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Which Skills Actually Matter to Manufacturers
Adrian cuts through the jargon when describing what he needs from maintenance technicians. The technical foundation comes down to two core areas: electrical troubleshooting and adaptability.
"In terms of technical skills, electrical… and any type of ability to troubleshoot", Adrian explained. This skill opens doors beyond basic maintenance work, into controls and specialized technical roles.
But the soft skill that matters might surprise you.
"Your ability to learn and your adaptability are a huge part of the job," Adrian emphasized. "Amazon is a very fast-moving business, and things change very, very quickly, right? So the learning curve can be steep, but if you are an adaptable person, that'll take you a long way."
Adrian speaks from experience here. He graduated with an industrial engineering degree but had no real maintenance background. His willingness to learn and adapt helped grow his knowledge over nearly 8 years at the company.
A key component to both of those skills is critical thinking, which is at the heart of any maintenance role.
"It's a thinking role, right? Like you're thinking your way through problems, thinking your way out of problems," Adrian added during the discussion about resume tips.
AI as Your Assistant, Not Your Replacement
One major concern for many job-seekers, including aspiring technicians, is the threat of AI eliminating their jobs. Adrian addresses this fear directly, based on his hands-on experience with AI integration at Amazon facilities.
"I feel like it's enhanced my ability to do my job versus actually potentially taking away my job," he explained. AI serves as a troubleshooting guide and process enhancement tool for his technicians rather than a replacement.
He believes the technology creates more opportunities than it eliminates.
"The more advancement we get, the more we'll see the need for the technically trained, right? Like more mechanics and more technicians in the buildings to maintain and use the AI tools that are provided, because, in essence, it is just a tool."
It’s a valuable point. As systems advance, they require more skilled technicians to maintain and operate them properly.
Adrian finds AI useful for helping technicians troubleshoot and guide processes. It also serves a broader purpose by enhancing their entire building, and he expects more such building enhancements in the future.
Overall, he feels the technology has made his entire team, and especially the technicians, more effective.
Career Progression At Amazon
Amazon's growth creates genuine advancement opportunities that Adrian has witnessed firsthand. His current assistant maintenance manager started out as an entry-level technician, worked through three more technician levels, and has now moved into management.
"That is a very big story across a lot of Amazon sites. There are a lot of people who are able to do that," Adrian said about this career path.
Right from the starting point, as a technician, the company offers you multiple directions for your career. Workers can specialize in work planning, coordinating all maintenance activities for a site. Others move into parts management, where they handle inventory and budgets.
Another advancement route is further technical specialization. Adrian has seen technicians grow into subject matter experts in areas like controls or electrical troubleshooting. These specialists join network teams that travel to different sites for extensive project work.
He gives an example, "If you start off in mechanics, and you kind of want to transition into PLCs and controls, that’s an opportunity as well". The paths depend on individual interests and career goals.
Amazon's size creates various specialty roles across the network, including beyond local facilities. Talking about all of these niches, Adrian says, “The opportunities are definitely endless.”
Life As An Amazon Apprentice
Adrian manages hiring for Amazon's apprenticeship program, which combines classroom learning with on-site mentorship. The program accepts both external candidates and current Amazon employees through Career Choice.
"We actually have a really good mentorship program with current technicians in the field," Adrian explained. After formal schooling, apprentices get hands-on learning with experienced technicians. New hires work directly with mentors and managers to develop their skills.
For those applying externally, Adrian advises paying attention to how you present your resume and how non-maintenance skills can also help get you a job:
"The biggest thing is just to highlight your skills on your resume. Soft skills, technical skills, highlight any type of experience — that's something that I look for, even whenever I'm looking to bring in more internal mechatronics. Do you have any type of experience that would transition well into the critical thinking role that you're going to be joining?”
How’s The Work-Life Balance?
In many facilities, Amazon maintenance technicians typically work four-day schedules rather than traditional five-day weeks. Most shifts run Sunday through Wednesday or Wednesday through Saturday, covering both day and night operations.
"That extra day, the shortened work week essentially kind of gives you some opportunity to balance it out a little bit more," Adrian explained. This schedule is especially great for workers navigating career development and training.
Adrian now works five days as a building manager, but he noted that his team appreciates those three-day weekends for personal life coordination.
The company has standard PTO that increases with tenure, as well as extensive benefits that cover mental health resources, family support, daycare, and parental care.
"Amazon offers so much. It's out there if you need it," Adrian said about the benefits package.
