Mechanical Reliability Engineer

Mechanical Reliability Engineer
Full Time
Business Support
Galveston, TX, US

On Grid Infrastructure Services is seeking a highly motivated Mechanical Reliability Engineer to support the safe, reliable, and cost-effective operation of refinery assets. This position serves as a technical leader for equipment reliability, Mechanical Integrity, maintenance optimization, and continuous improvement initiatives across the refinery.

The Mechanical Reliability Engineer works closely with Operations, Maintenance, Inspection, Projects, and Contractors to reduce equipment failures, improve asset availability, strengthen Mechanical Integrity programs, and drive measurable improvements in reliability performance.

Key Responsibilities
Reliability Engineering
Lead reliability improvement initiatives for fixed and rotating equipment.
Identify recurring equipment issues and implement sustainable corrective actions.
Develop and maintain equipment reliability strategies and maintenance plans.
Analyze equipment performance trends, maintenance history, and failure data.
Utilize reliability engineering tools including:
o Root Cause Failure Analysis (RCFA)
o Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA/FMECA)
o Reliability-Centered Maintenance (RCM)
o Bad Actor Programs
Establish equipment criticality rankings and risk-based maintenance strategies.

Mechanical Integrity & Compliance
Support refinery Mechanical Integrity programs and regulatory compliance efforts.
Assist with Mechanical Integrity programs governed by OSHA PSM and applicable API and ASME standards, including API 510, API 570, and API 653.
Review inspection findings and develop repair recommendations.
Support fitness-for-service evaluations and risk assessments.
Ensure Mechanical Integrity action items and recommendations are tracked to completion.

Rotating Equipment Reliability
Provide engineering support for:
o Pumps
o Compressors
o Motors
o Gearboxes
o Fans and blowers
Investigate equipment failures and recurring reliability issues.
Optimize preventive and predictive maintenance programs.
Support vibration analysis, oil analysis, thermography, and condition monitoring activities.
Develop reliability improvement plans and corrective actions.

Fixed Equipment Reliability
Provide engineering support for:
o Pressure vessels
o Storage tanks
o Piping systems
o Heat exchangers
o Air coolers
o Process heaters
o Structural systems
Evaluate equipment damage mechanisms and failure risks.
Support repair planning, outage execution, and equipment modifications.
Review Management of Change (MOC) packages for mechanical impacts.

Maintenance & Asset Management
Support maintenance planning and scheduling activities.
Review preventive maintenance programs for effectiveness and optimization.
Participate in work order reviews and equipment prioritization efforts.
Maintain equipment reliability documentation and asset records.
Support CMMS data integrity and equipment history management.
Develop reliability metrics, reports, and dashboards.

Capital Projects & Engineering Support
Serve as project engineer for small capital and reliability improvement projects.
Develop project scopes, cost estimates, schedules, and justifications.
Review engineering drawings, specifications, and vendor documentation.
Support commissioning, startup, design reviews, and hazard reviews.

Root Cause Investigations
Lead investigations related to equipment failures and unplanned downtime.
Facilitate cross-functional RCFA teams.
Identify immediate, contributing, and root causes.
Develop and track corrective actions through implementation.
Present findings and recommendations to refinery leadership.

Vendor & Contractor Coordination
Evaluate contractor repair recommendations and technical solutions.
Review vendor proposals and equipment recommendations.
Support procurement activities related to equipment and repair services.
Provide technical oversight during critical repairs and outages.
Build and maintain strong relationships with reliability-focused service providers.

Qualifications
Required
Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering.
Minimum 5 years of experience in refining, petrochemical, chemical manufacturing, terminal, pipeline, power generation, or heavy industrial environments.
Strong understanding of rotating and fixed equipment reliability principles.
Experience supporting Mechanical Integrity programs.
Experience conducting Root Cause Failure Analysis (RCFA).
Working knowledge of applicable API and ASME standards.
Excellent troubleshooting, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
Experience utilizing CMMS systems and reliability data.

Preferred
Professional Engineer (PE) license.
Certified Reliability Engineer (CRE) certification.
API 510, API 570, and/or API 653 certifications.
Experience supporting refinery maintenance and turnaround activities.
Experience with Fiix or similar CMMS platforms.

Physical / Work Environment Requirements
Working Conditions
Regular field exposure within an operating refinery environment.
Ability to climb ladders, work at heights, and access industrial equipment.
Ability to wear required personal protective equipment (PPE).
Occasional after-hours support during outages, turnarounds, equipment failures, and emergency response activities.

Leadership Expectations
The Mechanical Reliability Engineer is expected to:
Promote a safety-first culture in all engineering and maintenance activities.
Maintain a strong field presence and direct engagement with Operations, Maintenance, Inspection, and contractor personnel.
Demonstrate ownership of equipment reliability issues and drive resolution to completion.
Act with urgency when addressing refinery risks, equipment failures, and reliability concerns.
Drive accountability for corrective actions and reliability improvement initiatives.
Provide technical mentoring and guidance to operations, maintenance, inspection, and engineering personnel.
Support cross-functional collaboration and problem-solving across the refinery.
Continuously seek opportunities to improve equipment reliability, asset performance, and maintenance effectiveness.

What Success Looks Like
A successful Mechanical Reliability Engineer is recognized as the refinerys technical expert for equipment reliability and asset health. This individual proactively identifies and eliminates reliability risks before failures occur, drives disciplined root cause analysis, improves equipment availability, strengthens Mechanical Integrity performance, and delivers measurable reductions in downtime and maintenance costs. Through close partnership with Operations, Maintenance, Inspection, and Projects, the engineer helps ensure the refinery operates safely, reliably, and profitably while building a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.