Reliability Technician

Job Description

Job Title: Reliability Technician

Summary Description

The Reliability Technician will play a critical role in maintaining, troubleshooting, and repairing essential production machinery across diverse departments. This position requires close collaboration with engineering and production teams to ensure seamless daily operations. Key responsibilities include the installation, maintenance, and commissioning of all new and existing equipment within the plant.

Performance Expectations

• Preventive Maintenance & Calibration: Conduct preventive maintenance and calibration activities utilizing UpKeep CMMS for scheduling, documenting, and tracking work orders, maintenance histories, and equipment performance metrics.
• Spare Parts Management: Implement and manage spare parts inventory through CMMS and asset management protocols to optimize stock levels, minimize downtime, and ensure parts traceability.
• Condition-Based Monitoring (CBM): Recommend and support the implementation of CBM techniques such as vibration analysis, thermal imaging, and electrical signature analysis to proactively predict failures and enhance asset reliability.
• Vendor Collaboration & Procurement: Collaborate with equipment manufacturers and vendors on the design, cost estimation, and procurement of new or replacement automation and control systems.
• Engineering Project Leadership: Lead or assist in engineering projects from conceptual design through installation, commissioning, and performance verification.
• Product & Process Development Support: Provide plant-level support for product and process development trials, including equipment setup, data collection, and optimization.
• Root-Cause Analysis (RCA): Assist with root-cause analysis (RCA) and corrective action planning for electrical and automation-related failures to prevent recurrence.
• Reliability Improvement Initiatives: Partner with other maintenance crafts to develop and implement reliability improvement initiatives, aiming to reduce unplanned downtime.
• Training & Mentorship: Train and mentor maintenance and operations staff on electrical systems, PLC troubleshooting, lockout/tagout (LOTO), and autonomous maintenance practices to build technical capability within the team.
• PLC & Control Systems Management: Oversee and maintain plant-wide PLC and control systems, including upgrades, programming, and integration of automation technologies across compounding, filling, packaging, and auxiliary equipment.
• System Design & Optimization: Design, program, troubleshoot, and optimize electrical, control, network, HMI, and PLC systems to ensure high reliability and minimal downtime.
• Equipment Malfunction Diagnosis: Diagnose and resolve equipment malfunctions, including PLC, VFDs (Variable Frequency Drives), and instrumentation-related failures impacting production or warehouse operations.
• EHS Compliance: Ensure compliance with EHS requirements, including completing required safety training, performing SMAT observations, maintaining 5S standards, and supporting waste management and recycling programs.
• Incident Investigation: Participate in incident and near-miss investigations, developing corrective actions to strengthen safety and operational reliability.
• Documentation & Communication: Maintain detailed documentation and communication, including maintenance records, shift handovers, and project progress updates.
• Administrative Duties: Perform administrative duties such as purchase requisitions, expense reporting, and invoice verification related to maintenance and project work.
• Continuous Improvement: Support continuous improvement initiatives through small-scale electrical and mechanical projects, MOC activities, and implementation of new maintenance technologies.
• Travel: Travel occasionally (up to 10%) to support training, learning, or remote facility needs, with reduced travel expected once the site is fully operational.
• Other Duties: Perform other duties as assigned to support plant operations and organizational objectives.

Requirements

Education & Work Experience

• Experience: 2+ years of maintenance experience, preferably in a manufacturing setting.
• Equipment Proficiency: Experienced with automated filling systems, rotary fillers, conveyors, and other high-speed packaging and material handling equipment.
• Troubleshooting Skills: Strong mechanical, electrical, and electronic troubleshooting capabilities, with a proven aptitude for equipment repair, maintenance, and optimization.
• Electrical System Expertise: Proficient in diagnosing, testing, and repairing electrical systems—including single-phase and three-phase power up to 600 volts—as well as AC/DC motors, power supplies, frequency drives (VFDs), servo drives, transformers, motor starters, proximity sensors, encoders, photo eyes, and other automation components.
• System Maintenance: Experienced in testing and maintaining electrical, pneumatic, hydraulic, refrigeration, and water treatment systems to ensure consistent operational performance.
• PLC Knowledge: Knowledge of programmable logic controllers (PLCs) preferred. Ability to read electrical schematics, wiring diagrams, and PLC ladder and block logic. Ability to load programs or configure PLCs, HMIs, and scanners.

Other Qualifications

• Communication: Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Problem-Solving: Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Compliance: Knowledge of GMP and cleaning practices.

Special Demands

• Physical Stamina: Prolonged periods standing and working on manufacturing line repairs and maintenance.
• Lifting: Must be able to lift up to 50 pounds at times.
• Mobility: Ability to traverse manufacturing facility.

Benefits

• Health Coverage: Medical, Vision, and Dental benefits paid 100% by the company.
• Retirement: 401k with company match.
• Paid Time Off: PTO annually.
• Holidays: Paid holidays.