Facilities Mechanical Engineer III

Panasonic•De Soto, KS

2d•Onsite

About The Position

Join us at Panasonic Energy as we expand to De Soto, Kansas, where we’re building the world’s largest lithium-ion battery factory. This is an exciting opportunity to grow your career while contributing to the future of electric vehicles. As part of our team, you’ll help push the limits of battery technology, enhancing performance and efficiency in sustainable transportation. Our state-of-the-art facility, just outside the Kansas City Metro, will be a hub for innovation in green energy solutions. If you're passionate about sustainability and eager to contribute to the electric vehicle revolution, we invite you to be part of our dynamic team. Join us and make a meaningful impact on the future of energy and transportation. Job Summary: The Facilities Mechanical Engineer III is responsible for supporting the operation, maintenance, and performance of mechanical facility systems, including HVAC, plumbing, and associated controls. The position assists with facility expansion projects, collaborates with the Operations & Maintenance team to troubleshoot performance issues, and ensures systems operate efficiently and safely. It involves collaborating with vendors and engineers to optimize operations, enforce standards, and implement best practices. Operates with limited supervision, mentors junior staff, and impacts multiple projects or teams. The role requires strong communication with engineers across disciplines and includes enforcing safety procedures and responding to emergencies.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering Technology, or related engineering field
4+ years of relevant HVAC Design, MEP Construction Coordination, and/or Facilities Engineering work experience
Familiarity with DDC and/or SCADA control interfaces
Skills and experience necessary to satisfy the required “Essential Duties”
Strong technical leadership with excellent organizational and verbal skills
Knowledge of and comfort with Microsoft Office Suite software including Excel, Word, and PowerPoint
Experienced with reviewing, analyzing, and interpreting complex project design documents via AutoCAD, Visio, and Bluebeam
Ability and proficiency in collecting, analyzing, and presenting technical information to non-technical audiences
Being approachable. Must be comfortable communicating/troubleshooting with all levels of the organization
Able to manage multiple concurrent tasks in a fast-paced environment, effectively prioritize work, and deliver quality results
Self-starter who works well independently with minimal direction
Driven to seek answers, provide timely follow up and remain focused on team success
Able to make appropriate decisions when confronted with obstacles, think about them before acting, and consistently resolve issues in creative and effective ways
A strong work ethic with a “get the job done” approach and consistently delivers excellent customer service, both internally and externally
Intuitive, adaptable, resourceful, and collaborative
Collaborative nature with strong team building skills and willing to learn from and accept guidance from others
Must have working-level knowledge of the English language, including reading, writing, and speaking English

Nice To Haves

6+ years of relevant HVAC Design, Controls, MEP Construction Coordination, and/or Facilities Engineering work experience
Experience supporting the construction of large facilities, preferably in advanced manufacturing environments
Experience with managing projects effectively
Experience with creating standard operating procedures
Basic understanding of control PID loop tuning
Alignment to Panasonic’s seven (7) core principles (contribution to society, fairness and honesty, cooperation and team spirit, untiring effort for improvement, courtesy and humility, adaptability, gratitude)

Responsibilities

Support the operation, performance, design, and installation of mechanical facility systems including central and unitary/zone-level HVAC air and hydronic systems, exhaust air systems, plumbing systems, and associated controls
Support mechanical equipment including chillers, cooling towers, pumps, steam boilers, heat exchangers, condensate return, process water, compressed air, central air handler units, makeup air units, clean room recirculation units, dry room dehumidification units, dust collectors, CRAC units, VAV and fan powered terminal units, exhaust fans, domestic water service, domestic hot water heaters, sanitary waste, PLC controls, and SCADA user interface
Conduct routine and ongoing assessments of facility system operations through testing, rounds, and data analysis to ensure proper functionality and reliability
Witness Operations & Maintenance activities and collaborate with O&M staff to identify opportunities for improving system reliability, maintenance practices, and operational efficiency
Support O&M and Production teams in troubleshooting and identifying root causes of utility performance issues
Utilize automated fault detection and diagnostic tools to analyze indoor environmental quality (IEQ) and energy conservation measures
Understand industrial equipment, processes, and operating parameters to support system optimization and continuous improvement initiatives
Train junior facilities staff on mechanical systems, operating procedures, and safety practices
Support the O&M team by sharing technical knowledge related to facility systems operations, diagnostics, and troubleshooting procedures
Provide input and feedback during team meetings and process reviews to improve technical training and procedural accuracy
Assist the O&M team with updating Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), as-built documentation, and spare parts inventory analysis
Collaborate with O&M, Production, and Engineering teams to coordinate maintenance activities and ensure reliable utility support for manufacturing operations
Engage with cross-functional stakeholders during system reviews, emergency response situations, and planned maintenance shutdowns to ensure alignment and minimal disruption to operations
Assist the Operations and Maintenance team with updating Standard Operating Procedures and as-built documentation
Support the Operations and Maintenance and Production teams with troubleshooting root causes of utility performance issues
Support facility design expansion projects to enforce facility standards
Develop relationships and communicate with engineers across disciplines and at other Panasonic sites to foster best practice sharing and communication
Support facility design and expansion projects to enforce established facility standards
Assist with the development and review of sequences of operations, and the placement of control sensors and devices, as part of controls-related scopes in expansion and sustaining projects
Maintain ongoing communication with equipment vendors and service providers
Conduct audits of supplier work performed in the field
Ensure adherence to all company safety policies, environmental regulations, and standard operating procedures
Maintain a clean, organized, and hazard-free work environment consistent with 6S principles
Support audits and inspections by maintaining accurate documentation, calibration records, and maintenance logs
Respond rapidly and effectively to emergency situations such as fire, equipment failure, or facility evacuations to protect personnel and assets
Perform other duties as assigned to support facility reliability, compliance, and operational excellence

Benefits

Health Benefits – Offering medical, dental, vision, prescription plans, plus Health Savings Account and Flexible Spending Account options.
Voluntary Benefits – Life, accident, critical illness, disability, legal, identity theft, and pet insurance.
Panasonic Retirement Savings & Investment Plan (PRSIP) – 401(k) plan with company matching contributions and immediate vesting.
Paid Time-Off Benefits – Vacation, holidays, personal days, sick leave, volunteer, and parental & caregiver leave.
Educational Assistance – Tuition reimbursement for job-related courses after six months of service.
Health Management and Wellbeing Programs –Lifestyle Spending Account, EAP, virtual health management, chronic condition, neurodiversity, tobacco cessation, substance abuse support, and life stage and fertility resources. Available to eligible employees starting the first day of the month following your start date. Eligibility for each benefit may vary based on employment status, location, and length of service.
Employee Recognition Program - High5 employee recognition and awards platform, quarterly and annual employee recognition
Annual Bonus Program - Opportunity for an annual performance-based bonus.
On-site Food Options: Several on-site cafes, plentiful snack and beverage kitchens, revolving on-site vendor visits and employee events
Free Shuttle: Rides to and from work!