Are you a seasoned maintenance professional who thrives on diagnosing complex machine malfunctions, managing heavy-duty production tooling, and leading large teams of skilled tradespeople in a unionized manufacturing hub? As Cerebral Staffing, we are searching for an authoritative, hands-on Maintenance Engineer - Team Lead to join our team supporting our client, John Deere, at their world-class Harvester Works facility in East Moline, IL. If you are a proactive leader with a deep mechanical aptitude who can confidently orchestrate 2nd-shift preventative maintenance plans and direct 20 to 25 skilled trades employees, we want to hear from you.

Maintenance Engineer - Team Lead – John Deere Harvester Works This is a high-visibility, long-term 1+ year contract leadership role paying up to $44/hr, including 2 weeks of PTO. Operating 100% onsite during the 2nd shift, you will move past general facilities maintenance to deliver technical expertise, project coordination, and advanced troubleshooting support specifically for the factory's assembly equipment, tooling fixtures, and automation machinery.

Position Details & Compensation

• Pay Rate: Up to $44/hr (W2).
• Location: 100% Onsite at John Deere Harvester Works (East Moline, IL).
• Duration: 1+ Year (With strong extension potential).
• Shift & Hours: 2nd Shift (2:00 PM – 10:00 PM).
• Overtime: Must be available for weekday overtime and potential Saturday shifts based on line maintenance and production coverage needs.
• Benefits: 2 Weeks PTO, Health, Dental, Vision, Life, 401k, and Referral Bonuses.
• Visa Sponsorship: Not available now or in the future for this position.

Core Responsibilities

• Skilled Trades Supervision: Direct, assign, and monitor the daily short-term work schedules of 20 to 25 skilled trades personnel (electricians, mechanics, pipefitters) to execute asset repairs, project workloads, and emergency customer requests.
• Production Equipment Troubleshooting: Provide advanced line-side technical support. Diagnose machine malfunctions down to root causes, develop robust repair methodologies, and oversee the execution of fixes for intricate tooling fixtures and assembly equipment.
• Preventative Maintenance & Reliability: Optimize equipment reliability and safety profiles by continuously reviewing, refining, and engineering preventive maintenance (PM) plans and equipment spare parts lists.
• Shop-Floor Safety Enforcement: Enforce corporate Health, Safety, and Environment (HSE) policies. Instruct the team in safe industrial working methods, actively mitigate mechanical/environmental risks, and address risky behaviors on the floor.

Required Skills & Experience

• Union Leadership Background: Demonstrated experience directly supervising and managing a large team of 20 to 25 or more unionized workers or skilled trades personnel.
• Industrial Equipment Expertise: 3 or more years of dedicated experience in manufacturing maintenance, mechanical engineering, or factory automation. Note: This position focuses on production tooling and assembly lines, not building/facility maintenance.
• Advanced Troubleshooting: 3 or more years of hands-on equipment troubleshooting, teardowns, and root-cause mapping in an active manufacturing environment.
• Education Foundations: High School Diploma or GED is required. A Bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline (Mechanical, Electrical, or related field) is highly ideal but not required with equivalent work history.

What Makes You Stand Out

• Technical design or diagnostics experience with integrated mechanical, electrical, and hydraulic systems.
• Controls and automation troubleshooting experience utilizing Allen-Bradley components and Rockwell Automation PLC software.
• Prior experience interfacing with machinery through communication protocols like Ethernet, DeviceNet, or Modbus.
• Active experience managing maintenance assets within the SAP PM (Plant Maintenance) module.
• Deep literacy with machinery safety standards such as OSHA 29 CFR 1910, NFPA 79, and NFPA 70E.

APPLY NOW to take command of 2nd-shift maintenance operations, lead skilled-trades teams, and keep the assembly lines running at John Deere Harvester Works!

Pay: Up to $44.00 per hour

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Referral program
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person