Reliability Data Analyst & Field Troubleshooter

Westlake Chemical Corporation; New Martinsville (WV); Hybrid; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Westlake Chemical Corporation in New Martinsville, WV is seeking a Reliability Engineer to drive plant reliability programs, analyze data, and troubleshoot field issues. The role blends desk-based analysis with hands-on site observations and supervision.

You will work with maintenance and operations to implement PM, PdM, and condition-based strategies, use vibration, oil analysis, thermography, and RCFA/FMEA, and contribute to training and best practices.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or corresponding reliability experience in chemical manufacturing (5+ years) if no degree.
• Experience with FMEA, RCFA, and PdM technologies (vibration, oil analysis, thermography, NDT).
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and database software.
• Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Knowledge of piping systems, rotating equipment, ASME/API codes, and Process Safety Management (PSM).
• Six Sigma and/or Lean certification preferred.

Responsibilities

• Identify and manage asset reliability risks that could impact plant operations, safety, production output, quality, costs, or regulatory compliance.
• Analyze equipment failure data, reliability metrics (MTBF, MTTR, failure rates) and SAP records to identify patterns.
• Analyze vibration data to identify root causes of reliability issues.
• Lead or participate in root cause analysis investigations for significant failures, near-misses, or incidents.
• Develop and optimize preventative (PM), predictive maintenance (PdM), and condition-based maintenance strategies; Use tools like vibration analysis, thermography, oil analysis, infrared scans, and ultrasonic testing.
• Provide technical input for shop rebuilds, capital projects, turnaround planning, and spare parts strategies.
• Recommend engineering solutions to eliminate repetitive failures, improve equipment design, or upgrade materials for better reliability.
• Collaborate with maintenance and operations to implement reliability improvements, support troubleshooting, and participate in Six Sigma/LEAN or continuous improvement projects.
• Monitor and report on key performance indicators related to reliability including vibration and oil analysis.
• Contribute to the development of training, procedures, and best practices for reliability-focused activities.

Skills

Vibration analysis

FMEA

RCFA

Six Sigma / Lean

Communication skills

Microsoft Office

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering

Reliability experience in chemical manufacturing (5 years) if no degree

Tools

SAP

Vibration analysis tools

Thermography tools

Oil analysis tools

Non-destructive testing

Job description

SUMMARY

Responsible for driving various reliability programs in the plant. Provides technical expertise to solve problems and eliminate recurring issues across the site. The role is a mix of desk-based analysis (data analysis and reporting) and work in the field (troubleshooting, data collection, site observations, supervising).

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

May include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Identify and manage asset reliability risks that could impact plant operations, safety, production output, quality, costs, or regulatory compliance.
• Analyze equipment failure data, reliability metrics (e.g. MTBF, MTTR, failure rates), and historical records from SAP to identify patterns, bad actors, and repetitive failures.
• Analyze vibration data to identify causes of reliability issues.
• Lead or participate in root cause analysis (RCS) investigations for significant failures, near-misses, or incidents.
• Develop and optimize preventative (PM), predictive maintenance (PdM), and condition-based maintenance strategies; Use tools like vibration analysis, thermography, oil analysis, infrared scans, and ultrasonic testing.
• Provide technical input for shop rebuilds, capital projects, turnaround planning, and spare parts strategies.
• Recommend engineering solutions to eliminate repetitive failures, improve equipment design, or upgrade materials for better reliability.
• Collaborate with maintenance and operations to implement reliability improvements, support troubleshooting, and participate in Six Sigma/LEAN or continuous improvement projects.
• Monitor and report on key performance indicators related to reliability including vibration and oil analysis.
• Contribute to the development of training, procedures, and best practices for reliability-focused activities.

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and at least 1 year of relevant experience; candidates without a degree must have a minimum of 5 years of reliability experience in a chemical manufacturing environment.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and database software.
• Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Experience with FMEA, RCFA, and predictive maintenance technologies (vibration analysis, oil analysis, thermography, and non-destructive testing).
• Working knowledge of piping systems, rotating equipment, ASME/API codes, and Process Safety Management (PSM).
• Six Sigma and/or Lean certification preferred.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

This job is performed mainly in an office setting; physical presence is required. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit; stand; walk; have full use and range of motion of arms, hands and fingers to reach, grasp, hold, push or pull, twist, and work with tools; and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to perform tasks that may require bending, stooping, kneeling, crouching, lying down or working from elevated platforms. The employee must be able to move safely over uneven terrain or in confined spaces. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 5 pounds, frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds, and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. The employee must be able to see details of objects that are more/less than a few feet away, see differences between colors, shades and brightness and determine the distance between objects. This job requires response to audible emergency alarms inside of the plant. Employee must be able to evacuate when required.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The employee must be able to work in a normal factory environment, including enclosed spaces and exposure to various hazards. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate as normally based in an office. Some of the work may be required in the operating units, which can require usage of required PPE including safety glasses, hearing protection, flame retardant clothing, etc. May also result in exposure to outside elements and may require usage of stairs and elevators. Travel including air travel or auto travel may occasionally be required.

Westlake offers you the potential to enrich your work life and career experience in an entrepreneurial environment. We work together to enhance peoples lives through our products and presence in the communities in which we operate.

Westlake is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any characteristics protected by applicable legislation.