Advanced Equipment Specialist - KS

Panasonic Energy Corporation of North America; De Soto (KS); On-site; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Panasonic Energy Corporation of North America in De Soto, Kansas is seeking an Advanced Equipment Specialist to improve equipment reliability and support safe manufacturing operations.

The role involves diagnosing complex issues, leading problem solving, and collaborating with production, maintenance, quality, and engineering to drive productivity and reduce downtime. This position supports the world’s largest lithium-ion battery factory and offers growth within a world-class team.

Qualifications

• Proficient in diagnosing and resolving complex equipment issues across multiple manufacturing platforms.
• Experience leading PDCA-based problem solving and root cause investigations.
• Strong mechanical, pneumatic, hydraulic, and basic electrical understanding.
• Ability to collect and analyze process data to identify trends and improvements.
• Document troubleshooting activities, repairs, modifications and project work.

Responsibilities

• Independently troubleshoot, repair, and maintain manufacturing equipment.
• Diagnose and resolve complex mechanical, pneumatic, hydraulic, and electrical issues.
• Lead PDCA-based problem solving and implement corrective actions.
• Analyze equipment and production data to identify trends and opportunities.
• Interpret drawings and support troubleshooting and modifications.
• Maintain complete and accurate documentation of activities and changes.

Skills

Advanced troubleshooting

Root cause analysis

Continuous improvement

Mechanical systems

Electrical systems

Controls knowledge

Data analysis

Tools

Excel

Tableau

JMP

MES

Job description

Overview

Do you want to join a team that's changing the world? Do you have a strong background as an Advanced Equipment Specialist? Then we're looking for you! Put your skills to meaningful use, gain unique experience, and work with world-class team members with diverse backgrounds and expertise who share the same vision. Join the PECNA team today!

Summary

Join us at Panasonic Energy as we expand to De Soto, Kansas, where we’re building the world’s largest lithium-ion battery factory. This is an exciting opportunity to grow your career while contributing to the future of electric vehicles. As part of our team, you’ll help push the limits of battery technology, enhancing performance and efficiency in sustainable transportation. Our state‑of‑the‑art facility, just outside the Kansas City Metro, will be a hub for innovation in green energy solutions. If you're passionate about sustainability and eager to contribute to the electric vehicle revolution, we invite you to be part of our dynamic team. Join us and make a meaningful impact on the future of energy and transportation.

Job Summary

The Advanced Equipment Specialist is a fully proficient technical specialist responsible for improving equipment reliability, reducing defects, increasing productivity, and supporting safe manufacturing operations through advanced troubleshooting, root cause analysis, and continuous improvement activities. This role independently diagnoses and resolves complex equipment issues, implements corrective and preventive actions, and provides technical support across multiple manufacturing processes and equipment platforms. Working closely with production, maintenance, quality, and engineering teams, the Equipment Specialist II utilizes mechanical expertise, controls knowledge, and data analysis to drive equipment performance and operational excellence. The position serves as a key technical resource and mentor to developing team members while supporting the execution of engineering and process improvement initiatives.

Essential Duties

Functional Operations

• Independently troubleshoot, repair, and maintain manufacturing equipment with minimal supervision
• Demonstrate advanced understanding of assigned production equipment, machine functions, and manufacturing processes
• Recover equipment following failures, repairs, upgrades, and improvement activities and verify operational readiness
• Diagnose and resolve complex mechanical, pneumatic, hydraulic, and basic electrical system issues
• Utilize machine knowledge to identify mechanisms contributing to defects, alarms, downtime, and performance losses
• Install, test, and validate equipment improvements, modifications, and engineering changes
• Interpret mechanical and electrical drawings to support troubleshooting, maintenance, and equipment modifications
• Utilize precision measurement equipment including dial indicators, calipers, micrometers, and other specialized diagnostic tools
• Maintain complete and accurate documentation of troubleshooting activities, repairs, equipment modifications, and project work

Performance Optimization & Continuous Improvement

• Lead PDCA-based problem-solving activities and root cause investigations
• Perform root cause analysis and develop both immediate countermeasures and permanent corrective actions
• Analyze equipment, process, and production data to identify trends, correlations, and improvement opportunities
• Utilize tools such as Excel, Tableau, JMP, MES, or equivalent systems to support decision-making and issue resolution
• Drive initiatives focused on defect reduction, downtime reduction, equipment reliability, and productivity improvement
• Identify and prioritize equipment performance issues and develop action plans to address recurring problems
• Support engineering teams in validating equipment performance, process improvements, and technical solutions
• Escal