Maintenance & Automation Manager

NEXXTA is a U.S.-based manufacturing partner with four Great Lakes facilities delivering precision, speed, and scale. We serve industry leaders across transportation, energy, medical, and defense, offering tariff-free production, open capacity, and rapid ramp-up. With in-house R&D

SUMMARY OF POSITION
The Maintenance Facilities & Automation Manager is responsible for leading all maintenance, facility, and automation functions within a plastic injection molding environment. This role ensures high equipment reliability, efficient facility performance, and robust automation system functionality to support both molding and secondary operations.
This position is responsible for driving preventative and predictive maintenance across injection molding equipment, auxiliary and secondary systems, facility infrastructure, and automated production cells to maximize uptime, improve operational efficiency, and ensure reliable performance. It also provides oversight of automation systems that support and enhance production processes.
A strong emphasis is placed on proactively identifying and mitigating risks, ensuring full regulatory compliance, and embedding safety into all maintenance, facility, and automation activities

JOB DUTIES & ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Lead and manage maintenance, facilities, and automation functions across injection molding and secondary operations.

Ensure optimal performance and uptime of:

Injection molding machines

Auxiliary systems (dryers, blenders, chillers, thermolators, conveyors)

Automation systems (robots, end-of-arm tooling, conveyors, vision systems, PLC-controlled equipment)

Secondary equipment (assembly cells, sonic welders, trimming, decorating, and packaging systems)

Develop, implement, and manage preventative and predictive maintenance programs for equipment, automation, and facility systems.

Troubleshoot and repair mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic, and control systems, including PLCs, HMIs, and robotic systems.

Provide leadership and technical direction for automation maintenance, including diagnostics, programming support, and system optimization.

Partner closely with engineering, process, and production teams to improve automation performance and integrate new technologies.

Maintenance/Automation Manager

Direct and supervise maintenance and automation technicians, including hiring, training, scheduling, and performance management.

Ensure all maintenance and automation work orders are completed on time, properly documented, and meet quality standards.

Support mold changes and tooling-related activities, ensuring proper interaction between molds, presses, and automation systems.

Oversee facility systems, including HVAC, compressed air, cooling water systems, electrical distribution, and building infrastructure.

Manage spare parts inventory for mechanical, electrical, and automation components, including critical automation spares.

Develop and manage maintenance, facilities, and automation budgets, controlling costs while maintaining performance.

Monitor and drive key performance indicators (KPIs), including:

Preventative maintenance completion

Equipment and automation downtime

Automation efficiency and uptime

Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE)

Maintenance and automation spend

Identify and mitigate risks related to equipment failure, automation faults, and facility system interruptions.

Lead continuous improvement initiatives focused on automation reliability, process efficiency, and cost reduction.

Ensure compliance with OSHA, environmental regulations, and company safety standards.

Promote and enforce 5S and strong housekeeping practices across maintenance, automation, and facility areas.

Collaborate cross-functionally to standardize equipment, automation platforms, and spare parts strategies

QUALIFICATIONS (KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES):

Technical degree or equivalent experience in engineering, automation, or a related field (preferred)

Experience with robotics and PLC-controlled systems in a production environment

Proven leadership experience in maintenance and automation within plastic injection molding manufacturing

Maintenance/Automation Manager

Strong technical background in molding equipment, automation systems, and facility infrastructure

Demonstrated ability to lead teams and drive operational improvements

Strong leadership across maintenance, facilities, and automation in an injection molding environment

Deep expertise in injection molding equipment and auxiliary systems

Advanced knowledge of industrial automation, including robotics, PLCs, HMIs, and vision systems

Experience supporting integrated automated manufacturing cells and secondary operations

Proficiency in troubleshooting electrical controls, servo systems, and networked equipment

Strong understanding of mold-to-machine-to-automation interaction

Expertise in preventative and predictive maintenance methodologies

Ability to analyze and improve KPIs such as downtime, automation efficiency, and OEE

Strong knowledge of OSHA and industrial safety standards

Experience with ERP/CMMS systems for maintenance and automation tracking

Skilled in spare parts and critical component inventory management

Familiarity with 5S and continuous improvement methodologies

Hands-on leadership role with regular presence on the production floor

Fast-paced manufacturing environment requiring rapid response to equipment and automation issues

Ability to support off-shift or emergency maintenance and automation needs as required

Commitment to maintaining a safe, efficient, and highly automated production environment