Mechanical Engineer

Kelly Science, Engineering, Technology & Telecom; Eden Prairie (MN); On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

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

• Certification such as CMRP (Certified Maintenance & Reliability Professional)
• Experience in chemical, petrochemical, or refinery environments
• Six Sigma or Lean Manufacturing experience
• Familiarity with process control systems and instrumentation troubleshooting