About the Company
A growing, founder-led Canadian manufacturer based in Cambridge, ON is investing heavily in its in-house production capabilities. The operation is a focused, hands-on environment with a team of approximately 10–12 skilled tradespeople performing high-precision work. As the business scales, they are bringing in a dedicated technical generalist to serve as the operational backbone of the manufacturing floor.
The Role
This is a newly created, foundational individual-contributor role reporting directly to the Founder. The mandate is broad and hands-on: commission new equipment, keep everything running, build the SOPs and safety protocols the shop needs as it grows, and act as the go-to person when anything goes wrong, from a machine breakdown to a facilities issue.
Several pieces of equipment are currently unboxed and waiting to be set up. You'll own getting them from crate to production-ready, then take on the day-to-day maintenance and troubleshooting across the full suite.
Facilities management will make up roughly 30% of the role during the initial setup phase, declining to 5–10% once the shop is fully operational.
What You'll Do:
- Own the installation, setup, commissioning, and ongoing maintenance of all manufacturing equipment, working along side contractors as needed.
- Be the first call when something breaks, troubleshoot and fix what you can, bring in a specialist when needed.
- Read manuals, liaise with equipment manufacturers (often European), and work through setup hands-on.
- Design and implement SOPs and safety protocols as the shop scales.
- Train the production team on new equipment with patience and clarity.
- Coordinate and manage contractors for HVAC, electrical, plumbing, and compressed air, get multiple quotes, oversee the work, build lasting relationships with reliable trades people.
- Maintain WHMIS standards and enforce safe working practices across the floor.
Equipment You'll Work With:
Investment casting, laser marking/welding, polishing/deburring, sandblasting, forming, brazing, and ultrasonic cleaning. Much of it is European-made (Germany, Italy) -documentation isn't always in English. If you have experience with any of these equipment, it’s a huge bonus but not mandatory.
What We're Looking For:
- 5-10+ years of hands-on equipment installation, maintenance, and troubleshooting as a primary job function - not in a support or advisory role.
- College diploma in Mechanical Engineering Technology, Manufacturing Technology, Tool and Die, or a related technical field; trades certifications are an asset.
- Strong mechanical aptitude with the ability to troubleshoot and repair electro-mechanical equipment.
- Experience writing or revising SOPs and training production employees.
- Comfortable working independently without a support team.
- Experience coordinating contractors (HVAC, electrical, plumbing) is a meaningful asset.
- Automotive, precision manufacturing, or adjacent industrial backgrounds are strong fits.
Who You Are:
- You fix things yourself rather than escalating.
- You're comfortable walking into an unfamiliar machine, reading the manual, and figuring it out.
- You're low-ego, reliable, and looking for a place to put down roots as the Founder is looking for a long-term partner, not someone passing through.
