Equipment Specialist Lead - KS

Panasonic•De Soto, KS

10h•Onsite

About The Position

The Equipment Specialist Lead serves as the senior technical resource for assigned manufacturing operations, coordinating daily activities, supporting equipment reliability, and driving continuous improvement. The role provides advanced expertise in troubleshooting, root cause analysis, and process optimization, and serves as the primary escalation point for complex equipment issues. Working with production, maintenance, quality, engineering, and operational leadership, the lead prioritizes work, facilitates communication, develops team capability, and supports departmental objectives to help ensure safe, efficient, and reliable manufacturing operations. The position is with Panasonic Energy as the company expands its operations in De Soto, Kansas, and builds a lithium-ion battery factory. It combines advanced technical work with informal leadership responsibilities; it does not include formal supervisory authority. The role has no travel requirement. Work is onsite, and employees must wear required personal protective equipment, which may include a Tyvek suit, safety shoes, gloves, safety glasses, a face mask, and a hazmat suit with respirator. A respirator fit test may be required depending on the functional area. The position involves standing 60% of the normal workday, walking 30%, and sitting 10%. Lifting and carrying requirements include loads up to 10 and 20 pounds continuously, up to 35 pounds frequently, and team lifting loads over 35 pounds frequently. Pre-employment drug testing is required, and candidates must be authorized to work in the United States without restriction.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED; relevant experience may substitute for the required education.
Successful Ramsay mechanical assessment; the qualifications also specify successful completion of a Ramsay mechanical or electrical aptitude assessment.
At least 5 years of manufacturing, industrial maintenance, equipment support, automation, mechatronics, or related technical experience with increasing responsibility, or at least 1 year as a PECNA Equipment Specialist II or PECNA Advanced Maintenance Technician.
Advanced expertise troubleshooting mechanical, pneumatic, hydraulic, electrical, and automated manufacturing systems.
Ability to lead complex troubleshooting and resolve high-impact equipment issues.
Ability to influence cross-functional teams and build collaborative working relationships.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office, MES, Tableau, JMP, and other manufacturing support systems.
Advanced ability to analyze equipment and operational data to identify trends, root causes, and improvement opportunities.
Ability to interpret and apply mechanical and electrical drawings during troubleshooting, modifications, and project implementation.
Strong working knowledge of PLC systems, controls software, and automated manufacturing equipment.
Experience supporting vision systems and related automation technologies.
Advanced root cause analysis, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
Working knowledge of PDCA, root cause analysis, Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement methodologies.
Ability to prioritize work, manage competing priorities, and coordinate activities across teams and functional groups.
Demonstrated ability to coach, mentor, and develop technical employees.
Strong organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills.
Ability to perform mathematical calculations involving ratios, percentages, measurements, and technical or operational data.
Working-level knowledge of English, including reading, writing, and speaking.
Alignment with Panasonic’s seven core principles: contribution to society, fairness and honesty, cooperation and team spirit, untiring effort for improvement, courtesy and humility, adaptability, and gratitude.
Must perform essential job functions with or without reasonable accommodation.
Must have valid authorization to work in the United States without restriction.

Nice To Haves

Associate's degree in Engineering Technology, Manufacturing Technology, Industrial Technology, or a related field.
Completion of the PECNA Maintenance Apprenticeship Program.
QET certification or equivalent technical certification.
Six Sigma Green Belt or higher.
Advanced Root Cause Analysis training.
At least 6 years of industrial maintenance experience in a manufacturing environment.
Previous experience as a technical lead, project lead, shift lead, or informal team leader.
Strong background in electrical troubleshooting, controls systems, and automation technologies.
Experience with Sysmac, Omron PLC software, or equivalent controls platforms.
Proficiency with CAD software.
Experience operating and maintaining technical equipment such as 3D printers, microscopes, or laser scanners.
Experience with fabrication, machining, welding, and custom equipment modifications.
Demonstrated success leading equipment reliability, defect reduction, productivity, or process improvement initiatives.
Experience presenting technical findings, improvement plans, and project updates to leadership teams.
Proficiency with Python, advanced analytics, or other manufacturing data analysis tools.

Responsibilities

Serve as the primary technical escalation point for complex equipment issues, equipment recovery efforts, and troubleshooting.
Coordinate daily work activities and technical priorities for Equipment Specialists in assigned areas or shifts.
Apply expert knowledge of assigned manufacturing equipment, machine systems, and production processes.
Lead complex troubleshooting of mechanical, pneumatic, hydraulic, electrical, controls, and automated manufacturing systems.
Support equipment startup, qualification, modifications, upgrades, and validation.
Provide technical direction during equipment repairs, improvement activities, and engineering change implementations.
Identify equipment-related sources of defects, alarms, downtime, and productivity losses.
Maintain accurate documentation of equipment activities, troubleshooting, and improvement projects.
Use precision measurement and diagnostic instruments to support equipment performance and reliability.
Lead cross-functional PDCA activities, root cause investigations, and corrective action development.
Analyze production, equipment, quality, and maintenance data to identify performance gaps, trends, and improvement opportunities.
Develop and coordinate action plans to improve reliability, productivity, quality, and operational efficiency.
Evaluate corrective and preventive actions and recommend adjustments.
Support departmental goals, KPIs, and operational targets.
Drive continuous improvement using Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and structured problem-solving methods.
Partner with engineering and operational leadership to identify and prioritize improvement opportunities.
Monitor team actions and ensure timely completion of deliverables.
Coach, mentor, and develop Equipment Specialists, and support onboarding, qualification, certification, and technical development.
Identify skill gaps and recommend training opportunities; facilitate knowledge sharing across shifts, teams, and functions.
Promote accountability, continuous learning, teamwork, and operational excellence.
Serve as the primary liaison among Equipment Specialists, engineering, maintenance, production, quality, and operational leadership.
Communicate equipment priorities, risks, project status, and escalation needs to stakeholders.
Coordinate work across groups and represent the team in production meetings, operational reviews, and escalation discussions.
Support planning for equipment outages, upgrades, and improvement initiatives.
Follow company, departmental, environmental, quality, and safety policies and procedures; ensure equipment work complies with applicable standards and documentation requirements.
Promote lockout/tagout and safe work practices, identify equipment-related safety risks, and support investigations into quality concerns, equipment failures, and process deviations.
Maintain a safe, organized, and compliant work environment.
Participate in cross-training and may be assigned responsibilities in other areas as business needs evolve.

Benefits

Comprehensive healthcare options, including family planning, mental health, and pet insurance.
Employee assistance programs with complimentary sessions offered each month.
Company-matched, fully vested 401(k) retirement program starting immediately upon enrollment.
Annual bonus program.
High5 employee recognition and awards platform, with quarterly and annual recognition.
Financial wellness and retirement planning resources.
Educational Assistance & Reimbursement Program.
Inclusion programs and employee resource groups.
Leadership, career, and mentorship development programs.
Collaborative culture focused on personal and professional growth.