Equipment Specialist Lead - KS

Panasonic•De Soto, KS

6d•Onsite

About The Position

Panasonic Energy is expanding to De Soto, Kansas, where it is building a large lithium-ion battery factory. The Equipment Specialist Lead serves as a senior technical resource for assigned manufacturing operations, coordinating daily activities, supporting equipment reliability, and driving continuous improvement. The role provides advanced expertise in equipment troubleshooting, root cause analysis, and process optimization, and is the primary escalation point for complex equipment issues. It works closely with production, maintenance, quality, engineering, and operational leadership to prioritize work, facilitate communication, develop team capability, and support departmental objectives. The position combines advanced technical work with informal leadership to promote safe, efficient, reliable manufacturing operations. The position is onsite. Travel is not required. The role involves required personal protective equipment, including safety shoes, gloves, safety glasses, a face mask, and, depending on the functional area, a full Tyvek suit or a hazmat suit with respirator. A respirator fit test may be required. Normal workday activity is 10% sitting, 30% walking, and 60% standing. Lifting and carrying up to 10 and 20 pounds is continuous; up to 35 pounds is frequent; lifting over 35 pounds is frequent and team-lift only. Panasonic Energy describes its work as producing lithium-ion batteries and contributing to sustainable energy and electric-vehicle technologies. The company offers competitive salaries and benefits, and emphasizes inclusion, belonging, fairness, and employee development.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED; relevant experience may substitute for the required education.
Successful completion of the 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 troubleshooting expertise in 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 applications, 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, equipment 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, including ratios, percentages, and measurements, and interpret technical and operational data.
Working-level English proficiency, 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 U.S. without restriction; pre-employment drug testing is required.

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, laser scanners, or similar devices.
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, 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 involving mechanical, pneumatic, hydraulic, electrical, controls, and automated manufacturing systems.
Support equipment startup, qualification, modifications, upgrades, and validation.
Provide technical direction during equipment repairs, improvement work, and engineering change implementations.
Use machine expertise to 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 trends, performance gaps, and improvement opportunities.
Develop and coordinate action plans to improve reliability, productivity, quality, and operational efficiency.
Evaluate corrective and preventive actions and recommend adjustments as needed.
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 progress on assigned actions and ensure timely completion of deliverables.
Coach, mentor, and develop Equipment Specialists by sharing technical expertise, best practices, and troubleshooting techniques.
Support onboarding, qualification, certification, and technical development of team members; identify skill gaps and recommend training.
Facilitate knowledge sharing across shifts, teams, and functional groups, promoting accountability, learning, teamwork, and operational excellence.
Provide guidance during equipment failures, process issues, and improvement activities.
Act 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 participate in production meetings, operational reviews, and escalation discussions as the team's technical representative.
Support supervisors and engineering teams in planning equipment outages, upgrades, and improvement initiatives.
Follow company, departmental, environmental, quality, and safety policies and procedures.
Ensure equipment-related work complies with applicable standards, procedures, and documentation requirements; promote lockout/tagout and safe work practices.
Identify equipment-related safety risks and operational concerns, and support investigations into quality concerns, equipment failures, and process deviations.
Maintain a safe, organized, compliant work environment and support cross-training and evolving business needs.

Benefits

Healthcare options, including family planning, mental health, and pet insurance.
Employee assistance programs with complimentary sessions each month.
Company-matched, fully vested 401(k) retirement program beginning 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 continuous personal and professional growth.