Maintenance & Reliability Engineer

Kuraray America•La Porte, TX

5d•Onsite

About The Position

We are seeking a Mechanical Engineer II to join our Maintenance team at the La Porte, Texas Vinyls manufacturing facility-Kuraray's largest U.S. site with two distinct chemical production lines. The Reliability & Maintenance Engineer role uses data-driven analysis of process and equipment performance to quantify and project impacts on Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), supports day-to-day troubleshooting of process and equipment issues, and provides input to capital projects (equipment selection and design reviews). This is a hands-on, data-driven position that bridges operations, maintenance, and project teams in a PSM-regulated environment. The successful candidate will combine strong engineering fundamentals with practical problem-solving skills to enhance safety, reliability, and operational efficiency in a dynamic chemical manufacturing setting.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering
Minimum of 5 years of mechanical engineering experience in a chemical manufacturing, petrochemical, or other PSM-regulated environment.
Proficiency in data analysis for reliability and OEE improvement (Excel advanced functions, CMMS reporting, or basic statistical tools).
Experience with predictive maintenance methodologies and execution.
Lead cross-functional reliability reviews (e.g., RCM, FMEA)
Technical knowledge of fixed equipment, rotating equipment, and mechanical design principles.
Proven experience with troubleshooting, equipment specification, and working with vendors and repair shops.
Familiarity with PSM programs (e.g., MOC, PHA) and leading RCFAs.
Proficiency with Microsoft Suite.
Experience with SAP PM.
Strong communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to collaborate across departments and influence plant performance.
Working knowledge and application of RAGAGEP.
Ability to prioritize work to manage multiple projects to meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
Ability to work at heights and within confined spaces.
Ability to work extended hours during outage periods to support remediation and/or repair efforts.
Excellent problem-solving/decision-making skills.
Candidates must have a valid driver's license.
Applicants must be authorized to work for ANY employer in the U.S.

Nice To Haves

API 510, 570, 571, 580 or 653 certified.
Certified Maintenance & Reliability Professional (CMRP).
Experience with Prometheus interface for SAP.
Familiarity with asset management principles (e.g., ISO 55000 standards).

Responsibilities

Facilitate multi-discipline teams from operations, maintenance, engineering, safety, and projects to drive reliability improvements.
Support or lead mechanical integrity initiatives affecting day-to-day availability.
Identify, lead and/or support reliability improvement initiatives focused on mechanical integrity, safety, and plant performance.
Conduct material selection and equipment specification reviews in alignment with plant needs and industry standards.
Prepare and update detailed P&IDs and mechanical drawings to support equipment upgrades and design modifications.
Partner with maintenance personnel during equipment overhauls, turnarounds, and outages; provide field and technical engineering support as needed.
Support the company during offsite equipment repair and inspections.
Participate in Process Safety Management (PSM) activities, including Management of Change (MOC), Process Hazard Analyses (PHAs), and procedure reviews.
Ensure engineering solutions align with safety, environmental, and regulatory standards.
Stay current with RAGAGEP (e.g., API, ASME) and incorporate them into engineering practices.
Leverage process and equipment data to perform detailed analyses, quantify reliability gaps, and project impacts on Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), delivering actionable recommendations that improve OEE metrics.
Analyze failure trends and equipment performance data to recommend improvements.
Maintain accurate records of repairs, inspections, and reliability metrics through SAP PM.
Support test procedure development and validation of equipment installations and upgrades.
Recommend and implement technical advancements to enhance mechanical performance and reliability.
Lead or support Root Cause Failure Analyses (RCFAs) and corrective action implementation.
Recommend technical advancements to enhance instrumentation and electrical performance and reliability.
Support operator and maintenance training related to mechanical systems.
Continue professional development by attending trainings, pursuing certifications, and staying informed on industry innovations and best practices.
Create, modify, or retire Preventative Maintenance plans and Maintenance Procedures as needed.
Complete assigned corrective action items.
Support capital projects, including developing charters, front-end design packages, and reviewing vendor documentation for mechanical systems.
Support proper installation and commissioning of new or upgraded mechanical equipment.
Collaborate across disciplines (engineering, maintenance, operations, procurement) to ensure long-term reliability and maintainability of systems.