Mechanical Engineer

Kelly Science, Engineering, Technology & Telecom

Eden Prairie (MN)

On-site

USD 85,000 - 110,000

Full time

14 days+

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Job summary

Kelly Engineering is seeking a Mechanical / Reliability Engineer to support safe, reliable manufacturing operations at a chemical processing site in Minnesota. The role focuses on equipment reliability, maintenance optimization, and daily plant support to maximize uptime and asset performance.

The ideal candidate has a mechanical engineering degree and 3+ years in plant/reliability roles, with hands-on floor exp, PM/PdM program experience, and familiarity with CMMS and safety standards.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field.
3+ years in plant engineering, reliability, maintenance, or manufacturing operations.
Experience in chemical, petrochemical, or heavy industrial environments preferred.
Strong troubleshooting, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
Experience with RCA, FMEA, RCM, vibration/oil analysis.
Familiarity with CMMS and OSHA PSM requirements.

Responsibilities

Support daily plant operations by troubleshooting equipment and process issues to minimize downtime.
Develop strategies to improve equipment reliability, availability, and maintainability.
Lead RCA investigations for failures and process disruptions.
Analyze maintenance data to identify trends and implement corrective actions.
Expand and optimize PM/PdM programs across the site.
Collaborate with operations, maintenance, and technical teams to improve plant performance.
Drive continuous improvement related to reliability and energy efficiency.
Assist with maintenance procedures, operating practices, and equipment standards.
Monitor equipment indicators and recommend actions to improve reliability and cost efficiency.
Ensure safety, environmental, and regulatory compliance including PSM standards.

Skills

Troubleshooting

Analytical thinking

Problem solving

Cross-functional collaboration

CMMS familiarity

RCA

FMEA

RCM

Vibration analysis

Oil analysis

Safety and PSM knowledge

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field

Tools

CMMS

Process instrumentation

Pumps and compressors knowledge

Job description

Kelly Engineering is seeking a Mechanical / Reliability Engineer to join one of our leading clients in the Chemical Manufacturing industry at their Chaska, MN plant.

Ideal Candidate

Bachelor in Mechanical Engineering or related engineering discipline
3+ years industry experience in manufacturing, heavy industrial, or chemical environment
Experience in Preventative Maintenance (PM), RCA, FMEA, and/or RCM
Willing to work 75% or more on the floor (not a desk job)
Work with cross-functional teams and all walks of life

General Description

We are seeking a Mechanical / Reliability Engineer to support safe, reliable, and efficient manufacturing operations through equipment reliability, maintenance optimization, process troubleshooting, and continuous improvement initiatives. This role serves as a key technical resource for plant operations and maintenance teams, focusing on maximizing equipment uptime, improving asset performance, and supporting daily plant operations.

The ideal candidate will combine strong operational engineering knowledge with hands-on experience in reliability and maintenance practices within a manufacturing or chemical processing environment.

Support daily plant operations by troubleshooting equipment and process issues to minimize downtime and maintain safe production
Develop and implement strategies to improve equipment reliability, availability, and maintainability
Lead root cause analysis (RCA) investigations for equipment failures, process disruptions, and recurring operational issues
Analyze maintenance and operational data to identify trends and implement corrective actions
Expand, support and optimize preventive and predictive maintenance (PM/PdM) programs
Collaborate with operations, maintenance, and technical teams to improve plant performance and equipment lifecycle management
Drive continuous improvement initiatives related to reliability, maintenance effectiveness, energy efficiency, and operational performance
Assist with development and optimization of maintenance procedures, operating practices, and equipment standards
Monitor equipment performance indicators and recommend actions to improve plant reliability and maintenance cost effectiveness
Ensure compliance with safety, environmental, and regulatory requirements including OSHA and Process Safety Management (PSM) standards
Provide technical support during equipment repairs, shutdowns, startups, and maintenance activities
Maintain accurate equipment records and utilize CMMS systems to support maintenance planning and reliability initiatives

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical or related Engineering discipline
3+ years of experience in plant engineering, reliability engineering, maintenance engineering, or manufacturing operations
Experience in chemical, petrochemical, refinery, or heavy industrial manufacturing environments preferred
Strong understanding of industrial equipment including pumps, compressors, heat exchangers, motors, piping systems, and process instrumentation
Working knowledge of preventive and predictive maintenance practices
Experience with reliability tools and methodologies such as RCA, FMEA, RCM, vibration analysis, and oil analysis
Familiarity with CMMS systems
Knowledge of OSHA PSM requirements and industrial safety standards
Strong troubleshooting, analytical, and problem‑solving skills
Excellent communication and cross-functional collaboration abilities

Preferred Qualifications