Plant Equipment Reliability Engineer – Chocolate Manufacturing

Russell Stover Chocolates; Iola (KS); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Russell Stover Chocolates is seeking an Equipment Reliability Improvement Specialist to enhance the mechanical integrity of our food manufacturing equipment. You will serve as the SME for machinery, lead preventive maintenance planning, and optimize parts management in the CMMS.

You will coach maintenance and operations teams, analyze machine performance data, and drive reliability projects to increase uptime and reduce unplanned downtime in a fast-paced confectionery environment.

Qualifications

• Experience with industrial mechanical systems.
• Strong understanding of maintenance planning and reliability concepts.
• Associate's in industrial maintenance, engineering technology, mechanical engineering, or related field.
• 3–5 years in industrial maintenance, reliability, or equipment diagnostics within manufacturing.
• Experience using a Computerized Maintenance Management System (SAP, Maximo, Carl, or similar).
• Demonstrated ability to perform RCA using 5-Why, Fishbone, and Failure Mode Analysis.
• Hands-on experience with vibration analysis, thermography, ultrasound, and oil analysis.
• Strong understanding of mechanical systems, rotating equipment, motors, gearboxes, conveyors, and electrical troubleshooting fundamentals.
• Ability to interpret mechanical drawings, electrical schematics, and equipment manuals.

Responsibilities

• Act as the technical expert for equipment, supporting troubleshooting, root-cause analysis, and mechanical performance improvements.
• Develop and maintain detailed preventive and corrective maintenance job plans within the CMMS.
• Identify required repair parts, create accurate parts lists, and structure the Mogul repair parts inventory in the CMMS.
• Assess the mechanical reliability needs of machines and develop targeted improvement plans to increase uptime and reduce unplanned downtime.
• Provide hands on technical coaching to maintenance and operations personnel, helping build capability in proper inspection, repair, and operation of Mogul equipment.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives by analyzing machine performance data and recommending mechanical or procedural enhancements.

Skills

Industrial systems

Maintenance planning

Reliability concepts

Troubleshooting

Verbal & written communication

RCA methods

Vibration analysis

Electrical troubleshooting

Education

Associate's in industrial maintenance

Bachelor's in related field

Tools

SAP

Maximo

CMMS

Job description

Russell Stover Chocolates is seeking an Equipment Reliability Improvement Specialist to enhance the mechanical integrity of our food manufacturing equipment. You will serve as the SME for machinery, lead preventive maintenance planning, and optimize parts management in the CMMS.

You will coach maintenance and operations teams, analyze machine performance data, and drive reliability projects to increase uptime and reduce unplanned downtime in a fast-paced confectionery environment.