Shredder Operations Leader & Reliability Engineer

Sims Metal; Petersburg (VA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Sims Metal in Petersburg, VA, is seeking a Shredder Engineer to design, optimize, and drive performance of shredder systems.

This senior role requires 7–10+ years in shredding or heavy industrial operations and 3–5 years leading plant teams, with a track record of safety and reliability.

You will lead maintenance, coordinate with logistics, manage budgets, and champion continuous improvement across the operation.

Qualifications

• 7–10+ years in shredding or heavy industrial operations.
• 3–5 years in plant management or senior operations leadership.
• Proven experience with large industrial equipment and safety/regulatory compliance.

Responsibilities

• Lead shredding, maintenance, plant coordination, and logistics.
• Drive safety and regulatory compliance (OSHA, MSHA, EPA).
• Improve equipment reliability and process efficiency through maintenance planning and process optimization.
• Manage budgets, operating costs, and capital projects; ensure financial targets are met.
• Develop and train supervisors and staff for continuous improvement.
• Lead audits, inspections, and incident investigations; drive lean initiatives.

Skills

Operational excellence

Mechanical aptitude

Safety leadership

Budgeting & P&L

Cross-functional leadership

Root cause analysis

Planning & scheduling

Communication

Tools

CMMS systems

Job description

Sims Metal in Petersburg, VA, is seeking a Shredder Engineer to design, optimize, and drive performance of shredder systems.

This senior role requires 7–10+ years in shredding or heavy industrial operations and 3–5 years leading plant teams, with a track record of safety and reliability.

You will lead maintenance, coordinate with logistics, manage budgets, and champion continuous improvement across the operation.