What are the responsibilities and job description for the Field Service Lead position at Align Production Systems?
Location: Decatur, IL
Type: Hourly | Full-Time
Shift: 1st Shift, M–F
Travel: 25–30%
Reports to: Plant Manager
About Align
Align Production Systems has designed and manufactured heavy industrial material handling equipment in Decatur, Illinois for over 50 years. We build custom-engineered turntables, welding positioners, conveyor systems, AGVs, and transporters for Fortune 500 manufacturers in metal stamping, energy, agricultural, and wire and cable industries. Everything — fabrication, machining, controls, assembly — is done in-house.
THE ROLE
You are the person who makes it work when Align equipment arrives at a customer site. As a working lead, you plan and execute field trips, lead a small crew on-site, own the customer relationship, and leave with the equipment running right. This role covers new installations, commissioning, troubleshooting, and training at industrial manufacturing facilities across the country.
What You Will Do
Type: Hourly | Full-Time
Shift: 1st Shift, M–F
Travel: 25–30%
Reports to: Plant Manager
About Align
Align Production Systems has designed and manufactured heavy industrial material handling equipment in Decatur, Illinois for over 50 years. We build custom-engineered turntables, welding positioners, conveyor systems, AGVs, and transporters for Fortune 500 manufacturers in metal stamping, energy, agricultural, and wire and cable industries. Everything — fabrication, machining, controls, assembly — is done in-house.
THE ROLE
You are the person who makes it work when Align equipment arrives at a customer site. As a working lead, you plan and execute field trips, lead a small crew on-site, own the customer relationship, and leave with the equipment running right. This role covers new installations, commissioning, troubleshooting, and training at industrial manufacturing facilities across the country.
What You Will Do
- Lead field service technicians on-site — installations, startups, troubleshooting, and customer training
- Plan and schedule field service trips in coordination with the Plant Manager and customers
- Own the customer relationship on-site and communicate project status to internal teams
- Perform hands-on mechanical work: installation, alignment, hydraulic and pneumatic systems
- Document service activities and findings accurately after each trip
- Assemble parts, pieces and/or products using a variety of tools and/or equipment according to required specifications, processes, and procedures.
- Responsible for identifying assembly errors.
- Keeps equipment operational by completing preventive maintenance requirements; troubleshooting; reporting malfunctions.
- Quality panel builds.
- Keep accurate labor records.
- Performs material handling duties, including operating forklift and overhead hoists.
- Continued focus on quality first.
- 5 years of hands-on mechanical experience in industrial manufacturing or field service
- Ability to read mechanical drawings, hydraulic/pneumatic schematics, and wiring diagrams
- Experience leading others in a technical environment
- Strong organizational skills and clear, professional communication — especially in front of customers
- Valid driver's license; comfortable with planned travel approximately 25–30% of the time
- Preferred: background in millwright, welding, or industrial mechanics; OSHA 10/30; prior field service experience
- Monday through Friday, first shift — no nights, no weekends, no rotating schedules
- All travel is planned in advance. No on-call. Meals, hotels, and all travel expenses fully company-paid with a company card
- Low turnover — people who join us tend to stay
- Clear advancement path to Field Service Manager (salaried)
- Work that is genuinely complex — our equipment moves loads exceeding 300,000 lbs and runs in Fortune 500 production facilities