Reliability Engineer

Responsibilities

• Lead root cause analysis (RCA) for equipment and process failures using structured problem‑solving tools such as 5 Whys, Fishbone, and FMEA.
• Analyze equipment performance data and failure trends to identify systemic reliability issues and recommend solutions.
• Develop and implement engineering improvements to enhance equipment reliability, performance, and lifecycle.
• Partner with Maintenance and Production teams to validate failure modes and ensure sustainable solutions are implemented.
• Provide engineering support for troubleshooting complex mechanical issues across production systems including conveyors, ovens, pumps, and continuous process equipment.
• Identify and implement design improvements or modifications to existing equipment to improve safety, quality, and efficiency.
• Design and develop mechanical components, guards, and equipment modifications using CAD tools (AutoCAD / Inventor).
• Create detailed fabrication drawings and specifications for internal use or external vendors.
• Coordinate with vendors and fabrication shops to ensure designs meet functional, safety, and manufacturability requirements.
• Support installation and validation of fabricated components to ensure proper fit, function, and performance.
• Support and/or lead capital improvement projects, including scope definition, equipment specification, installation support, and commissioning.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on reducing downtime, improving throughput, and enhancing process stability.
• Collaborate with cross‑functional teams to implement equipment and process enhancements.
• Ensure all engineering solutions comply with OSHA, environmental, and company safety standards.
• Develop and maintain technical documentation including equipment specifications, engineering standards, and modification records.
• Support development and improvement of standard operating procedures (SOPs) related to equipment and process performance.

Essential Skills

• Project management
• Mechanical engineering
• Lean manufacturing
• Manufacturing engineering
• Experience managing projects over $5,000
• Continuous improvement in a manufacturing setting
• Strong mechanical background
• Ability to work cross‑divisionally and coordinate with different teams
• Reliability engineering
• Industrial engineering
• Process improvement

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt preferred but not required

Schedule

The position is onsite, Monday to Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM, with flexible hours. You may be called approximately once a month to handle any issues after hours and will participate in a rotating Saturday schedule every 5‑6 weeks, with flexible compensatory time offered.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $40.00 – $50.00 per hour. Individual compensation will depend on qualifications, skills, experience, geographic location, internal equity, and other job‑related factors.

• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital coverage
• 401(k) Retirement Plan – pre‑tax and Roth post‑tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
• Short and long‑term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, vacation or sick leave)

Location

This is a contract‑to‑hire position based out of Chesapeake, VA. The role is fully onsite.

About the Company

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions, helping visionary companies advance their initiatives through specialized experts. With a network of nearly 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients worldwide, Actalent serves many Fortune 500 companies and is recognized as an ENR Top 500 Design Firm and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner.