Maintenance Reliability Engineer

NES Fircroft; Darrow (LA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

NES Fircroft is seeking a Maintenance & Reliability Engineer focused on fixed equipment reliability for a chemical manufacturing facility near Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The role requires leading reliability initiatives, RCFA investigations, and integration with MI and QA programs.

The successful candidate will drive asset performance, participate in design reviews, and develop predictive and preventive maintenance strategies in a complex continuous production environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering required (Mechanical Engineering preferred).
• Minimum of 5 years of manufacturing maintenance and/or reliability engineering experience, preferably within the chemical process industry.
• Minimum of 3 years supporting Mechanical Integrity (MI), Quality Assurance (QA), Reliability Engineering, or Maintenance Supervision.
• Experience supporting continuous process manufacturing environments.
• Experience leading equipment reliability improvement initiatives and failure investigations.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the site's reliability engineering technical expert across mechanical, electrical, instrumentation, and control systems.
• Lead reliability studies and develop strategies to improve equipment performance and long-term reliability.
• Identify, plan, and execute reliability improvement initiatives and capital projects while managing the MOC process.
• Lead the site's Reliability Program for rotating and fixed equipment (pumps, compressors, turbines, valves, vessels, piping, heat exchangers).
• Conduct RCFA and lead incident investigations related to MI and QA.
• Evaluate failure modes and implement engineering solutions to eliminate recurring failures.
• Monitor performance, analyze maintenance history and failure trends, and develop improvement plans.
• Develop and manage Predictive and Preventive Maintenance programs, including condition monitoring strategies.
• Participate in design reviews and provide reliability recommendations for new and existing equipment.
• Review drawings and specifications, recommending design improvements to enhance reliability.

Skills

Mechanical engineering

PSM knowledge

Root cause analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Tools

CMMS

SAP

Job description

Job Title: Maintenance & Reliability Engineer (Fixed Equipment Focus)

Employment Type: Permanent, Full-Time

Industry: Chemical Manufacturing / Industrial Processing

NES Fircroft is a leading global technical recruitment company providing professional contract and permanent staff to a diverse worldwide client base within the energy, chemicals, and process industries. Our client, a growing Chemicals Operator, has a permanent opportunity for a Maintenance & Reliability Engineer with deep expertise in fixed equipment reliability for a permanent-hire position to support a chemical manufacturing facility located near Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Overview

The Maintenance & Reliability Engineer is responsible for providing maintenance, reliability, and operational engineering support for a complex continuous manufacturing facility. This individual will serve as the site's reliability engineering subject matter expert, leading initiatives to improve equipment performance, reduce downtime, and enhance asset integrity across fixed equipment.

Working closely with Operations, Maintenance, Engineering, and Process Safety teams, the successful candidate will drive reliability improvements, lead root cause investigations, support Mechanical Integrity (MI) and Quality Assurance (QA) programs, and ensure equipment reliability aligns with safety, environmental, and production objectives.

This is an excellent opportunity for an engineering professional with expertise in mechanical integrity, rotating equipment, and reliability engineering to play a key role in improving asset performance, plant reliability, and operational excellence.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the site's technical expert for reliability engineering across mechanical, electrical, instrumentation, and control systems.
• Lead reliability studies and develop strategies to improve equipment performance, asset utilization, and long-term reliability.
• Identify, plan, and execute reliability improvement initiatives and capital improvement projects while managing the Management of Change (MOC) process.
• Lead the site's Reliability Program for rotating and fixed equipment, including pumps, compressors, turbines, valves, pressure vessels, piping systems, and heat exchangers.
• Conduct Root Cause Failure Analysis (RCFA) and lead incident investigations related to Mechanical Integrity and Quality Assurance.
• Evaluate equipment failure modes and implement engineering solutions to eliminate recurring failures.
• Monitor equipment performance, analyze maintenance history and failure trends, and develop improvement plans.
• Develop and manage Predictive and Preventive Maintenance programs, including condition monitoring strategies.
• Participate in design reviews and provide reliability recommendations for new and existing equipment.
• Review engineering drawings and specifications, recommending design improvements that enhance reliability and maintainability.
• Develop, monitor, and improve Mechanical Integrity and Reliability KPIs while driving corrective actions.
• Coordinate with maintenance personnel and contractors on repair strategies, equipment installations, quality assurance, and field execution.
• Provide technical support for equipment and operational issues, including troubleshooting and problem resolution.
• Support plant operations during equipment failures and process upsets.
• Ensure equipment complies with all applicable safety, environmental, and regulatory requirements.
• Lead minor capital projects from concept through execution.
• Serve as an active member of the site's Process Safety Management (PSM) Committee, supporting Mechanical Integrity and Quality Assurance initiatives and audit action items

Essential Experience & Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering required (Mechanical Engineering preferred).
• Minimum of 5 years of manufacturing maintenance and/or reliability engineering experience, preferably within the chemical process industry.
• Minimum of 3 years supporting Mechanical Integrity (MI), Quality Assurance (QA), Reliability Engineering, or Maintenance Supervision.
• Experience supporting continuous process manufacturing environments.
• Experience leading equipment reliability improvement initiatives and failure investigations.

Technical Skills

• Strong understanding of Process Safety Management (PSM).
• Experience with rotating and fixed equipment reliability.
• Knowledge of preventive, predictive, and condition-based maintenance methodologies.
• Experience utilizing Computerized Maintenance Management Systems (CMMS); SAP experience preferred.
• Familiarity with Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) methods and inspection programs.
• Experience conducting Root Cause Failure Analysis (RCFA).
• Working knowledge of reliability engineering principles and asset management strategies.

Preferred Experience

Familiarity with applicable industry standards including:

• API 510, API 570, API 653
• ASME B31.1 and B31.3
• NBIC
• NACE SP0294

Experience with:

• Vibration Analysis
• Ultrasonic Testing (UT)
• Radiographic Testing (RT)
• Magnetic Particle Testing (MT)
• Thermal/Infrared Inspection
• Knowledge of welding processes and repair methods.
• Experience working with highly hazardous chemical processes.
• Strong understanding of safety, quality, continuous improvement, and maintenance best practices.
• Excellent analytical, organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills.

Certifications

• TWIC Card required or ability to obtain upon hire.
• Combination of office and manufacturing plant environments.
• Regular field presence supporting plant operations and maintenance activities.
• Ability to climb ladders and stairs, work at heights, enter confined spaces, bend, kneel, crawl, and stand for extended periods.
• Ability to lift up to 30 pounds.
• Must be able to wear required PPE, including a full-face respirator (clean-shaven requirement).
• Availability for on-call support as required by plant operations.
• Up to 10% travel to support other manufacturing facilities.

Why Work Here

This is a unique opportunity to become the fixed equipment reliability subject matter expert for a growing industrial manufacturer with multiple operating facilities across the United States.

Key advantages of the role include:

• Join a well-established chemical manufacturing operation with a strong commitment to safety, reliability, and operational excellence.
• Take ownership of the site's reliability engineering function and make a measurable impact on plant performance.
• Lead meaningful reliability, mechanical integrity, and capital improvement initiatives with high visibility across the organization.
• Work alongside experienced operations, maintenance, engineering, and process safety professionals in a collaborative environment.
• Build your career within a stable manufacturing organization that values technical expertise, continuous improvement, and long-term employee development.

About the Company

This is an excellent opportunity to become part of a growing Chemicals Operator with multiple sites around the US. The successful applicant will receive a competitive base salary, annual bonus, strong medical benefits, PTO, matching 401K, holidays, and more. Candidate must have the authorization to work in the US without a visa or ongoing work permit.