Plant Reliability & Maintenance Lead

Milliken and Company; Blacksburg (SC); On-site; USD 85,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

Milliken and Company is seeking a Senior Maintenance & Reliability Engineer for the Magnolia Finishing Plant in Blacksburg, SC. The role leads 20–25 maintenance associates, driving safety, reliability, and continuous improvement across dye, preparation, PVA recovery, and FR processes.

You will develop preventive maintenance strategies, supervise performance management, and partner with production to ensure stable operations while advancing maintenance practices and reducing downtime.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering.
• Experience in manufacturing or industrial maintenance.
• Demonstrated leadership or supervisory experience.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced industrial environment.
• Experience leading supervisors and technical teams (preferred).
• Exposure to maintenance systems and reliability principles (preferred).
• Experience in textile, chemical processing, or continuous manufacturing operations (preferred).

Responsibilities

• Directly supervise and lead a team of approximately 20–25 maintenance associates, including supervisors and technicians.
• Own performance management responsibilities including goal setting, coaching, feedback, and development.
• Prioritize and coordinate daily maintenance activities within assigned departments.
• Ensure work is completed safely, efficiently, and in accordance with plant standards and expectations.
• Foster a culture of accountability, teamwork, and continuous improvement.
• Lead troubleshooting efforts across mechanical and electrical systems.
• Drive structured root cause analysis for recurring or high-impact failures.
• Monitor downtime trends and respond to performance gaps.
• Partner with production leaders to maintain operational stability and minimize disruptions.
• Support small improvement projects focused on safety, reliability, and efficiency.

Skills

Leadership experience

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Adaptability

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering

Tools

Maintenance systems

Industrial control systems

Lean/Six Sigma exposure

Job description

Milliken and Company is seeking a Senior Maintenance & Reliability Engineer for the Magnolia Finishing Plant in Blacksburg, SC. The role leads 20–25 maintenance associates, driving safety, reliability, and continuous improvement across dye, preparation, PVA recovery, and FR processes.

You will develop preventive maintenance strategies, supervise performance management, and partner with production to ensure stable operations while advancing maintenance practices and reducing downtime.