Internship Machine Shop Inspector Jobs in Elgin, IL

Machine Shop Maintenance Technician
Precision Manufacturing

This Isn't Your Average Maintenance Job

Most maintenance roles hand you a checklist and tell you to follow it. This one hands you a blank page and asks you to write it.

A well-established precision manufacturing company in the St. Charles, IL area is looking for a Maintenance Technician who wants to build something from the ground up. The preventive maintenance program for their CNC machine shop doesn't fully exist yet. The schedule, the tracking system, the OEM relationships — that's yours to own. If you're the type of person who looks at a disorganized machine floor and sees a problem worth solving, keep reading.

What You'll Actually Be Doing

This is a dedicated machine shop maintenance role — focused entirely on keeping CNC equipment (Haas, Mazak, and more) running at peak performance. You won't be pulling fire alarms or doing building HVAC work. You're here for the machines.

In your first 90 days, you'll:

• Get to know every one of 24 CNC machines — their history, their quirks, their needs

• Reach out directly to Haas, Mazak, and other OEMs to pull their recommended maintenance schedules

• Build a preventive maintenance plan from scratch and put it into action

• Set up a maintenance tracking system (CMMS or well-structured Excel — your call to start) so nothing slips through the cracks

• Learn from a veteran in-house maintenance lead with decades of institutional knowledge — be a sponge

On an ongoing basis, you'll:

• Execute a rolling PM schedule — 2 machines per month taken offline for full inspection, cleaning, lubrication, and servicing

• Perform mechanical maintenance on CNC mills, lathes, grinders, and related equipment

• Troubleshoot and repair mechanical, pneumatic, hydraulic, and basic electrical systems

• Coordinate with OEM technicians (Haas, Mazak) when heavy technical support is needed — you don't have to be the wizard, but you need to know when to call one

• Communicate proactively with the production planning team so maintenance windows are scheduled around production commitments — not against them

• Maintain accurate maintenance logs and uptime records

• Manage spare parts inventory and reordering

• Assist with equipment installation, relocation, and setup as needed

• Follow all LOTO, OSHA, and safety protocols without exception

What We're Looking For

You're the right person if you:

• Have hands-on experience with CNC equipment — any brand, any level — and genuinely enjoy being around machines

• Are a self-starter who doesn't wait to be told what needs to be done

• Can read technical manuals, OEM documentation, and schematics and turn that information into a workable plan

• Are mechanically strong and not intimidated by electrical systems (you don't need to be an electrician — but you can't be afraid of a control panel)

• Take pride in keeping good records and running a tight, organized operation

• Communicate clearly with production and operations teams

• Are comfortable with a little flexibility in schedule when a machine goes down on second shift

Preferred background:

• 3–5 years of mechanical maintenance experience in a manufacturing environment

• CNC machine experience (operation, maintenance, or both)

• Familiarity with CMMS platforms or strong organizational systems

• Knowledge of precision measuring instruments (calipers, micrometers, etc.)

• LOTO certified or willing to obtain

Education: High school diploma or equivalent required; technical/vocational training a plus

Additional Information

• Schedule: Monday–Friday, 7 AM–4 PM (some second shift flexibility appreciated)

• Employment type: Full-time, direct hire, non-union

• Tools: Bring your own if you have them; the company will make sure you have what you need either way

Room to Grow

This company has a defined machinist progression and is building out a parallel career track on the maintenance side. If you want to grow into a higher-level maintenance role, pursue a machinist apprenticeship, or move into another area of the operation over time, this is a place where that path exists.

Why This Role Matters

When the machines aren't running, parts aren't being made — and customers feel it. The person in this role has a direct line to operational efficiency and on-time delivery. Leadership is ready to compensate accordingly for someone who truly owns it.