operational leader within a world-renowned national laboratory.

You will:
  • Lead and supervise a PMT shift of up to 10 employees, overseeing work planning, execution, and closeout.
  • Assign and track daily work using CMMS tools (e.g., Maximo, Akwire, DataSplice).
  • Coordinate weekly schedules with supervisors and planners to ensure adequate staffing and resources.
  • Conduct pre-job and safety briefings; identify and mitigate hazards in partnership with EHS, FAMs, and supervisors.
  • Train, mentor, and develop staff while ensuring required certifications and training remain current.
  • Represent the PMT team in meetings and job walks, providing technical guidance and communicating outcomes.
  • Obtain material and parts quotes, support procurement, and coordinate resources for planned and minor maintenance work.
  • Collaborate with craft leads, Facilities, Engineering, Project Management, contractors, vendors, and researchers to ensure safe, efficient execution of multi-craft work.
  • Manage multiple priorities with minimal supervision and communicate effectively with technical and non-technical stakeholders.
  • Perform advanced maintenance, inspection, testing, and operation of critical building systems; monitor Building Automation Systems and respond to alarms.
  • Ensure compliance with Laboratory policies and all applicable health, safety, environmental, and regulatory requirements, including completing required training.


Marginal:
  • Independently operate, maintain, and repair various mechanical systems and equipment across the Lab.
  • Perform various preventive or corrective maintenance tasks on a wide variety of fixed and portable equipment.
  • Fabricate unique components using commonly available hand and/or machine tools.


Requirements:
  • Minimum of four years of work experience in the field of maintenance, plant operations, installation, or fabrication and/or completion of a recognized four-year apprenticeship program in plant maintenance and/or completion of an accredited two-year program with three years of work experience, or an equivalent combination of documentable military or industrial training and work experience.
  • Experience and understanding of the operation, maintenance, and troubleshooting of varied mechanical systems, including but not limited to fan-powered air handler systems and exhaust blowers, hydronic systems and pumps, air compressors and vacuum pumps, water heaters, and boilers.
  • Must have a valid California Driver's License.
  • Demonstrated leadership skills and ability to organize, plan, assign, monitor, and direct the work of other team members.
  • Strong interpersonal skills.
  • Strong conflict resolution and customer service skills.
  • Demonstrated analytical skills.
  • Demonstrated experience and ability to work on complex issues independently.
  • Good communication skills, both verbal and in writing, including the ability to produce reports and present the status to various levels. Able to communicate clearly over telephone and two-way radio.
  • Strong organizational and time management skills.
  • Ability to determine the need and create solutions to technical issues.
  • Ability to use computers effectively for record-keeping and communication.
  • Able to walk, climb stairs, ladders, and scaffolds, work at heights, in confined spaces, around rotating equipment, under fluorescent and other artificial lighting, and able to bend, stoop, kneel, and crawl.
  • Must have manual dexterity in both hands.
  • Distinguish colors adequately to utilize color coding.


Desired skills/knowledge:
  • Knowledge of LBNL Facilities layout, operations, key personnel, procedures governing procurements, safety programs, and facilities design requirements.
  • Experience or familiarity with working in a union environment.
  • Experience with delegating work, leading, or supervising a team.


Additional information:
  • Internally posted until August 18, 2026: The position will be exclusively available to current Berkeley Lab employees and those in layoff status with preferential rehire rights from Berkeley Lab until the date listed above. If you are having trouble applying, please contact [email protected].
  • Appointment type: This is a full-time career appointment, non-exempt (hourly paid), eligible for overtime pay.
  • Salary range:The salary for this position is $69.52 hourly. Salary for this position is predetermined based on collective bargaining agreements set rates.
  • Background check: This position is subject to a background check. Any convictions will be evaluated to determine if they directly relate to the responsibilities and requirements of the position. Having a conviction history will not automatically disqualify an applicant from being considered for employment.
  • Work modality: Work will be primarily performed at: Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA. A REAL ID or other acceptable form of identification is required to access Berkeley Lab sites (for more information click here).
  • Relocation:This position is not eligible for relocation assistance.
  • Work authorization: Candidates must be eligible to work in the U.S. at the time of hire. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.
  • Union Represented:This position is represented by a union for collective bargaining purposes.


Want to learn more about working at Berkeley Lab? Please visit: careers.lbl.gov

About LBL

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