Sr. Electrical Reliability Engineer

Sappi; Cloquet (MN); On-site; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Sappi is seeking a Senior Electrical Reliability Engineer to lead reliability strategies across our Minnesota facility. You will drive RCМ initiatives, root-cause analysis, and condition-based monitoring to improve safety, uptime, and life-cycle costs.

You will develop asset health models, oversee electrical distribution reliability, and collaborate with operations and maintenance teams to embed a reliability culture. Mentoring junior engineers and leading capital projects are also involved.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Electrical Engineering or Electrical Technology with 5+ years in industrial settings.
• Strong background in electrical reliability, maintenance engineering, or industrial electrical systems.
• Experience with reliability-recentered maintenance (RCM) methodologies.
• Proficiency with electrical distribution systems, motors, drives, and protective relays.
• Experience with predictive and condition-based monitoring technologies.
• Strong analytical, communication, and cross-functional leadership skills.
• Professional certifications such as CMRP or CRE preferred.
• Authorized to work in the United States; Sappi does not sponsor visas.

Responsibilities

• Lead creation, execution, and optimization of RCM programs with failure mode analysis and maintenance strategy development.
• Provide advanced troubleshooting and root-cause analysis for electrical failures.
• Develop and maintain asset health models and condition-based monitoring programs.
• Oversee reliability improvements for electrical distribution systems like switchgear and transformers.
• Collaborate with operations, maintenance, and engineering to strengthen reliability culture.
• Lead or support capital projects for electrical upgrades and replacements.
• Maintain electrical equipment standards and documentation.
• Analyze performance data to identify trends and plan long-term reliability strategies.
• Ensure compliance with NFPA 70E, NEC, OSHA and promote safe practices.
• Mentor junior engineers and maintenance personnel.

Skills

Electrical reliability

Maintenance engineering

Industrial electrical

RCM methodologies

Predictive maintenance

Condition-based monitoring

Electrical distribution

Motors & drives

Protective relays

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's in Industrial Electrical Engineering

Bachelor's in Electrical Technology

2-year technical degree (with 5+ years experience)

Tools

Arc-flash software

Power system analysis

Electrical system modeling

EAM/CMMS tools

Job description

The Senior Electrical Reliability Engineer leads the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of electrical reliability strategies across the facility. This role places strong emphasis on electrical reliability-recentered maintenance (RCM), asset health management, and long-term equipment performance. The engineer serves as the subject-matter expert for electrical systems, driving improvements that enhance safety, reduce downtime, and optimize lifecycle cost.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the creation, execution, and optimization of electrical reliability-recentered maintenance (RCM) programs, including failure mode analysis, criticality assessments, and maintenance strategy development.
• Provide advanced technical expertise for troubleshooting and root‑cause analysis of electrical equipment failures, ensuring sustainable corrective and preventive actions.
• Develop and maintain electrical asset health models, predictive maintenance technologies, and condition‑based monitoring programs (infrared thermography, partial discharge testing, motor circuit analysis, etc.).
• Oversee reliability improvements for electrical distribution systems, including switchgear, transformers, MCCs, drives, motors, and protective relaying.
• Collaborate with operations, maintenance, and engineering teams to strengthen reliability culture and ensure alignment with plant goals.
• Lead or support capital projects related to electrical infrastructure upgrades, equipment replacements, and reliability enhancements.
• Maintain and improve electrical equipment standards, maintenance procedures, and documentation.
• Analyze equipment performance data to identify trends, prioritize improvements, and recommend long‑term reliability strategies.
• Ensure compliance with electrical safety standards (NFPA 70E, NEC, OSHA) and champion safe work practices.
• Mentor junior engineers, technicians, and maintenance personnel in electrical reliability best practices.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Electrical Engineering, Electrical Technology and 5+ years of experience working with electrical systems in an industrial manufacturing environment. Candidates with a related 2‑year technical degree and 5+ years of relevant experience may also be considered.
• Strong background in electrical reliability, maintenance engineering, or industrial electrical systems.
• Demonstrated experience with reliability-recentered maintenance (RCM) methodologies.
• Proficiency with electrical distribution systems, motors, drives, and protective relays.
• Experience with predictive and condition‑based monitoring technologies.
• Strong analytical, communication, and cross‑functional leadership skills.
• Professional certifications such as CMRP or CRE preferred.
• Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Sappi does not provide visa sponsorship.

Preferred Experience

• Experience in heavy industrial, manufacturing, pulp & paper, chemical, or similar environments.
• Familiarity with digital reliability tools or asset management systems (EAM/CMMS platforms).
• Experience with arc-flash studies, power system analysis, and electrical system modeling software.

Salary is determined by a number of factors including the value of the job to the organization, market forces, internal equity and skills brought to the job.

Sappi provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, Sappi complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.