Reliability Engineer

General Atomics; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

General Atomics in the United States is seeking a Reliability Engineer to design, implement, and sustain a Predictive Maintenance program across multiple facilities. You will transition from reactive maintenance to data-driven reliability, integrating with Operations, IT, and Finance to embed reliability principles in daily work and capital planning.

The role requires leadership in RCA, KPI development, and cross-functional collaboration to improve asset uptime and lifecycle costs, with

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher in engineering with progressive experience: 9+ years with a Bachelor's, 7+ with a Master's, or 4+ with a PhD.
• Extensive engineering expertise and ability to coordinate workloads to meet deadlines.
• Ability to learn quickly and apply concepts in evolving environments.
• Strong communication and presentation skills for cross-department interfaces.
• Experience developing and implementing Predictive Maintenance or Reliability-Centered Maintenance programs.
• Working knowledge of condition monitoring technologies such as vibration, infrared thermography, ultrasound, oil analysis, or electrical monitoring.
• Experience using CMMS systems and maintenance performance data.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.
• Experience supporting large, multi-site, or mission-critical facilities.
• Familiarity with IoT sensors, advanced analytics, or digital maintenance platforms.
• Experience working in regulated or high-reliability environments.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement a comprehensive PdM program for critical facilities assets.
• Identify critical assets using risk-based methodologies such as asset criticality ranking, FMEA, and reliability assessments.
• Define PdM technologies, monitoring strategies, alarm thresholds, and response workflows.
• Analyze CMMS data to identify trends, failure modes, and improvement opportunities.
• Develop and track reliability KPIs including MTBF, MTTR, PM/PdM compliance, and reactive vs proactive maintenance ratios.
• Lead Root Cause Analysis (RCA) for recurring failures and recommend corrective actions.
• Partner with Engineering and Construction teams to incorporate reliability principles into new construction and renovations.
• Support capital planning by identifying reliability-driven upgrades and lifecycle optimization opportunities.
• Establish PdM standards, procedures, documentation, and training materials.
• Train and support maintenance teams on PdM tools, data interpretation, and reliability best practices.
• Prepare reports and presentations summarizing program performance, cost avoidance, and ROI for leadership.

Skills

Reliability engineering

Predictive Maintenance

Data analytics

CMMS

Vibration analysis

IR thermography

IoT sensors

Root Cause Analysis

Project leadership

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Master's degree or PhD preferred

Tools

CMMS software

Data analytics tools

IoT platforms

Job description

General Atomics (GA), and its affiliated companies, is one of the world’s leading resources for high-technology systems development ranging from the nuclear fuel cycle to remotely piloted aircraft, airborne sensors, and advanced electric, electronic, wireless and laser technologies.

The Reliability Engineer is responsible for developing, implementing, and sustaining a Predictive Maintenance (PdM) and asset reliability program across a multi-site facilities organization. This role will lead the transition from reactive and time-based maintenance to a data-driven, condition-based reliability model that improves asset uptime, reduces lifecycle costs, and mitigates operational risk.

The position works closely with Facilities Operations, Maintenance, Engineering, IT, and Finance to ensure reliability principles are embedded into daily operations, capital planning, and long-term asset strategies.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Design and implement a comprehensive Predictive Maintenance (PdM) program for critical facilities assets including production equipment, electrical, mechanical, HVAC, utilities, and infrastructure systems.
• Identify critical assets using risk-based methodologies such as asset criticality ranking, FMEA, and reliability assessments.
• Define PdM technologies, monitoring strategies, alarm thresholds, and response workflows.
• Analyze CMMS data to identify trends, failure modes, and improvement opportunities.
• Develop and track reliability KPIs including MTBF, MTTR, PM/PdM compliance, and reactive vs proactive maintenance ratios.
• Lead Root Cause Analysis (RCA) for recurring failures and recommend corrective actions.
• Partner with Engineering and Construction teams to incorporate reliability principles into new construction and renovations.
• Support capital planning by identifying reliability-driven upgrades and lifecycle optimization opportunities.
• Establish PdM standards, procedures, documentation, and training materials.
• Train and support maintenance teams on PdM tools, data interpretation, and reliability best practices.
• Prepare reports and presentations summarizing program performance, cost avoidance, and ROI for leadership.

We recognize and appreciate the value and contributions of individuals with diverse backgrounds and experiences and welcome all qualified individuals to apply.

Job Qualifications

• Typically requires a bachelors degree, masters degree or PhD in engineering or a related technical discipline from an accredited institution and progressive engineering experience as follows; nine or more years of experience with a bachelors degree, seven or more years of experience with a masters degree, or four or more years with a PhD. May substitute equivalent engineering experience in lieu of education.
• Demonstrates an extensive technical expertise and application of engineering principles, concepts, theory, and practice with the ability to organize, plan, schedule, conduct, and coordinate workloads to meet established deadlines or milestones with some experience in project leadership.
• Must possess the ability to understand new concepts quickly and apply them accurately throughout an evolving environment.
• Strong communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills are required enabling an effective interface with other departments and/or professionals, and capable of representing the organization as a prime technical contact, as well as providing leadership and guidance to less experienced professionals.
• Experience developing and implementing Predictive Maintenance or Reliability-Centered Maintenance programs.
• Working knowledge of condition monitoring technologies such as vibration analysis, infrared thermography, ultrasound, oil analysis, or electrical monitoring.
• Experience using CMMS systems and maintenance performance data.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.
• Experience supporting large, multi-site, or mission-critical facilities.
• Familiarity with IoT sensors, advanced analytics, or digital maintenance platforms.
• Experience working in regulated or high-reliability environments.

Preferred Qualifications

• Certified Reliability Engineer (CRE), Certified Maintenance & Reliability Professional (CMRP), or similar certification.