Lead Plant Maintenance Technician
The Facilities Division at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) plays a vital role in supporting the Laboratory's mission of scientific discovery. As part of the Facilities Plant Maintenance group, our dedicated team oversees, maintains, and operates critical building systems and facility infrastructure to ensure a safe, reliable, and cutting-edge environment for world-class research.
We are seeking a Lead Plant Maintenance Technician to join our dynamic team. In this role, you will provide leadership, oversight, and direction to assigned plant maintenance personnel, ensuring work is executed safely and efficiently to high standards. You will assign daily work using computerized maintenance software (e.g., Maximo), perform pre-job safety briefs, collaborate across multidisciplinary craft teams, and maintain critical equipment and systems across the Lab. This is an exceptional opportunity to utilize your technical expertise in plant operations while serving as a key operational leader within a world-renowned national laboratory.
We’re here for the same mission, to bring science solutions to the world. Join our team and YOU will play a supporting role in our goal to address global challenges! Have a high level of impact and work for an organization associated with 17 Nobel Prizes!
Why join Berkeley Lab?
We invest in our employees by offering a total rewards package you can count on:
Exceptional health and retirement benefits, including pension or 401K-style plans
Opportunities to grow in your career - check out our Tuition Assistance Program
A culture where you’ll belong - we are invested in our teams!
In addition to accruing vacation and sick time, we also have a Winter Holiday Shutdown every year.
Parental bonding leave (for both mothers and fathers)
Pet insurance
You will:
Lead and supervise a PMT shift of up to 10 employees, overseeing work planning, execution, and closeout.
Assign and track daily work using CMMS tools (e.g., Maximo, Akwire, DataSplice).
Coordinate weekly schedules with supervisors and planners to ensure adequate staffing and resources.
Conduct pre-job and safety briefings; identify and mitigate hazards in partnership with EHS, FAMs, and supervisors.
Train, mentor, and develop staff while ensuring required certifications and training remain current.
Represent the PMT team in meetings and job walks, providing technical guidance and communicating outcomes.
Obtain material and parts quotes, support procurement, and coordinate resources for planned and minor maintenance work.
Collaborate with craft leads, Facilities, Engineering, Project Management, contractors, vendors, and researchers to ensure safe, efficient execution of multi-craft work.
Manage multiple priorities with minimal supervision and communicate effectively with technical and non-technical stakeholders.
Perform advanced maintenance, inspection, testing, and operation of critical building systems; monitor Building Automation Systems and respond to alarms.
Ensure compliance with Laboratory policies and all applicable health, safety, environmental, and regulatory requirements, including completing required training.
Marginal:
Independently operate, maintain, and repair various mechanical systems and equipment across the Lab.
Perform various preventive or corrective maintenance tasks on a wide variety of fixed and portable equipment.
Fabricate unique components using commonly available hand and/or machine tools.
Requirements:
Minimum of four years of work experience in the field of maintenance, plant operations, installation, or fabrication and/or completion of a recognized four-year apprenticeship program in plant maintenance and/or completion of an accredited two-year program with three years of work experience, or an equivalent combination of documentable military or industrial training and work experience.
Experience and understanding of the operation, maintenance, and troubleshooting of varied mechanical systems, including but not limited to fan-powered air handler systems and exhaust blowers, hydronic systems and pumps, air compressors and vacuum pumps, water heaters, and boilers.
Must have a valid California Driver's License.
Demonstrated leadership skills and ability to organize, plan, assign, monitor, and direct the work of other team members.
Strong interpersonal skills.
Strong conflict resolution and customer service skills.
Demonstrated analytical skills.
Demonstrated experience and ability to work on complex issues independently.
Good communication skills, both verbal and in writing, including the ability to produce reports and present the status to various levels. Able to communicate clearly over telephone and two-way radio.
Strong organizational and time management skills.
Ability to determine the need and create solutions to technical issues.
Ability to use computers effectively for record-keeping and communication.
Able to walk, climb stairs, ladders, and scaffolds, work at heights, in confined spaces, around rotating equipment, under fluorescent and other artificial lighting, and able to bend, stoop, kneel, and crawl.
Must have manual dexterity in both hands.
Distinguish colors adequately to utilize color coding.
Desired skills/knowledge:
Knowledge of LBNL Facilities layout, operations, key personnel, procedures governing procurements, safety programs, and facilities design requirements.
Experience or familiarity with working in a union environment.
Experience with delegating work, leading, or supervising a team.
Additional information:
Internally posted until August 18, 2026: The position will be exclusively available to current Berkeley Lab employees and those in layoff status with preferential rehire rights from Berkeley Lab until the date listed above. If you are having trouble applying, please contact talent-acquisition@lbl.gov.
Appointment type: This is a full-time career appointment, non-exempt (hourly paid), eligible for overtime pay.
Salary range: The salary for this position is $69.52 hourly. Salary for this position is predetermined based on collective bargaining agreements set rates.
Background check: This position is subject to a background check. Any convictions will be evaluated to determine if they directly relate to the responsibilities and requirements of the position. Having a conviction history will not automatically disqualify an applicant from being considered for employment.
Work modality: Work will be primarily performed at: Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA. A REAL ID or other acceptable form of identification is required to access Berkeley Lab sites (for more information click here).
Relocation: This position is not eligible for relocation assistance.
Work authorization: Candidates must be eligible to work in the U.S. at the time of hire. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.
Union Represented: This position is represented by a union for collective bargaining purposes.
Want to learn more about working at Berkeley Lab? Please visit: careers.lbl.gov
Equal Employment Opportunity Employer: The foundation of Berkeley Lab is our Stewardship Values: Team Science, Service, Trust, Innovation, and Respect; and we strive to build community with these shared values and commitments. Berkeley Lab is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We heartily welcome applications from all who could contribute to the Lab's mission of leading scientific discovery, excellence, and professionalism. In support of our rich global community, all qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected categories under State and Federal law.
Misconduct Disclosure Requirement: As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts an offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of substantiated misconduct with a previous employer. For additional information, click here.