Mechanical Maintenance Technician

About the role

tozero is Europe's leading deep-tech startup in lithium-ion battery recycling, driving decarbonization and the circular economy through innovative material recovery solutions. We are on a mission to recover critical materials from end-of-life batteries and build a cleaner, more sustainable future. As a Mechanical Technician, you will be the technical backbone of our recycling plant's physical infrastructure. Mechanical Maintenance Installation & Assembly: Independently install, assemble, and commission a wide range of industrial equipment, machinery units, and complex piping systems. Modifications & Upgrades: Execute technical modifications and plant improvements to optimize process performance and equipment integration. Equipment Maintenance: Maintain, align, and troubleshoot pumps, motors, gearboxes, valves, and heavy process equipment. Spare Parts Management: Identify, replace, and manage critical spare parts to ensure rapid recovery and minimal downtime. Preventive Care: Execute and optimize preventive and corrective maintenance schedules across all mechanical assets. Fabrication: Perform welding, machining, and metal fabrication as required for repairs or bespoke plant adjustments. Diagnostic Excellence: Diagnose mechanical wear and tear, implementing sustainable technical solutions to extend equipment life. Integrated Technical Support General Maintenance: Develop and actively execute preventive maintenance plans from scratch to improve equipment reliability. Safety & Compliance: Ensure strict compliance with safety standards, specifically Lockout-Tagout (LOTO) and heavy machinery protocols. Workshop Ownership: Maintain clear technical documentation and contribute to the organization and efficiency of the maintenance workshop. Minor Electrical Support: Perform basic, non-complex electrical tasks incidental to mechanical work (e.g., safely disconnecting/reconnecting motors during a mechanical swap or replacing simple sensors) to maintain workflow momentum. Plant Operations and Production Support Operational Support: Operate recycling equipment during commissioning and daily production. Material Handling: Manage loading, unloading, and feeding process lines to ensure continuous flow. Site Stewardship: Support plant ramp-up and maintain high 5S/safety standards. This role is for a true hands-on professional with deep expertise in mechanical systems, rotating equipment, and industrial fabrication, capable of working independently in a demanding industrial environment. You will work directly on the shop floor, performing installations, maintenance, troubleshooting, and supporting production during ramp-up and scale-up phases. In this role, you will play a key part in ensuring plant reliability, uptime, and safe operations. While your primary focus is mechanical excellence, you are a versatile team player ready to jump into plant operations and material handling to keep the facility running at peak performance. REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS Completed vocational training as an Industrial Mechanic ( Industriemechaniker ) or equivalent trade. Several years of proven industrial experience in mechanical maintenance within a chemical, recycling, or heavy industrial plant. Language Skills: Proficiency in English is required; German language skills are a strong advantage for technical documentation and local coordination. Expertise in fluid power: Strong understanding of hydraulics and pneumatics. Technical Literacy: Ability to read and interpret complex mechanical drawings and P&IDs. Fabrication Skills: Proficiency in welding (MIG/TIG/Stick) and general workshop machining is highly desirable. WHAT WE EXPECT Autonomy: A "doer" who executes safely and independently without constant guidance. Versatility: Comfortable switching between technical repairs and material handling. Flexibility: Willingness and ability to work in a shift system to support operations Startup Mindset: Solution-oriented and adaptable to a fast-paced environment. At tozero, we believe in providing a supportive and enriching work environment to help our team achieve top performance: Free snacks and drinks in the office Jobticket with fully subsidized Deutschlandticket for commuting across Germany Dynamic startup environment working closely with experts in a fast-moving deep-tech company shaping the future of battery recycling and sustainability

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