Maintenance & Facilities Specialist

At 1872 AI, we are transforming industrial manufacturing in the United States by building AI-native factories capable of lights-out production—from CAD to finished part with minimal human input. Our initial focus targets the energy and infrastructure sectors—power generation, grid infrastructure, and compute facilities—where critical supply chain bottlenecks in steel fabrication are limiting growth.

About The Role

Reporting directly to the Head of Operations, we are looking for a Maintenance & Facilities Specialist to serve as the critical bridge between maintenance engineering and hands-on technical execution. You will own the day-to-day upkeep, troubleshooting, and preventive maintenance of our facility infrastructure and automated production equipment. This is a scrappy, highly independent role perfect for someone who thrives on executing tasks from the ground up.

• Primary Interfaces: Operations Leadership, Automation and Controls Engineers, Operations Team, External Contractors
• Key Metrics: Equipment Uptime, Preventive Maintenance (PM) Completion Rate, Mean Time To Repair (MTTR)
• Key Systems/Tools: 20-ton overhead bridge cranes, 480V electrical systems, Allen-Bradley PLCs, lifting and rigging equipment (forklifts, scissor lifts), HVAC/mechanical systems, basic shop equipment (tables, bandsaws)
• Schedule: Day shift (typically 6:30 AM start for 8-10 hour days). Predictable hours with no routine weekend or after-hours on-call expectations required at this time.
  
  
  

Key Responsibilities

• Facilities & Install: Drive heavy facilities work (mechanical, electrical, plumbing) to get the shop ready, followed by assisting in the installation and commissioning of new manufacturing equipment.
• Equipment Maintenance: Execute PMs and respond to emergency breakdowns for heavy fabrication machinery and automated production equipment.
• Electrical Systems: Serve as our primary in-house electrical expert for everyday tasks and rapid troubleshooting. Provide hands-on support for 480V systems and assist controls engineers with physical work.
• Asset Management: Oversee the condition, usage, and maintenance of lifting and rigging equipment, including our 20-ton overhead bridge cranes, forklifts, and rentals.
• Contractor Management: Vet, schedule, and oversee external facilities and equipment contractors when highly specialized support is required.
  
  
  

Base Qualifications

• 5 years of experience in heavy industrial, automotive, or robotics-heavy manufacturing environments.
• Strong mechanical and electrical aptitude to drive heavy facilities work early on, before transitioning into equipment installation, commissioning, and long-term maintenance.
• Strict adherence to industrial safety standards, including Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) and Arc Flash safety.
• Obsessive attention to detail—you take pride in clean wire routing, perfectly level installations, and meticulous PM logs.
• Culturally, you are highly focused, independent, and execution-oriented with a strong ability to block out distractions and get the job done.
  
  
  

We consider equivalent experience. If you meet most of the requirements, apply.

Preferred Qualifications

• A hybrid "specialist" mindset: you might be an elevated industrial electrician capable of engineering-lite problem solving, or a hands-on engineer who prefers being on the floor over sitting at a desk.
• Familiarity with Allen-Bradley PLCs is a massive plus. Our Automation & Controls Engineer is willing to mentor the right candidate in PLC programming if you have a rock-solid industrial electrical foundation.
• Experience vetting and managing external facilities contractors.
  
  
  

Why Join

• We provide the best tools: Leave your tools at home. We purchase and provide all necessary tools and equipment, brand new and top-shelf.
• What you'll build first: The foundational facility infrastructure and automated production base that powers our mission to build structural steel skids and e-houses.
• Impact: You ensure our AI-driven systems and heavy machinery stay online, directly enabling our lights-out manufacturing throughput and uptime goals.
• Growth: Ground-floor opportunity to write the playbook. Your initial focus will be 100% hands-on facility setup and equipment commissioning. As we scale, you will define our plant maintenance standards and have the opportunity to take on more responsibility as the department grows.
  
  
  

How To Apply

Fill out our application and see what we can build together! Please include:

• Resume or LinkedIn profile
  
  
  

This role is based on-site in Cincinnati, OH and is not open to remote work.

1872 AI is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. We are committed to building a diverse team and encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply. To request a reasonable accommodation during the application process, please contact recruiting@1872.ai.

This position may be subject to a background check in accordance with applicable law. A criminal record will not automatically disqualify a candidate from consideration.