Plant Maintenance Technician
Location
Irwindale, CA
Posted on August 4, 2026
Location
Irwindale, CA
Posted on August 4, 2026
Summary
The Plant Maintenance Technician reports to the Maintenance Manager and Maintenance Supervisor. The Plant Maintenance Technician is responsible for repairing and maintaining machinery and mechanical equipment, such as motors, pneumatic tools, conveyor systems, production machines and equipment using hand tools, power tools and precision measuring testing instruments. Diagnoses machinery components and determines if and when adjustments or repairs are required. Increasing level of responsibility per experience. This position will also require housekeeping/cleaning responsibilities as needed throughout the shift.
Job Description
Observes mechanical devices in operation and troubleshoots problems. Dismantles device to gain access to and remove defective parts, using hoists, hand tools and power tools. Inspects used parts to determine changes on dimensional requirements, using rulers, calipers, micrometers, and other measuring instruments. Adjusts functional parts of device and control instruments using hand and/or power tools. Repairs or replaces defective parts. Advise the Maintenance Supervisor/Manager of any operational problems. Performs other duties as assigned by supervisor. Complies with all safety, health, environmental, and other Company policies, procedures and requirements. Perform preventative plant maintenance. General plant maintenance inspection and diagnosis & repairs. Welding & cutting as needed. Maintain, repair and clean MRF Equipment, including but not limited to upper and lower shaker decks, conveyor tunnels, walking floor tunnels, conveyor, beds, head & tail pulley. Maintain, repair and clean exhaust fans, including but not limited to air and carbon filters
Required Qualifications
1 years' experience in maintenance & repair in production style environment. High School Diploma or G.E.D. Fabrication knowledge (Mig/Tig/Arc/Oxy Acetylene/brazing etc.) Sufficient working knowledge regarding plant component repairs and replacements. Ability to effectively troubleshoot and identify electrical/mechanical issues and complete in a safe timely manner. Perform all tasks safely and in accordance with applicable OSHA rules and regulations. Consistently behaves in a manner that is appropriate and professional. Valid Class C Driver's License. Acceptable Driver's Record. Must possess personal tools. Ability to perform physical requirements of the position with or without reasonable accommodations. Must have own tool box
Preferred Qualifications
Trade School Certification. Bilingual English / Spanish. Welder certification. Waste, rock & sand, concrete, and/or asphalt industry experience.
Physical/Environmental Demands
Physical: Standing, walking, seeing, hearing, & smelling continuously. Problem solving, oral/written communication, analytical ability, concentration, exposure to unprotected heights, exposure to heavy machinery, & eye/hand coordination, & handling continuously. Bending, reaching, stretching, crouching, & lifting ≤ 50 Lbs. continuously. Environmental: Exposure to dust, smoke, fumes, odors, grease, oil, chemicals, wet slippery surfaces, hot/cold conditions, & noise continuously. Works inside and outside.
Hourly Wage: $26.19 - $38.89/hour
Benefits
Competitive wages Comprehensive benefit package Medical, Dental, Vision 401K Life Insurance Paid Vacation and Sick Time Career plan Recognition programs Professional development learning An exceptional work environment
Athens will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance and any other applicable state, federal or local laws. EEO/M/F/disability/veteran
This employer didn't publish a rate. For reference, welding jobs across California currently run a median of $32/hr in our index, with the middle half of them falling between $27–$38/hr across 314 postings with published pay. That median is a reasonable floor to anchor on when a recruiter asks what you're looking for.
Irwindale, CA currently has 5 other active welding openings besides this one, spread across 4 employers. None of them were added in the last week, so this is a slower-moving market. Across California as a whole we're tracking 399 other active welding openings from 208 employers. That's enough local activity to be worth comparing two or three offers before committing. Browse every welding job in Irwindale, or widen the search to California.
Athens Services currently has 6 other openings live in California, which is usually a sign of either steady growth or steady turnover — worth asking which in the interview.
The most active employers in California at the moment, by number of open welding reqs, are SpaceX (20), Aerotek (17), and Volt (16). Volume like that usually means either a genuine expansion or a staffing agency working several client sites — worth knowing which before you apply.
Within California, the best-paying metros we track by median hourly rate are Santa Ana at $48/hr, Los Angeles at $38/hr, and Hawthorne at $36/hr. If you can relocate or commute, that spread is worth factoring in.
This posting calls for MIG and TIG work. MIG (GMAW) feeds a continuous wire electrode through a shielding-gas nozzle. It lays down metal fast and is forgiving on clean material, which is why it dominates production and light fabrication work. TIG (GTAW) uses a non-consumable tungsten electrode with filler added by hand, giving the operator the most control of any process. It is slow, demanding, and the standard for stainless, aluminum, and anything where the bead has to look as good as it holds.
Pay figures are medians computed from live postings in the Welding Pros index, not from survey data, and they move as employers post. Plant Maintenance Technician figures were last recalculated when this page was built.