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Maintenance Electrician II - Journeyman, 1st Shift

Generac · Sussex, WI · Full time

Posted Sep 8, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Walk me through a time you had to troubleshoot a machine that combined electrical, hydraulic, and pneumatic problems all at once. How did you figure out where to start?

What they are checking: whether the candidate can work across systems instead of only their strongest discipline, and how they prioritize under uncertainty

Have you trained apprentices or less experienced technicians before? Tell me about a specific person you helped develop and how you approached it.

What they are checking: genuine mentoring experience versus a generic claim, given this role explicitly requires training others

Tell me about a time you suggested a change to a piece of equipment or a process that improved safety, quality, or uptime.

What they are checking: whether they take initiative on continuous improvement rather than just fixing what's broken

Describe a repair job where the fix you first tried didn't solve the problem. What did you do next?

What they are checking: resilience and systematic problem-solving rather than one-shot guessing

Tell me about a time you had to explain a technical problem to a project manager or engineer who didn't have your electrical background.

What they are checking: communication skills across roles, since the posting calls out interfacing with project managers and engineers

What would you do

Say a robotic cell on the paint or assembly line goes down mid-shift and production is stacking up behind it. What's your first move?

What they are checking: how the candidate triages under production pressure and whether they follow a logical diagnostic sequence versus guessing

If you found a wiring issue that technically works but doesn't meet code or best practice, and fixing it right would mean extending downtime, what would you do?

What they are checking: how they balance safety and correctness against production pressure

If a supervisor asked you to get a machine running fast with a temporary fix, but you were worried it might cause a bigger failure down the line, how would you handle that conversation?

What they are checking: judgment and willingness to push back respectfully when safety or long-term reliability is at stake

About the work

Tell me about the PLC systems you've worked with. What brands, and can you walk me through how you'd troubleshoot a machine that's faulting out on a PLC-controlled line?

What they are checking: depth of real PLC troubleshooting experience versus surface familiarity

How do you read a wiring diagram or schematic you've never seen before to trace down a fault?

What they are checking: practical blueprint and schematic literacy, not just familiarity with the concept

What's your experience with metal fabrication, paint line, or assembly equipment specifically? What kinds of failures came up most often there?

What they are checking: direct relevance of their industrial background to Generac's specific manufacturing environment

What testing equipment do you use to check continuity or diagnose a circuit, and walk me through how you'd isolate a short in a piece of equipment.

What they are checking: hands-on competence with basic diagnostic tools and process, a baseline journeyman skill

What certifications do you currently hold, and have you had to earn or renew a certification for a piece of equipment on short notice?

What they are checking: whether they meet the certification requirement and take ownership of staying current

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The full job description

As published by Generac.

We believe power is a promise - a shared commitment to be there for others when it matters most. For more than 65 years, we've turned big ideas into solutions that help protect homes, strengthen businesses and build a more resilient, efficient, sustainable energy future. Ready to Power a Smarter World with us? The Maintenance Electrician II - Journeyman is expected to install and repair electrical systems and electrical components on industrial machinery and in factory settings. Responsible for daily problem solving and repair of robotic, mechanical, hydraulic, electrical, pneumatic, and controls related issues associated with manufacturing/facility operations. Follows established procedures, processes, or policies, but is expected to use judgment in resolving issues or recommending solutions. Major Responsibilities • Learning the principles, practices, and processes in the function or discipline. Developing the business knowledge required of the full job. • Safely and proficiently perform maintenance related activities of equipment, buildings and grounds. • Suggest and implement improvements of existing equipment and/or designs to improve safety, quality, delivery and productivity. • Assists in troubleshooting electrical components, wiring diagrams. • Testing electrical systems or continuity of circuits in electrical wiring, equipment or fixtures. • Provides technical support to project managers and engineers on projects. • Contacts are typically with the supervisor and other members of the team or immediate organization but may be outside of this in order to complete the assignment. May represent the team on projects and interface with customers. Impacts of errors normally have implications requiring additional resources. • Contributes to improving processes, equipment downtime, and costs. • Provides resolutions from basic to moderately complex problems. Exercises judgment within procedures and practices in selecting methods and techniques for arriving at solutions. • Train maintenance technicians Minimum Job Requirements • A technical, Associates Degree or certificate in a maintenance related field • 6+ years of experience in commercial/industrial electrical/maintenance • Preferred experience on equipment and automation consistent with a metal fabrication, paint, and assembly operation. • Ability to train apprentices Knowledge / Skills / Abilities • Ability to effectively communicate • Contributes to identifying problems and implementing appropriate countermeasures. Strong mechanical aptitude, ability to understand complex issues and systematically work toward resolution. • Working knowledge of PLC hardware and programming systems, ability to maintain and troubleshoot PLC controlled equipment is required. • Ability to work from drawings, sketches, and blueprints. • Intermediate PC knowledge. • Ability to interpret drawings, schematics and machine specifications. • Ability to acquire and maintain certifications for operation of service equipment. • Ability to train Preferred Job Requirements • Intermediate mechanical aptitude, ability to understand complex issues and systematically work toward resolution. Physical Demands: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear; and use hands to manipulate objects or controls. The employee is regularly required to stand and walk. On occasion the incumbent may be required to stoop, bend or reach above the shoulders. The employee must occasionally lift up to 25 - 50 pounds. Specific conditions of this job are typical of frequent and continuous computer-based work requiring periods of sitting, close vision and ability to adjust focus. “We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.”

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