Reliability Engineer

Sonoco Products Company; Newport (TN); On-site; USD 102,080 - 114,840; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision coverage

401(k) retirement plan with company match

Paid time off

Job summary

A global packaging solutions leader based in Newport, TN, is seeking a Plant Reliability Engineer to lead maintenance and engineering activities. The role requires a Bachelor’s degree and significant experience in manufacturing engineering and supervisory roles. Responsibilities include improving plant efficiency, leading preventative maintenance, and overseeing engineering projects. The position offers a competitive salary and benefits, including a retirement plan and paid time off.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of manufacturing engineering or maintenance experience.
• 3+ years of supervisory manufacturing experience required.
• Experience in TPM or Reliability field is a must.

Responsibilities

• Lead engineering and maintenance activities for the plant.
• Improve plant efficiency and maximize equipment reliability.
• Collaborate with maintenance and operations teams.

Skills

Manufacturing engineering

Preventive maintenance

Reliability improvement

Lean methodologies

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field

Tools

CMMS

Reliability tools (RCA, FMEA)

Job description

paid time off, tuition reimbursement, 401(k), retirement plan

Mar 01, 2026

From a small family business to a multi-billion-dollar global company, Sonoco has been changing the face of products and packaging since 1899 - all while keeping the heart of "People Build Businesses" alive.

Our talented people are at the core of our growth, constantly reinventing the Sonoco wheel with brilliant solutions every year. Today we are a world leader in global packaging solutions with diversified operations in over 34 countries. We're extremely proud of our portfolio of brands, our achievements in sustainability and industrialization and the groundbreaking work accomplished by our people.

Reporting to the Plant Manager, the Plant Reliability Engineer is responsible for leading engineering and maintenance activities for the plant. This role will be instrumental in preventive maintenance and reliability processes activities. The Plant Reliability Engineer will play a key role to continually improve our maintenance process but also improving/upgrading our equipment technology and overall plant performance.

What you'll be doing:

• Works safely and promotes safety in all aspects of employment.
• Promote a culture in which production, maintenance and engineering work together to identify and resolve abnormal or degraded equipment conditions that could negatively impact safety, quality or productivity.
• Responsible for initiating and developing concepts to improve plant efficiency, maximize equipment reliability and longevity, optimize maintenance spend and reduce energy costs.
• Act as a catalyst of strategic thinking by challenging site paradigms.
• Responsible for directing construction and installation of engineering projects which may involve buildings, equipment, and utility services at any location.
• Drive projects that will include product development, process improvement, and machinery development that will improve safety or competitive advantage.
• Collaborates with the maintenance and operations teams to drive maintenance excellence, ensure effective execution of reliability strategies, and the development of technical talent across the plant.
• Monitor and analyze equipment performance data to identify trends and areas for improvement
• Utilizes data (CMMS, machine level data collection, plant performance metrics) to drive project prioritization.
• Apply reliability tools (RCA and FMEA) to determine the root cause of critical equipment failures and downtime. Identify the appropriate countermeasures and solutions to improve equipment reliability and prevent recurrence.
• Lead, champion and support continuous improvement initiatives, activities and thought to optimize maintenance practices and reduce downtime.
• Execute weak-point analysis using Lean methods such as DMAIC, targeting cost reduction, efficiency improvement and trouble-free operation.
• Project leader - Oversees project workflow including concept development, budgetary costs, engineering design, fabrication, assembly, testing, installation, and startup through plant install.
• Responsible for directing construction and installation of engineering projects which may involve buildings, equipment, and utility services at any location.

This position is located in Newport, TN.

We'd love to hear from you if:

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or other technical degree preferred.
• Lean and/or Six Sigma certification a plus.
• 7+ years of manufacturing engineering or maintenance experience and 3+ years of supervisory manufacturing experience; Experience in TPM or Reliability field required. Experience with CMMS implementation and utilization required.

Compensation:

The annual base salary range for this role is from $102,080 to $114,840, plus a monthly target bonus of 12.5% of base salary.

Benefits:

At Sonoco Products Company, we offer a comprehensive total rewards package, including competitive pay and benefits. *Benefits listed below are for employees located in the U.S. Specific benefits and wellbeing programs may vary depending on your location (within the U.S. or global), or if you are a union employee.

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage for you and your dependents, including FSA and HSA options
• 401(k) retirement plan with company match
• Wellbeing tools and resources to support holistic health, including an Employee Assistance Program with a variety of services
• Paid time off and holidays to recreate, rejuvenate and care for the health of yourself and family
• Variety of company paid and voluntary employee-paid insurance plans including life, personal accident, and disability insurance

We are an equal opportunity employer, and we strictly prohibit and do not tolerate discrimination against employees, applicants or any other covered persons because of race, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, marital status, gender identity or expression, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any legally protected characteristic.