Lead Diesel Mechanic

Job Title: Lead Diesel Mechanic

Job Description

This role leads a busy diesel mechanic facility that services not only diesel trucks, but also trailers, forklifts, cranes, and other heavy equipment. You will oversee all mechanics on the floor, prioritize and delegate emergency repairs, and balance scheduled maintenance with ongoing projects to keep the fleet operating safely and efficiently.

Responsibilities

• Oversee and lead all mechanics on the shop floor, providing direction, guidance, and technical support.
• Prioritize and delegate emergency repairs while balancing scheduled maintenance and ongoing projects.
• Complete monthly inspections on all diesel trucks, trailers, and related equipment to ensure safe and reliable operation.
• Perform general repairs on all parts of Class 8 trucks and trailers, including mechanical, electrical, and structural components.
• Rebuild Cummins engines and ensure rebuilt units meet performance and reliability standards.
• Troubleshoot and repair diesel aftertreatment systems, including diagnosing faults and performing corrective actions.
• Troubleshoot and repair electrical systems on Class 8 equipment, using schematics, diagrams, and diagnostic tools.
• Diagnose and repair hydraulic systems on trucks, trailers, and related equipment.
• Maintain complete, accurate, and timely maintenance documentation for all repairs, inspections, and service activities.
• Lead, train, and mentor technicians on the floor to build skills, improve quality, and promote safe work practices.
• Build and manage a daily work schedule for the shop floor, ensuring efficient use of labor and minimal downtime.
• Take phone calls from drivers during work hours to troubleshoot issues, provide guidance, and coordinate repairs.
• Operate a forklift safely to move equipment, parts, and materials as needed.
• Perform welding and fabrication work as needed to repair or modify equipment and components.
• Follow and promote good housekeeping standards to maintain a clean, organized, and safe work area.
• Apply knowledge of industrial safety and OSHA guidelines to all work activities and ensure team compliance.
• Retrieve and stage parts for technicians to support efficient workflow and minimize delays.
• Participate actively in team meetings, providing input on maintenance issues, process improvements, and safety concerns.
• Make recommendations for process and system improvements to enhance reliability, safety, and productivity.
• Support fleet maintenance activities across diesel trucks, trailers, and other equipment as needed.

Essential Skills

• At least 5 years of experience as a lead technician or in a similar leadership role in a diesel maintenance environment.
• Proven ability to perform detailed inspections on diesel trucks and related equipment.
• Demonstrated ability to rebuild Cummins engines.
• Strong experience troubleshooting and repairing diesel aftertreatment systems.
• Hands-on experience with diesel engine repair, fleet maintenance, and diesel maintenance operations.
• Ability to troubleshoot and repair electrical systems on Class 8 equipment using diagrams and schematics.
• Experience diagnosing and repairing hydraulic systems.
• Welding and fabrication experience for repairs and modifications.
• Ability to read and interpret schematics, diagrams, and blueprints.
• Mechanical repair skills including brakes, engines, and general truck systems.
• Ability to lift 50 pounds consistently as part of daily duties.
• Comfort working flexible hours within a first-shift schedule to ensure operations run smoothly.
• Strong troubleshooting skills and a methodical approach to diagnosing complex mechanical and electrical issues.
• Knowledge of industrial safety practices and OSHA guidelines relevant to a heavy equipment maintenance environment.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Class A CDL license is preferred and considered a plus.
• Experience working with Class 8 trucks, trailers, forklifts, cranes, and other heavy equipment.
• Background in fleet maintenance within industrial or recycling operations.
• Ability to train and mentor technicians and contribute to a collaborative team environment.
• Comfort working in a non-climate-controlled, industrial setting and occasionally in outdoor elements.

Why Work Here?

You will join a company that rewards your expertise with weekly pay and a performance-based bonus structure, where recent averages added approximately 15% on top of base earnings. The organization offers comprehensive medical, dental, vision, and prescription coverage, along with a 401(k) plan featuring a company matching program. A health savings account with company contributions and a profit-sharing program (after 1,000 hours worked) provide additional long-term financial benefits, including an 8% contribution of pre-tax earnings. You will have access to tuition reimbursement up to $5,000 per year after six months of employment, supporting your continued professional growth. The company supplies uniforms, boots, hard hats, and warm weather gear so you can focus on your work without extra out-of-pocket costs. You also receive 10 paid holidays, contributing to a stable work-life balance while working in a culture that values safety, reliability, and continuous improvement.

Work Environment

This position is based in a metal recycling facility that operates a diesel mechanic shop supporting trucks, trailers, forklifts, cranes, and other heavy equipment. The role follows a first-shift schedule from Monday through Friday, with early start times available to ensure operations run smoothly; the exact start time is flexible within early morning hours. A minimum of 5 hours of overtime per week is required, with additional overtime available at your discretion. The facility is non-climate-controlled, and you will work in an industrial environment where you may be exposed to the elements from time to time, including varying temperatures and weather conditions. You will work around heavy machinery, metal materials, and active yard operations, following strict safety and OSHA guidelines. The role involves regular physical activity, including lifting up to 50 pounds, operating forklifts, performing welding and fabrication, and moving around the shop and yard throughout the day. Uniforms, boots, hard hats, and warm weather gear are provided to support safety and comfort on the job.

This is a Permanent position based out of Fort Wayne, IN.

The pay range for this position is $90000.00 - $100000.00/yr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your jobclassification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may besubject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefitsavailable for this temporary role may include the following:• Medical, dental & vision• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital• 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)• Short and long-term disability• Health Spending Account (HSA)• Transportation benefits• Employee Assistance Program• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

This is a fully onsite position in Fort Wayne,IN.

This position is anticipated to close on Sep 30, 2026.

Aerotek® Inc. provides staffing and services solutions in manufacturing, logistics, construction, aviation, facilities and maintenance. We provide the expertise, solutions and people required to rise to the challenges of North American industry. Headquartered in Hanover, Md., Aerotek operates a unified network of over 200 offices across North America, supporting more than 18,000 clients each year. Aerotek is an Allegis Group company, the global leader in workforce and business solutions. To learn more, visit: Aerotek.com | 1-888-AEROTEK.

Aerotek offers weekly pay, employee benefits including medical, dental & vision, life insurance, health advocacy and employee assistance programs, a 401(k) plan, and employee discounts.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regards to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance:
Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector:
It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI):
We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.

We know that finding work is hard, and finding meaningful work is harder. Aerotek connects 180,000+ light industrial and skilled trades workers with 14,000+ employers each year, helping our workers navigate an evolving labor market and find jobs that meet their goals, skills, and interests. Since 1983, we have provided a variety of career opportunities across North American industry – from short-term assignments at Fortune 500 companies where you can build your skills, to long-term opportunities where you can play a vital role in solving companies’ construction, manufacturing, and maintenance challenges. Our 1,500+ experienced recruiters across 250+ offices work relentlessly to put our workforce in a position to thrive. Let us rise to meet your challenges and put our people-are-everything spirit to the test as your career continues to grow.