Senior Maintenance Reliability Engineer

About the role

Drive equipment reliability and operational performance by leading strategies that keep critical systems running at peak efficiency. As a Senior Maintenance Reliability Engineer, you will lead the development and implementation of reliability programs that improve asset performance, reduce downtime, and support continuous improvement across the facility. You will partner with maintenance, engineering, and operations teams to identify and mitigate risks, optimize equipment performance, and deliver solutions that enhance reliability and efficiency. This role is ideal for a technically strong, results-driven engineer who thrives on solving complex challenges, improving systems, and making a measurable impact on plant performance.

Pay

$101,000.00 - $150,000.00 per year, based on experience and qualifications, with an annual performance-based bonus. Competitive benefits package includes medical, prescription, dental, vision, life insurance, optional group life insurance, short-term and long-term disability protection, flexible spending accounts, 401(k) with employer match after one year, critical illness, accident insurance, and paid time off.

Responsibilities

• Implement reliability concepts including Root Cause Analysis, Reliability Centered Maintenance, Predictive Maintenance technologies, and Preventive Maintenance development/optimization to achieve high levels of availability of plant assets.
• Drive increased production and uptime using reliability tools and processes, including Root Cause Failure Analysis (RCFA) and Failure Mode Effects Analysis (FMEA).
• Provide technical and engineering support and troubleshooting advice to maintenance and operational areas.
• Serve as Subject Matter Expert in the design and operation of rotating equipment, development of equipment strategies (including lubrication, condition monitoring, and preventive maintenance), and management of mechanical integrity (including tanks, pressure vessels, and piping).
• Develop and implement plans for continuous improvement of production equipment, processes, and process controls.
• Work closely with operations and maintenance to develop long-term equipment maintenance strategies, operator basic care (OBC), and support troubleshooting efforts through formal Root Cause Analysis (RCA).
• Provide technical expertise in field application of precision maintenance techniques.
• Train, coach, and mentor maintenance supervisors and craftsmen.
• Deliver a strategic reliability-centered maintenance approach to optimize asset life and productivity through documented asset strategies.
• Develop and implement best practices to improve mean time between failures (MTBF).
• Utilize Root Cause Analysis to review significant failures, identify corrective actions to prevent recurrence, and refine asset strategy to sustain improvement.
• Mine data to identify reliability improvement opportunities and develop corrective actions focused on delivering net hours improvement and cost reduction.
• Develop engineering solutions to repetitive failures and other problems adversely affecting plant operations, including capacity, quality, cost, or regulatory compliance issues.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in Reliability, Mechanical, or Electrical Engineering; advanced degree in this or related field is highly desirable.
• Five or more years of reliability experience within an industrial manufacturing environment, preferably in mid-sized manufacturing companies in similar industries.
• Exposure to operations, process control, project engineering, plant maintenance, construction, and new installations.
• Experience developing asset strategies (time-based inspection/replace and condition-based tasks).
• Experience with Reliability Centered Maintenance (RCM) and facilitating Root Cause Analysis (RCA).
• Strong technical expertise in applying Precision Maintenance techniques in industrial manufacturing processes.
• Knowledge of equipment design and failure modes, and experience interpreting forensic evidence to identify failure modes.
• Strong communication (written, oral, and interpersonal) skills and ability to lead and be part of cross-functional teams.
• Experience with computer maintenance management systems (CMMS), preferably IBM Maximo.
• Advanced skills in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Outlook).

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in the food industry.
• Supervisory experience and/or certifications in Predictive Maintenance technologies (Vibration, Infrared, Ultrasonic, Motor Circuit Analysis, Oil Analysis, Non-Destructive Testing).
• Certified Maintenance & Reliability Professional (CMRP) or Certified Reliability Leader (CRL).
• Certification in Lean Six Sigma.

Physical Requirements and Work Environment

The position is active on the floor; troubleshooting and re-design of existing systems are routine. Work activity occurs where processing equipment is located, including normal office environments, construction sites, and climate extremes found in poultry processing operations, feed mills, hatcheries, and wastewater treatment facilities.

• Ability to move throughout the complex and all facilities.
• Exposure to wet and moist floors, including metal and plastic grating surfaces.
• Exposure to temperatures ranging from 28°F to 100°F with both ambient and 100% humidity.
• Handling products from 25°F to 50°F.
• Exposure to noise ranges of 50 dB to 110 dB.
• Exposure to all chemicals used in poultry, food, and processing facilities.
• Must wear and use protective and safety equipment as directed by the Company.
• Must be able to work in confined or permit-required confined spaces and at heights.
• Must be able to work on and around operating equipment.
• Must be trained and use Lockout/Tagout procedures.