Full-Time

Maintenance Manager

Posted on 10/31/2025

Challenge Manufacturing

Challenge Manufacturing

1,001-5,000 employees

High-speed automotive stamping, welding, and assembly

No salary listed

Grand Rapids, MI, USA

In Person

On-site at the Walker, MI plant; 1st shift, 7AM-4PM, Monday–Friday; occasional early/late hours or weekend work may be required.

Category
Operations & Logistics (3)
, ,
Requirements
  • Associate or bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical, or Technical Discipline strongly preferred
  • Three to five years’ work experience in a maintenance leadership role required covering multiple shifts.
  • Experience with predictive and preventative maintenance programs required
  • Willingness and ability to obtain appropriate (hilo, crane, lift, etc.) operating licenses
  • Automotive industry experience preferred
  • Computer literacy required, including MS Office (Excel) and ERP/MRP system (Plex is a plus) experience
  • Strong team building, decision-making, organization, multi-tasking, and people management skills
  • Has high standards of performance for self.
  • Takes responsibility for actions, results, and mistakes.
  • Is thorough, accurate, and reliable when performing and completing job tasks; demonstrates honesty and integrity in all aspects of work.
  • Takes positive action to objectively resolve conflict by listening, staying focused on issue to find resolution, and monitoring progress.
  • Maintains positive relationships by constructively resolving conflicts.
  • Uses feedback from others to continuously improve performance and work relationships.
  • Moves within own and/or other work areas (flexes) to support plant flow.
  • Works with sense of urgency to meet needs of customers.
  • Has necessary experience, skills, and knowledge to perform all aspects of job; rotates through all job responsibilities.
  • Maintains knowledge and skills to perform job effectively.
  • Has ability to focus on benefits of change and see it as positive; approaches change or newness in constructive/objective manner; views change as learning opportunity.
  • Looks for good in others; works collaboratively with others; shares information and knowledge.
  • Is at work when scheduled and ensures coverage when absent; takes timely breaks/lunches; uses time wisely.
  • Demonstrates expertise and proficiency with basic office computer software, and ability to learn how to effectively use maintenance software to input data and research parts.
  • Strong verbal and written communication skills.
  • Demonstrated ability to perform and succeed in an environment of schedule and cost pressure while navigating competing priorities and requirements.
  • Thorough technical knowledge in the field of industrial maintenance, including relevant regulations, standards, and codes. Ability to read and understand complex diagrams.
  • Organized, good multi craft background, able to motivate people, work in a team environment, relate well with people at all levels, cost conscious, good estimator, ambition to continuously improve self and work, self-motivated, reliable.
  • Competent with computer software such as, Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, MS Project).
  • Knowledge of MRP/ERP systems (Plex is a strong plus)
Responsibilities
  • Ensure personnel follow established safety procedures and implement improvement projects. Maximize reliability, efficiency, and safety of equipment.
  • Manage press, weld, crib maintenance supervisors and personnel. Oversee day-to-day operations and tasks to ensure smooth performance of overall operations.
  • Ensure manpower is sufficient and properly trained to work in an effective and efficient manner.
  • Maintain effective predictive and preventative maintenance programs by use of established metrics, planning, PM program, and predictive technologies.
  • Ensure corporate standards are upheld and maintained.
  • Install and/or modify manufacturing equipment to meet production requirements.
  • Work with outside contractors when scope of repair is beyond in-house capabilities.
  • Respond to production emergencies and down equipment. Oversee maintenance and repair of production and facilities equipment.
  • Manage projects to provide prompt response to requests and issues from multiple departments.
  • Implement best practice processes to increase productivity, quality, and output.
  • Participate in continuous improvement activities and recommend process improvements.
  • Effectively communicate with corporate and plant teams to ensure effective outcomes.
  • Ensure all communication is clear, concise, timely, and thorough.
  • Ensure department participates and works effectively to meet corporate and plant cost metrics.
Desired Qualifications
  • ESOP experience
  • Experience with changing priorities and multiple tasks
  • Experience managing a multi-discipline maintenance team in a manufacturing environment
  • Strong leadership and motivational skills
  • Experience with maintenance software (e.g., SAP PM, IBM Maximo)
  • Experience with predictive maintenance and data analytics
Challenge Manufacturing

Challenge Manufacturing

View

Challenge Manufacturing specializes in high-speed progressive stamping, high-tonnage transfer, automated assembly, and multiple welding methods (resistance, projection, MIG, drawn arc stud welding) to produce automotive structures for Tier 1 suppliers. Its processes turn raw metal into precise, high-quality assemblies through automated lines with about 1,500 industrial robots across 12 locations, enabling fast production and high consistency. The company differentiates itself by its large, employee-owned ESOP model that aligns worker incentives with company success, a global footprint, and a culture built on Safety, Ownership, and Teamwork, alongside its scale and focus on automotive structures. The goal is to be the best global supplier of automotive structures while delivering value to its employee-owners.

Company Size

1,001-5,000

Company Stage

Debt Financing

Total Funding

$100M

Headquarters

Walker, Michigan

Founded

1981

Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • EV production reaching 35% of global sales by 2030 drives lightweight assembly demand.
  • Nearshoring trends increase North American OEM capacity 15-20% through 2027, favoring Challenge.
  • Tier 1 supplier consolidation creates M&A opportunities for employee-owned companies to scale.

What critics are saying

  • EV transition reduces stamped metal component demand; integrated battery housings favor composites.
  • Chinese suppliers undercut pricing; Challenge's Michigan cost structure cannot compete.
  • Top 3 OEM customers represent 60-75% revenue; 20% production drop loses 15-25% revenue.

What makes Challenge Manufacturing unique

  • 1,500+ industrial robots with AI-driven predictive maintenance reduce downtime 25-30%.
  • Employee-owned ESOP structure aligns workforce incentives with long-term operational excellence.
  • Specialized welding expertise positions Challenge for emerging EV battery enclosure demand.

Help us improve and share your feedback! Did you find this helpful?

Benefits

Health Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Health Savings Account/Flexible Spending Account

Short-Term Disability

Basic Life

Voluntary Life

LTD

401(k) Company Match

Tuition Reimbursement

Referral Bonus Program

Challenge Incentive Program

Paid Time Off

ESOP shares

Company News

Business Wire
Oct 17th, 2023
WhiteHawk Capital Partners Provides Senior Term Loan Facility to Challenge Manufacturing

WhiteHawk Capital Partners, LP announced it has entered into an agreement with Challenge Mfg. Company, LLC to provide a senior term loan facility.

INACTIVE