Senior Manager Maintenance at American Axle… · Detroit

Job Posting Title Senior Manager Maintenance

Job Description Summary Dauch is seeking an experienced Senior Manager Maintenance Manager to join our team in Newton, North Carolina.

This fully onsite role is responsible for leading all maintenance and reliability functions within a high-volume Tier 1 automotive manufacturing facility. This person is responsible for overseeing two facilities onsite, one high-volume gear machining and one mid-to-high level automation assembly. This role ensures optimal equipment uptime, supports production goals, and drives continuous improvement in maintenance processes, safety, and cost efficiency. The position oversees preventive and predictive maintenance programs, capital projects, and a skilled maintenance workforce while aligning with lean manufacturing principles and customer expectations.

The ideal candidate has extensive automotive maintenance leadership experience (preferably Tier 1), with a proven track record managing large teams in high-volume, just-in-time environments and strong expertise in stamping, welding, assembly, robotics, or similar processes.

Job Description:

Leadership & Strategy

• Promotes a safety-first culture and ensures compliance with all environmental, health, and safety regulations.
• Leads, develops, and mentors maintenance teams including supervisors, technicians, and engineers.
• Establishes and executes a maintenance strategy aligned with plant operational and business objectives.
• Partners with production, engineering, and quality teams to support plant performance targets (OEE, downtime, scrap reduction).

Maintenance & Reliability

• Oversees preventive, predictive, and corrective maintenance programs to maximize equipment reliability and uptime.
• Implements and sustains reliability-centered maintenance (RCM) and Total Predictive Maintenance (TPM) initiatives.
• Analyzes breakdown trends and implements root cause corrective actions (RCCA).
• Utilizes CMMS systems to manage work orders, asset history, and maintenance planning.

Operational Excellence

• Drives continuous improvement using Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and Kaizen principles.
• Optimizes maintenance costs, spare parts inventory, and labor efficiency.
• Tracks and reports key performance indicators (KPIs) such as MTBF, MTTR, and equipment uptime.
• Leads plant-wide initiatives to improve Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE).

Capital Projects & Technology

• Leads maintenance-related capital projects from planning through execution and startup.
• Supports new equipment installs, plant expansions, and process upgrades.
• Evaluates and implements emerging technologies such as automation, robotics, and predictive analytics.

Compliance & Quality

• Ensures compliance with IATF 16949, ISO standards, and customer-specific requirements.
• Maintains audit readiness and supports internal and external audits.
• Ensures proper documentation and adherence to maintenance standards and procedures.
• All other duties as assigned.

Required Skills and Education

• Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, or related Engineering field).
• 5-10+ years of relevant maintenance leadership experience in the automotive industry, preferably OEM or Tier 1.
• Expertise in CMMS systems (e.g., SAP PM, Maximo, EAM).
• Strong understanding of Siemens PLCs, automation systems, and industrial controls.
• Strong understanding of CNC based machining equipment.
• Experience with predictive maintenance technologies (vibration analysis, thermography, arc flash, etc.)
• Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, TPM, Six Sigma (certification preferred).

About AAM:

As a leading global Tier 1 Automotive and Mobility Supplier, AAM designs, engineers and manufactures Driveline and Metal Forming technologies to support electric, hybrid and internal combustion vehicles. Discover how we’re Bringing the Future Faster at AAM.com.

AAM will not discriminate against any Associate or applicant for employment because of age, race, color, gender, religion, weight, height, marital status, sexual orientation, genetic history or information, gender identity or expression, disability, protected veteran status, national origin, or other characteristic protected by law. AAM will take affirmative action to ensure that applicants are employed, and that Associates are treated equally during employment, without regard to their age, race, color, gender, religion, weight, height, marital status, sexual orientation, genetic history or information, gender identity or expression, disability, protected veteran status, national origin, or other characteristic protected by law. For the Disabled Job Seeker: We offer reasonable accommodations for qualified disabled individuals who are applicants for employment. To request assistance or accommodations, please e-mail TalentAcquisition@aam.com. AAM is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.