Mechanical Reliability Technician – Automated Solar Manufacturing

About the role

Express Employment Professionals in Lynchburg is hiring a Mechanical Reliability Technician on behalf of a valued client in the Lynchburg area. You’ll keep a high‑precision solar panel manufacturing line operating at peak performance by maintaining, troubleshooting, and repairing mechanical systems and production equipment—safely and efficiently.

A day in the life

You begin with a quick review of CMMS work orders and production priorities. Preventive rounds lead you across conveyors, laminators, glass handling systems, and robotic cells. Mid‑shift, you diagnose a gearbox vibration using drawings, manuals, and inspection methods, swap bearings, and realign a belt. Later, you help commission a process upgrade, document all work in the CMMS, and partner with production and engineering to prevent repeat failures—always following LOTO, PPE, and company safety procedures.

What you’ll do

• Execute preventive, predictive, and corrective maintenance on production equipment.
• Troubleshoot and repair conveyors, laminators, glass handling systems, robotic systems, and automated assembly lines.
• Use technical drawings, manuals, inspections, and structured troubleshooting to diagnose mechanical issues.
• Repair/replace bearings, motors, gearboxes, belts, pumps, valves, and pneumatic/hydraulic components.
• Perform routine inspections to identify wear, defects, safety risks, and process inefficiencies.
• Set up, align, and fine‑tune precision machinery to meet production and quality targets.
• Improve reliability, increase uptime, and reduce repeat failures.
• Assist with installation, commissioning, and validation of new equipment and process upgrades.
• Collaborate with production, engineering, and maintenance teams to optimize equipment performance.
• Document repairs, parts usage, and work orders in the CMMS.
• Contribute to root cause failure analysis and corrective actions.
• Keep the workspace clean, organized, and safe; promptly report unsafe conditions and equipment concerns.

What you bring

• High school diploma or GED (required); technical certification or associate degree in industrial maintenance, mechanical technology, or related field (preferred).
• 3+ years of mechanical maintenance experience in a manufacturing or industrial setting.
• Background in solar, semiconductor, electronics, clean manufacturing, or similar environments (preferred).
• Strong knowledge of conveyors, pneumatics, hydraulics, and rotating equipment.
• Ability to read mechanical drawings, schematics, technical manuals, and equipment documentation.
• Proficiency with hand tools, power tools, and precision measuring instruments.
• Basic computer skills; ability to use a CMMS for maintenance documentation.
• Familiarity with automated lines, robotic systems, and PLC‑controlled equipment (preferred).
• Welding, fabrication, or machining experience (preferred).
• Understanding of lean principles, 5S, and continuous improvement (preferred).
• Physical ability to stand, walk, bend, and lift up to 50 lbs.
• Comfort working around varying temperatures, noise, heights, and confined spaces as needed.
• Strong safety mindset; able to follow lockout/tagout, PPE, hazard communication, and company procedures.

Pay and schedule

Pay: $27–$29 per hour. Schedule: Panama schedule with 12‑hour shifts on a fixed 3‑2‑2 rotation—3 days on, 2 days off, 2 days on, 3 days off, then 2 days on and 2 days off.