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Maintenance Mechanical Technician

3M · Prairie du Chien, WI · $30.64–$36.62 an hour · Full time

Posted Sep 15, 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

This is a 12-hour night shift at Prairie du Chien. How have you stayed sharp and safe on long nights before?

What they are checking: Whether they can work nights reliably and manage fatigue, which raises injury risk.

Tell me about a time your quality of workmanship prevented a bigger failure later.

What they are checking: Whether they take pride in doing a repair right instead of just fast.

How do you document your repairs so the day shift knows what happened?

What they are checking: Whether they communicate across shifts so problems are not repeated or lost.

What would you do

On nights there's less supervision. You find a repair you can't finish safely before shift end. What do you do?

What they are checking: Whether they leave equipment safe and hand off clearly rather than rushing a risky finish.

Production asks you to skip a preventive maintenance task so the line can keep running. How do you respond?

What they are checking: Whether they explain the risk of deferring PMs and escalate instead of quietly skipping work.

About the work

You'd maintain pumps, gearboxes, conveyors, compressors, refrigeration systems and boilers. Which of those have you overhauled, and how did you do it?

What they are checking: Whether their mechanical experience covers the equipment list and how deep their repair skill goes.

Tell me about pipefitting work you've done. How do you make sure a joint won't leak once it's back in service?

What they are checking: Whether they know fitting, threading, welding or gasket practices and how to test their work.

A centrifugal pump is losing pressure. Walk me through what you check.

What they are checking: Whether they consider cavitation, impeller wear, seals, suction problems and valves in a logical order.

How do you isolate and lock out a boiler or steam line before working on it?

What they are checking: Whether they respect stored thermal and pressure energy and verify zero energy before work.

How do you know a gearbox is heading toward failure?

What they are checking: Whether they read noise, heat, oil condition and vibration as early warnings.

Tell me about a refrigeration or compressor repair you've done. What did you find?

What they are checking: Whether they can work safely on pressurized and refrigerant systems with real understanding.

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The full job description

As published by 3M.

Job Description: Maintenance Mechanical Tech Collaborate with Innovative 3Mers Around the World Choosing where to start and grow your career has a major impact on your professional and personal life, so it’s equally important you know that the company that you choose to work at, and its leaders, will support and guide you. With a wide variety of people, global locations, technologies and products, 3M is a place where you can collaborate with other curious, creative 3Mers. This position provides an opportunity to transition from other private, public, government or military experience to a 3M career. The Impact You’ll Make in this Role As a Mechanical Tech in our Plant Engineering department, you will be maintaining equipment and facilities through quality workmanship, performed in a safe, timely and effective manner under the current policies and guidelines of 3M Prairie du Chien. This position will work a 12 hr night shift. As a Maintenance Mechanical Tech, you will have the opportunity to tap into your curiosity and collaborate with some of the most innovative people around the world. Here, you will make an impact by: • Maintain, repair, install, and overhaul production and facilities equipment, including pumps, gearboxes, conveyors, compressors, refrigeration systems, boilers, and other mechanical systems. • Perform mechanical and pipefitting work , including installing, replacing, and changing machine parts; welding, threading, and properly hanging pipe systems; and using lathes and other shop equipment safely and effectively. • Troubleshoot and repair equipment by inspecting and testing machine parts, identifying defects, reading work orders and specifications, and using schematics, blueprints, and diagrams to complete repairs and installations. • Safely dismantle, repair, and reassemble equipment using hand tools, chain falls, jacks, cranes, hoists, and other equipment, while accurately documenting maintenance and repair activities. • Support maintenance operations and team development by assisting with apprentice training, monitoring contractors and other personnel, and performing additional duties as needed to support business operations. Your Skills and Expertise To set you up for success in this role from day one, 3M requires (at a minimum) the following qualifications: • Must possess a High School Diploma/GED or higher (completed and verified prior to start) • Must have a minimum of 5 years of experience in an industrial maintenance setting; OR completion of a federally certified journeyman program (8,000 hours) or equivalent formal industrial manufacturing skilled craft training; OR a technical college degree in a mechanical field. Pay & Benefits: • The starting rate of pay for this position is $30.64 - $36.62/hour . This range represents a good faith estimate for this position. The specific compensation offered to a candidate may vary based on factors including, but not limited to, the candidate’s relevant knowledge, training, skills, work location, and/or experience. In addition, this position may be eligible for a range of benefits (e.g., Medical, Dental & Vision, Health Savings Accounts, Health Care & Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts, Disability Benefits, Life Insurance, Voluntary Benefits, Paid Absences, and Retirement Benefits, etc.). Additional information is available at: https://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/careers-us/working-at-3m/benefits/ Travel: May include up to [5%][domestic/international] Relocation Assistance: May be authorized Must be legally authorized to work in country of employment without sponsorship for employment visa status (e.g., H1B status). Supporting Your Well-being 3M offers many programs to help you live your best life – both physically and financially. To ensure competitive pay and benefits, 3M regularly benchmarks with other companies that are comparable in size and scope. Chat with Max For assistance with searching through our current job openings or for more information about all things 3M, visit Max, our virtual recruiting assistant on 3M.com/careers. #INDPROD Applicable to US Applicants Only:The starting rate of pay for this position is $30.64, with the potential to reach $33.64 . This range represents a good faith estimate for this position. The specific compensation offered to a candidate may vary based on factors including, but not limited to, the candidate’s relevant knowledge, training, skills, work location, and/or experience. In addition, this position may be eligible for a range of benefits (e.g., Medical, Dental & Vision, Health Savings Accounts, Health Care & Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts, Disability Benefits, Life Insurance, Voluntary Benefits, Paid Absences and Retirement Benefits, etc.). Additional information is available at: https://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/careers-us/working-at-3m/benefits/. All US-based 3M full time employees will need to sign an employee agreement as a condition of employment with 3M. This agreement lays out key terms on using 3M Confidential Information and Trade Secrets. It also has provisions discussing conflicts of interest and how inventions are assigned. Employees that are Job Grade 7 or equivalent and above may also have obligations to not compete against 3M or solicit its employees or customers, both during their employment, and for a period after they leave 3M. Learn more about 3M’s creative solutions to the world’s problems at www.3M.com or on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn @3M. Responsibilities of this position include that corporate policies, procedures and security standards are complied with while performing assigned duties. Safety is a core value at 3M. All employees are expected to contribute to a strong Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) culture by following safety policies, identifying hazards, and engaging in continuous improvement. Pay & Benefits Overview: https://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/careers-us/working-at-3m/benefits/ 3M does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, religion, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Please note: your application may not be considered if you do not provide your education and work history, either by: 1) uploading a resume, or 2) entering the information into the application fields directly. 3M Global Terms of Use and Privacy Statement Carefully read these Terms of Use before using this website. Your access to and use of this website and application for a job at 3M are conditioned on your acceptance and compliance with these terms. Please click on the following links and select the country where you are applying for employment to review the applicable Terms of Use (link here) and Privacy Policy (link here) . Before submitting your application, you will be asked to confirm your agreement with the terms.

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