tozero is Europe’s leading deep-tech startup in lithium-ion battery recycling, driving decarbonization and the circular economy through innovative material recovery solutions.
We are on a mission to recover critical materials from end-of-life batteries and build a cleaner, more sustainable future.
As a Mechanical Technician, you will be the technical backbone of our recycling plant’s physical infrastructure.
Mechanical Maintenance
Installation & Assembly: Independently install, assemble, and commission a wide range of industrial equipment, machinery units, and complex piping systems.
Modifications & Upgrades: Execute technical modifications and plant improvements to optimize process performance and equipment integration.
Equipment Maintenance: Maintain, align, and troubleshoot pumps, motors, gearboxes, valves, and heavy process equipment.
Spare Parts Management: Identify, replace, and manage critical spare parts to ensure rapid recovery and minimal downtime.
Preventive Care: Execute and optimize preventive and corrective maintenance schedules across all mechanical assets.
Fabrication: Perform welding, machining, and metal fabrication as required for repairs or bespoke plant adjustments.
Diagnostic Excellence: Diagnose mechanical wear and tear, implementing sustainable technical solutions to extend equipment life.
Integrated Technical Support
General Maintenance: Develop and actively execute preventive maintenance plans from scratch to improve equipment reliability.
Safety & Compliance: Ensure strict compliance with safety standards, specifically Lockout-Tagout (LOTO) and heavy machinery protocols.
Workshop Ownership: Maintain clear technical documentation and contribute to the organization and efficiency of the maintenance workshop.
Minor Electrical Support: Perform basic, non-complex electrical tasks incidental to mechanical work (e.g., safely disconnecting/reconnecting motors during a mechanical swap or replacing simple sensors) to maintain workflow momentum.
Plant Operations and Production Support
Operational Support: Operate recycling equipment during commissioning and daily production.
Material Handling: Manage loading, unloading, and feeding process lines to ensure continuous flow.
Site Stewardship: Support plant ramp-up and maintain high 5S/safety standards.
This role is for a true hands-on professional with deep expertise in mechanical systems, rotating equipment, and industrial fabrication, capable of working independently in a demanding industrial environment.
You will work directly on the shop floor, performing installations, maintenance, troubleshooting, and supporting production during ramp-up and scale-up phases. In this role, you will play a key part in ensuring plant reliability, uptime, and safe operations. While your primary focus is mechanical excellence, you are a versatile team player ready to jump into plant operations and material handling to keep the facility running at peak performance.
Completed vocational training as an Industrial Mechanic (Industriemechaniker) or equivalent trade.
Several years of proven industrial experience in mechanical maintenance within a chemical, recycling, or heavy industrial plant.
Language Skills: Proficiency in English is required; German language skills are a strong advantage for technical documentation and local coordination.
Expertise in fluid power: Strong understanding of hydraulics and pneumatics.
Technical Literacy: Ability to read and interpret complex mechanical drawings and P&IDs.
Autonomy: A "doer" who executes safely and independently without constant guidance.
Versatility: Comfortable switching between technical repairs and material handling.
Flexibility: Willingness and ability to work in a shift system to support operations
Startup Mindset: Solution-oriented and adaptable to a fast-paced environment.
At tozero, we believe in providing a supportive and enriching work environment to help our team achieve top performance:
Free snacks and drinks in the office
Jobticket with fully subsidized Deutschlandticket for commuting across Germany
Dynamic startup environment working closely with experts in a fast-moving deep-tech company shaping the future of battery recycling and sustainability