Reliability Engineer

Viking Group, Inc.; Caledonia (MI); On-site; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Viking Group, Inc. seeks an engineer focused on solving fire protection product challenges and improving long-term performance while maintaining regulatory compliance across the product line.

The role emphasizes root-cause analysis, testing coordination, and cross-functional collaboration with Purchasing, QM, and Manufacturing Engineering to deliver robust, manufacturable solutions.

Responsibilities

• Develops familiarity with Viking portfolio products and manufacturing processes (sprinklers, valves, special hazards, detection, CPVC).
• Maintain working knowledge of approval standards, manuals, and test literature to ensure compliance.
• Maintains product certification by root-cause investigations and corrective actions for audit findings.
• Coordinates product testing and recertification with UL, FM, NSF, VdS, LPCB, IAPMO.
• Evaluates compliance against agency standard changes and coordinates resolutions.
• Analyzes projects for risks and develops mitigation plans; communicates lessons learned to stakeholders.
• Leads projects using defined PM tools and ISO processes to meet scope, time, and budget.
• Uses engineering tools and external resources to improve long-term product performance.
• Coordinates with Purchasing, QM, and Manufacturing Eng. to finalize manufacturable designs.
• Creates drawings and specs with GD&T to meet design intents.
• Communicates with customers and stakeholders on targets, status, and scope changes.
• Leads approval labs to ensure timely completion and 100% First Pass Yield.
• Designs test methods and equipment to align with lab and customer requirements.
• Analyzes manufacturing data to benchmark and identify improvement opportunities.
• Documents project activity: logs, reports, test procedures, WOs, and BOMs.
• Follows safety protocols in R&D Lab and maintains clean work areas.
• Operates test/inspection equipment as needed.
• Owns product engineering change implementation from initiation to closure.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Job description

Primary Function

This position is responsible for developing creative solutions to resolve fire protection product challenges. The primary function is to improve long-term performance of products and maintain regulatory compliance for all products and systems in the Viking product line.

Primary Function

This position is responsible for developing creative solutions to resolve fire protection product challenges. The primary function is to improve long-term performance of products and maintain regulatory compliance for all products and systems in the Viking product line.

Major Duties And Responsibilities

• Develops familiarity with products and manufacturing processes across the Viking portfolio including, but not limited to Sprinklers, Valves, Special Hazards (Foams and Gases), Detection and CPVC products.
• Ensure compliance by maintaining working knowledge of approval standards, company manuals, and other test literature.
• Maintains product certification by performing root causes investigations and developing robust corrective actions to resolve audit findings, as needed.
• Coordinates product testing and recertification activities with approval agencies such as UL, FM, NSF, VdS, LPCB, and IAPMO.
• Evaluates product compliance against approval agency standard changes, develops strategy to maintain compliance, and aids in coordination of resolution activities.
• Analyzes assigned projects for risks and develops plans to mitigate throughout investigative process. Effectively communicates risks and lessons learned to stakeholders and interested parties.
• Leads projects using defined project management tools and ISO process. Manages projects to scope, on time, and within budget requirements.
• Utilize engineering tools, advanced technologies, and external resources, if required, to investigate solutions for improving long-term performance of products.
• Coordinates with Purchasing, Supplier and Manufacturing Quality, and Manufacturing Engineering counterparts during all stages of projects to achieve product designs and solutions capable of manufacture.
• Create engineering drawings and specifications to ensure predictable assembly and performance to design intentions, utilizing GD&T and Viking engineering standard practices.
• Communicates with customers and project stakeholders to ensure design targets are understood, status is conveyed, roadblocks are mitigated, and any changes in scope are evaluated throughout the project.
• Leads activity with approval laboratories to ensure timely completion of projects with goal of 100% First Pass Yield.
• Coordinates with Test Engineer to design, adapt and develop internal test methods, procedures, and test equipment to correlate with approval lab and simulate external customer requirements.
• Analyze manufacturing data as required to benchmark for future products, to ensure continued performance to design intent, and assess product lines for opportunities for improvement.
• Ensures documentation of project activity throughout the project, including project logs, reports, test procedures, lab work orders, laboratory test requests, material requisitions, purchase order requirements, bill of materials, and engineering change requests.
• Follows safety protocols while operating machines and other equipment within R&D Lab, and ensure equipment, testing and lab work areas maintain a high level of cleanliness.
• Operates test and inspection equipment as needed, including but not limited to Comparator, Contracer, Calipers, Thread Gages, Instron, Hydrostatic and Leakage test equipment.
• Ownership of product engineering change implementation from initiation through closure.
• Performs other duties as assigned.