Specialist - Maintenance Process Reliability

Westlake Chemical; United States; On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Westlake Chemical seeks a Reliability Engineer to drive plant reliability programs through data analysis, problem solving, and field support. You will work on PM/PdM strategies, evaluate MTBF/MTTR, and lead RCFA/FMEA efforts to eliminate recurring issues.

The role combines office analytics with hands-on field observations, vibration analysis, and collaboration with maintenance and operations on continuous improvement projects. A Bachelor's degree or 5–10 years reliability experience is required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or 5-10 years of reliability experience in a chemical facility.
• Strong MS Office and database software skills are required.
• Excellent interpersonal, written and verbal communication abilities.
• FMEA and RCFA experience is essential.
• Predictive techniques for fixed and rotating equipment (vibration/oil analysis).
• Familiarity with piping systems, ASME/API codes, rotating equipment, and PSM.
• Six Sigma or Lean certification is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Identify and manage asset reliability risks affecting operations, safety, and quality.
• Analyze equipment failure data, MTBF/MTTR, and SAP records to find patterns.
• Analyze vibration data to identify reliability causes and solutions.
• Lead or participate in RCFA investigations for failures or incidents.
• Develop and optimize PM, PdM, and condition-based maintenance strategies.
• Support shop rebuilds, capital projects, and spare parts strategies.
• Propose engineering solutions to eliminate repetitive failures and improve design.
• Collaborate with maintenance and operations on reliability improvements.

Skills

Data analysis

Vibration analysis

Root Cause Analysis

FMEA

RCFA

Six Sigma / Lean

PSM

Education

Bachelor's degree in related field

Tools

MS Office

Database software

SAP data

Job description

Westlake offers you the potential to enrich your work life and career experience in an entrepreneurial environment. We work together to enhance peoples' lives through our products and presence in the communities in which we operate.

SUMMARY

Responsible for driving various reliability programs in the plant. Provides technical expertise to solve problems and eliminate recurring issues across the site. The role is a mix of desk-based analysis (data analysis and reporting) and work in the field (troubleshooting, data collection, site observations, supervising).

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Identify and manage asset reliability risks that could impact plant operations, safety, production output, quality, costs, or regulatory compliance.
• Analyze equipment failure data, reliability metrics (e.g. MTBF, MTTR, failure rates), and historical records from SAP to identify patterns, bad actors, and repetitive failures.
• Analyze vibration data to identify causes of reliability issues.
• Lead or participate in root cause analysis (RCS) investigations for significant failures, near‑misses, or incidents.
• Develop and optimize preventative (PM), predictive maintenance (PdM), and condition‑based maintenance strategies; use tools like vibration analysis, thermography, oil analysis, infrared scans, and ultrasonic testing.
• Provide technical input for shop rebuilds, capital projects, turnaround planning, and spare parts strategies.
• Recommend engineering solutions to eliminate repetitive failures, improve equipment design, or upgrade materials for better reliability.
• Collaborate with maintenance and operations to implement reliability improvements, support troubleshooting, and participate in Six Sigma/LEAN or continuous improvement projects.
• Monitor and report on key performance indicators related to reliability including vibration and oil analysis.
• Contribute to the development of training, procedures, and best practices for reliability-focused activities.

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree or 5-10 years of reliability experience within a chemical manufacturing facility. Applicants with less than 5 years of experience will be considered.
• Proficiency in MS Office and database software.
• Strong interpersonal, written and verbal communication skills.
• Failure Mode and Effective Analysis (FMEA).
• Root Cause Failure Analysis (RCFA).
• Predictive techniques for fixed and rotating equipment – e.g. vibration analysis, oil analysis, nondestructive testing, thermography, etc.
• Familiarity with piping systems.
• Familiarity with ASME and API codes.
• Familiarity with rotating equipment.
• Understanding of PSM systems.
• Six Sigma or Lean certification is preferred.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

This job is performed mainly in an office setting; physical presence is required. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit; stand; walk; have full use and range of motion of arms, hands and fingers to reach, grasp, hold, push or pull, twist, and work with tools; and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to perform tasks that may require bending, stooping, kneeling, crouching, lying down or working from elevated platforms. The employee must be able to move safely over uneven terrain or in confined spaces. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 5 pounds, frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds, and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. The employee must be able to see details of objects that are more/less than a few feet away, see differences between colors, shades and brightness and determine the distance between objects. This job requires response to audible emergency alarms inside of the plant. Employee must be able to evacuate when required.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The employee must be able to work in a normal factory environment, including enclosed spaces and exposure to various hazards. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate as normally based in an office. Some of the work may be required in the operating units, which can require usage of required PPE including safety glasses, hearing protection, flame retardant clothing, etc. May also result in exposure to outside elements and may require usage of stairs and elevators. Travel including air travel or auto travel may occasionally be required.

Westlake is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any characteristics protected by applicable legislation.

Westlake is a global manufacturer and supplier of materials and innovative products that enhance life every day. Headquartered in Houston, with operations in Asia, Europe and North America, we provide the building blocks for vital solutions — from housing and construction, to packaging and healthcare, to automotive and consumer. For more information, visit the company's web site at www.westlake.com.

Westlake (NYSE: WLK) is a global diversified industrial company that manufactures and supplies essential products that enhance the daily lives of people around the globe. Our products, now under a One Westlake brand, supply the necessary building blocks for everyday products across housing and infrastructure, packaging and healthcare, and automotive and consumer goods. Consumers gain the benefits of materials Westlake produces in products such as food packaging, medical devices, soaps and detergents, car interiors, fashion, toys, shoes, furniture, electronics, siding, stone veneer, windows, outdoor living, roofing, and pipe & fittings.

Westlake is proud to contribute to driving a sustainable future through the creation of essential products that are Enhancing Your Life Every Day.

To view other career opportunities at Westlake and our family of companies, visit https://westlaketalent.com