Mechanical Maintenance Technician

ABOUT US

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.

WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR

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.
  

Why us?

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