How to hire a die maintenance technician

How to hire a die maintenance technician, step by step

Here's a step-by-step die maintenance technician hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a die maintenance technician job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new die maintenance technician
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a die maintenance technician, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect die maintenance technician also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   This list presents die maintenance technician salaries for various positions.

   Type of Die Maintenance Technician	Description	Hourly rate
   Die Maintenance Technician	General maintenance and repair workers fix and maintain machines, mechanical equipment, and buildings. They paint, repair flooring, and work on plumbing, electrical, and air-conditioning and heating systems.	$14-33
   Maintenance Engineer	A maintenance engineer is responsible for the maintenance of industrial machinery and inspects equipment defects for immediate troubleshooting or replacement as needed. Maintenance engineers install and upgrade system components to improve system optimization and perform diagnostic systems to locate any adjustments... Show more	$13-35
   Maintenance Helper	A maintenance helper performs basic support tasks to assist maintenance technicians in installing and repairing machines and equipment. Their responsibilities typically include gathering and handing tools, changing fixtures such as light bulbs and faucets, preparing workspaces, and cleaning work areas and equipment... Show more	$11-19

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Industrial Maintenance
   • Stamping Dies
   • Troubleshoot
   • Grinders
   • Cranes
   • MIG
   • CNC
   • CAD
   • TIG
   • Calipers
   • General Maintenance
   • Machine Tools
   • Hand Tools
   • Shop Equipment

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Machine replacement die sections and punches from carbide and tool steel using surface grinders, manual mills and lathes.
   • Experience with all tools require for mold repair such as mills, lathes, grinders, welders, etc.
   • Perform routine and emergency maintenance calls, paint, repair drywall safely repair minor electrical problems including HVAC.
   • Implement and maintain a plant wide machine maintenance program including preventative maintenance.2.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your die maintenance technician job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A die maintenance technician can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, die maintenance technicians' average salary in new mexico is 48% less than in district of columbia.
   • Seniority. Entry-level die maintenance technicians 56% less than senior-level die maintenance technicians.
   • Certifications. A die maintenance technician with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a die maintenance technician's salary.

   Average die maintenance technician salary

   $47,341yearly

   $22.76 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level die maintenance technician salary

   $31,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 30, 2026

4. Writing a die maintenance technician job description

   A good die maintenance technician job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a die maintenance technician job description:

   Die maintenance technician job description example

   Job Title: Tool and Die Maintenance Technician (x2)

   Location: Ridgeville, SC

   Status of Hire: full-time, direct hire

   Pay: up to $37/hr

   Shift: 2nd shift and 3rd shift Mon-Friday

   (May be trained and assigned to perform Plant Start-up & Shutdown Procedures and Weekend/Holiday Shutdown Facilities Check.)

   Industry: Automotive Parts Manufacturing/Foundry (Temperature Regulated, Clean)

   Reports to: Maintenance Manager

   Major Duties and Responsibilities

   · Support equipment / die downtime in a dynamic fast-paced environment.

   · Develop and support die maintenance and improvement projects.

   · Support weekend and shutdown die issues.

   · Support training of other die associates.

   · Support of the engineering group in short / long term projects.

   · Support machine checks, preventative maintenance duties, line troubleshooting and reporting of problems and repairs

   · Utilizes hand tools, power tools, and hoists/cranes to repair and maintain dies and associated equipment.

   · Utilizes calipers, micrometers and other gauges to evaluate production components.

   · May be trained and assigned to operate a forklift.

   · Keeps work area clean of debris and safety hazards.

   · Complies with Safety Policies and reports unsafe conditions.

   · Work on daily activities as assigned by the Team Leader.

   · Respond to die downtime and recovery issues.

   · Monitor dies for potential problems identification.

   · Perform quality & running efficiency improvements to the dies.

   · Perform scheduled preventative maintenance plans & activities.

   · Quality confirmation of completed work.

   · Perform zone inspections.

   · Perform all phases of die and associated troubleshooting on electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, and/or pneumatic systems including process water controls and lines

   Minimum Qualifications

   · High School Diploma or equivalent and a minimum of five (5) years of experience as a maintenance technician.

   · Ability to read, write, speak and understand English well.

   · Must demonstrate capability of using hand and power tools.

   · Understands safety policies, quality policy and environmental policies.

   · Basic understanding of GD&T etc.

   · Ability to analyze die & process problems and implement repairs & countermeasures for:

   · Hydraulic cylinder issues

   · Mechanical aptitude

   · Ability to weld & hard finish.

   · Demonstrate solid “Troubleshooting” skills.

   · General computer/data entry skills.

   · General machine tool knowledge.

   · Understanding of 2D drawings.

   · Capability to work with minimal supervision.

   · Good communication skills.

   · Basic knowledge of mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, and pneumatic functions and components.

   **Must be authorized to work in the US regardless of visa transfer or sponsorship

   **Must be able to pass a pre-employment drug test, physical, and background check to be eligible for hire

   **Local candidates preferred though some relocation assistance may be offered

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find die maintenance technicians for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any die maintenance technicians they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level die maintenance technicians with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your die maintenance technician job on Zippia to find and recruit die maintenance technician candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit die maintenance technicians, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new die maintenance technician

   Once you've found the die maintenance technician candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new die maintenance technician. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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