Reliability Engineer

About the role

The Power Generation Reliability Program Manager leads and advances the company's Equipment Health / Condition-Based Maintenance (CBM) and asset reliability programs across its power generation fleet. This role is responsible for improving equipment reliability, optimizing maintenance strategies, and reducing forced outages through data-driven decision making, predictive technologies, and cross-functional leadership. The Reliability Program Manager will be considered an expert in their discipline and possess in-depth knowledge of related processes and engineering tools to solve complex problems and drive strategic planning initiatives for critical generation assets. The successful candidate will serve as both a technical authority and program leader, partnering with Operations, Maintenance, Engineering, and Supply Chain to implement best-in-class reliability and asset management practices.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development, execution, and continuous improvement of condition-based maintenance (CBM) and predictive maintenance (PdM) strategies for generation assets.
• Perform equipment criticality analysis, failure modes and effects analysis (FMEA/FMECA), and root cause failure analysis (RCFA) to reduce repeat failures and forced outages.
• Establish and maintain asset health indices, reliability metrics, and risk-based maintenance plans.
• Support long-term asset management strategies aligned with ISO 55000 principles and Cleco's business objectives.
• Serve as the CBM Program Manager, owning program governance, standards, procedures, and performance reporting.
• Manage CBM technologies including vibration analysis, oil analysis, thermography, motor diagnostics, ultrasound, and online monitoring systems.
• Develop multi-year CBM and reliability roadmaps, including technology upgrades, staffing needs, and training plans.
• Track and communicate program benefits such as availability improvements, cost avoidance, and risk reduction.
• Leverage data from CMMS/EAM systems (e.g. SAP), historian systems, and monitoring platforms to identify trends and actionable insights.
• Develop dashboards and KPIs to measure reliability performance, maintenance effectiveness, and asset health.
• Champion the use of advanced analytics and digital solutions to support predictive and prescriptive maintenance.
• Partner with plant operations and maintenance teams to translate reliability findings into executable work plans.
• Provide technical guidance and mentoring to engineers, technicians, and CBM analysts.
• Support outage planning, major maintenance events, and capital projects with reliability input.
• Interface with OEMs, vendors, and consultants to evaluate equipment performance and improvement opportunities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related engineering discipline with 10+ years of experience in power generation, heavy industrial reliability, or asset management OR an equivalent of 15+ years of experience in power generation, heavy industrial reliability, or asset management.
• Demonstrated experience implementing or leading CBM/PdM programs in a power plant or similar industrial environment.
• Strong working knowledge of rotating equipment, electrical systems, and balance-of-plant assets.
• Experience performing RCFA, FMEA, and reliability-centered maintenance (RCM).
• Proficiency with CMMS/EAM systems and data analysis tools.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to influence across organizational boundaries.
• Program or project management experience (PMP a plus).

Key competencies

• Building Organizational Talent
• Building Partnerships
• Leading Teams
• Business Acumen
• Communication
• Courage
• Building Self-Insight
• Building Talent
• Driving for Results
• Energizing the Organization
• Driving Execution
• Building Trusting Relationships
• Driving Innovation
• Planning and Organizing
• Safety
• Establishing Strategic Direction

May perform other duties as needed.