Electrical Reliability Engineer – Motor Champion

Global Cellulose Fibers•Columbus, MS

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Motor Champion is the site’s technical authority and program owner for electric motor reliability across the mill. This role is accountable for improving motor asset health, reducing unplanned downtime, and driving lifecycle cost optimization of the motor fleet. The position works cross-functionally with Maintenance, Operations, Reliability, and Engineering to implement best-in-class predictive, preventive, and precision maintenance practices. This role directly impacts mill uptime, production stability, and maintenance cost by eliminating chronic motor failures and institutionalizing reliability standards.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Electrical Engineering Technology, or related field OR equivalent experience in industrial electrical maintenance/reliability required.
5–10+ years in industrial maintenance/reliability (pulp & paper preferred).
Demonstrated experience with electric motor systems (low and medium voltage).
Experience with PdM technologies (vibration, MCA, IR, etc.).
Experience working within SAP PM or equivalent CMMS.
Strong understanding of: Motor types (induction, synchronous, DC), Failure modes (bearing, winding, insulation, rotor defects), Power quality (harmonics, voltage imbalance).
Familiarity with: EASA repair standards, IEEE/NEMA motor standards, Reliability methodologies (RCM, FMEA, RCA).

Nice To Haves

Certified Reliability Engineer (CRE) or similar
Vibration Analysis Certification (ISO Category I–III)
Thermography Certification
Experience in pulp mill systems (refiners, pumps, fans, conveyors)

Responsibilities

Provide mill-wide leadership for the Electric Motor Reliability Program, ensuring alignment with corporate (GMS) standards. Develop and execute Motor Reliability Gap Plans and long-term improvement strategies, including capital planning.
Lead by example in safety performance and ensure all motor-related work complies with applicable standards, including NFPA 70E and site safety systems.
Drive execution and continuous improvement of motor PM and PdM programs (vibration, electrical testing, condition monitoring), ensuring effectiveness across all mill areas.
Ensure all new, repaired, and rebuilt motors meet specifications. Manage repair vendors, conduct audits and shop visits, review repair reports, and support factory acceptance testing and teardown inspections.
Maintain accurate motor data, repair history, and testing records. Oversee motor installations, replacements, warranty tracking, and ensure proper documentation and knowledge transfer.
Develop and manage spare motor plans, including inventory optimization and proper storage/preservation practices both onsite and with vendors.
Track motor reliability KPIs, performance trends, and costs. Lead or support RCFA efforts and ensure corrective actions are implemented and sustained.
Own motor-related specifications and audit compliance across the mill, including motor protection, testing practices, and precision maintenance standards.
Serve as the SME for motor-related capital projects—supporting design, approving specifications, and ensuring reliability standards are met. Provide E&I technical support to maintenance and engineering teams.
Act as a technical resource for the mill by training and mentoring E&I technicians and improving overall motor reliability capability.
Provide outage support, participate in weekend duty rotation, and support broader mill reliability and maintenance initiatives as needed.