Senior Reliability Engineer

Alphia; Town of Ogden (NY); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Alphia is seeking a Senior Reliability Engineer to ensure equipment and processes meet reliability targets across multiple plants in the US. You will apply FMEA, RCA, RCM and data analytics to reduce losses and maintenance costs while collaborating with maintenance, engineering and operations teams.

The role emphasizes cross-functional leadership, development of preventive and predictive maintenance plans, and deployment of reliability models and continuous improvement initiatives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical/Industrial/Chemical or Manufacturing Engineering.
• 5-7+ years of experience in manufacturing engineering or related roles.
• Knowledge of reliability methodologies such as RCM and FMEA/RCA.
• Experience extracting data from CMMS/MES and building analytics in Tableau/Power BI/Excel.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving and cross-functional collaboration skills.
• Willingness to travel up to 40% to Alphia plants or vendors in the US.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement reliability strategies to improve system performance.
• Conduct FMEA, RCМ, and root-cause analyses to identify failures.
• Develop preventive and predictive maintenance plans based on data.
• Monitor performance with statistical tools and reliability modeling.
• Collaborate with maintenance, engineering, operations, safety, CI and quality teams.
• Lead initiatives to improve throughput, yield, and equipment reliability.

Skills

Reliability engineering

Data analysis

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical/Industrial/Chemical/Manufacturing Engineering

Tools

Tableau

Power BI

Excel

CMMS

Job description

Job Description:

Alphia is a leading manufacturer of pet food – extruded (dry kibble) and baked (treats). Alphia has 7 plants across the United States.

JOB PURPOSE:

The Senior Reliability Engineer ensures that systems, products, or equipment operate reliably over their expected lifespan by identifying potential failures, mitigating risks, and optimizing performance.

The Senior Reliability Engineer role is to identify and manage asset reliability risks. They track the production losses and abnormally high maintenance cost assets, then find ways to reduce those losses or high costs. Senior Reliability Engineer develops a plan to eliminate or reduce the losses through root cause analysis, obtains approval of the plan and facilitates the implementation.

Within the Alphia organization, this plays a critical role by applying maintenance & reliability principles to predict, prevent, and mitigate failures. They collaborate with maintenance, engineers, manufacturing teams, safety teams, and quality assurance to enhance system reliability. The responsibilities include conducting failure mode analysis, developing reliability models, and driving continuous improvement.

You should have a strong understanding of reliability engineering and statistical analysis, as well as a thorough knowledge of maintenance management and manufacturing processes. Success in this role requires strong technical capability in maintenance, and the ability to drive cross-functional improvements that enhance safety, quality, service, and total delivered cost.

This position is also responsible fordeveloping and executingstrategic and tactical Maintenance and Reliability plans across multiple manufacturing sites.

DESCRIPTION OF ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

Core Responsibilities

Reliability Engineers are responsible for maintaining and improving the reliability and performance of equipment, systems, and processes. Key duties include:

• Designing and implementing reliability strategiesto enhance system performance and longevity

• Conducting Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA)to proactively identify potential failures

• PerformreliabilityanalysessuchasFMEA(FailureModesandEffectsAnalysis),RCM(Reliability-CenteredMaintenance),androotcauseanalysis(RCA)toidentifypotentialsystemfailuresandrecommendcorrectiveactions.

• Know the process and help to conduct 5S projects as it pertains to Maintenance and MRO.

• Developing preventive and predictive maintenance plansbased on data analysis

• Monitoring system performanceand identifying reliability issues using statistical tools and reliability modeling

• Evaluate equipment failure modes and utilize engineering experience and training to develop solutions for eliminating/mitigating potential failure

• Monitor equipment performance and evaluate equipment history and failure trends to determine sources of poor component performance

• Lead targeted initiatives to improve throughput, yield, labor utilization, and equipment reliability

• Identify, evaluate, and introduce new processes/technologies, automation solutions, and equipment upgrades to enhance capability and efficiency

Leadership Skills

• Coordinate internal stakeholders, contractors, and equipment suppliers to ensure alignment and accountability.

• Providing technical guidance and trainingto team members and maintaining reliability metrics and reports

• Ensure compliance with all safety, quality, environmental, and regulatory standards

• Technical supportforfactory and corporate maintenancefunctions.

• Development and review of technical and operational standards.

Cross-Functional Collaboration and Technical Expertise

• Provide support to maintenance, engineering, operations, safety, CI, and quality teams

• Participate in problem solving and root cause analysis for production issues.

• Collaborate with Finance to quantify savings, build business cases, validate financial impact, and ensure benefits are sustained in the P&L.

• Partner with all manufacturing locations to develop Reliability Best Practices and to collaboratively work through common issues.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

** ** (To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required).

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Industrial, Chemical or Manufacturing Engineering

• 5-7+ years of experience in manufacturing engineering, continuous improvement, or related roles within a manufacturing environment (CPG or food manufacturing a plus)

• Knowledge of reliability engineering methodologies, such as RCM (Reliability-Centered Maintenance)

• StrongknowledgeofreliabilitymetricssuchasMTBF(MeanTimeBetweenFailures),MTTR(MeanTimetoRepair),andavailability.

• ExperiencedinFMEA,RCM,faulttreeanalysis,androotcauseanalysistechniques.

• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to synthesize complex information and make data-driven decisions.

• Experience extracting and structuring data from CMMS and MES/plant performance systems (e.g., Redzone, Ignition, data historians) and building analytical insights and reports using tools such as Tableau, Power BI, and Excel

• Proficiencyinreliabilityanalysistools/software and computerized maintenance management systems (CMMS)

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with diverse stakeholders.

• Willingness to travel up to 40% to other Alphia plants or vendors within the US, with potential irregularity depending on specific projects or engineering activities.

• Willingness to work off-shifts and weekends at times depending on specific projects
  

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

(The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions).

• The employee may be frequently exposed to allergens and/or airborne particles in the production area. Production employees are exposed to temperatures ranging from 50 to 115 degrees, depending on the season and workstation, and maybe working near moving mechanical parts. Occasional exposure to outdoor weather conditions may occur.

• The noise level in the work environment may be loud while production equipment is running.

Personal Protection Equipment (including, but not limited to, boots, gloves, safety glasses, and/or face shields) is required during various processes in the production area. Ear plugs and bump caps are required at all times in the production area.

Alphia is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.