Maintenance Reliability Engineer

WestRock Company; Roanoke Rapids (NC); On-site; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

WestRock Company is seeking a Maintenance Reliability Engineer to improve equipment reliability, asset availability, and plant performance. You will lead reliability initiatives, implement predictive and preventive maintenance, and partner with maintenance and production teams to reduce downtime and extend asset life.

The role requires a mechanical or electrical engineering background with 2–3 years in manufacturing maintenance or reliability. Proficiency with CMMS and MS Office is preferred.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering or related technical field.
• 2–3 years of experience in manufacturing maintenance, reliability engineering, or field service engineering.
• Strong analytical capabilities and data-driven decision making.

Responsibilities

• Lead reliability projects to improve uptime and reduce downtime and costs.
• Develop and sustain predictive and preventive maintenance programs.
• Perform RCFA and review maintenance data to identify trends and improvements.
• Coordinate with maintenance, operations, and engineering to align reliability goals.

Skills

Data analysis

Root Cause Analysis

Analytical thinking

Preventive maintenance

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering

Tools

CMMS

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Word

PowerPoint

Job description

POSITION SUMMARY

The Maintenance Reliability Engineer is responsible for improving equipment reliability, asset availability, and overall plant performance through effective reliability engineering practices. This role leads reliability initiatives, implements predictive and preventive maintenance strategies, performs root cause analyses, and partners with Maintenance and Production teams to reduce downtime, extend asset life, and lower maintenance costs while ensuring safe and efficient operations.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS & RESPONSIBILITIES

Reliability Strategy & Continuous Improvement

• Lead reliability projects to improve equipment uptime, optimize asset performance, and reduce unplanned downtime and maintenance costs.
• Develop, implement, and sustain predictive and preventive maintenance programs aligned with plant reliability goals.
• Serve as the site subject matter expert (SME) for equipment reliability, supporting internal teams and coordinating with external vendors.
• Drive continuous improvement by identifying chronic equipment issues and implementing sustainable corrective actions.

Asset Health & Analysis

• Conduct Root Cause Failure Analysis (RCFA) to eliminate recurring failures and improve long-term equipment performance.
• Review condition monitoring, predictive maintenance data, and work order history to identify emerging failure trends.
• Perform quality assurance checks on equipment condition data to ensure accurate maintenance planning and execution.
• Validate maintenance work requests and repair strategies prior to scheduled outages or planned work.

Safety & Training

• Develop and deliver safety‑related training for maintenance and technical personnel.
• Champion safe work practices and ensure reliability activities align with site and corporate safety standards.

Collaboration & Leadership

• Partner with Maintenance, Operations, and Engineering to align reliability initiatives with production objectives.
• Promote reliability‑centered maintenance principles and encourage site‑wide engagement and accountability.
• Coach and mentor reliability team members to achieve performance excellence.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• 2‑3 years of experience in manufacturing maintenance, reliability engineering, or field service engineering.

Technical & Analytical Skills

• Strong analytical capabilities with the ability to interpret large datasets to drive data‑based decisions.
• Proficiency in identifying failure modes, conducting root cause analysis, and implementing preventative solutions.
• Experience using Computerized Maintenance Management Systems (CMMS).
• Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.