Mechanical Engineer

Western Sugar Cooperative•Scottsbluff, NE

41d•$90,000 - $125,000

About The Position

The Western Sugar Cooperative has a challenging opportunity for a Mechanical Engineer. This position will report to the Maintenance Manager. The position requires a very dynamic person with the ability to design, redesign, analyze the mechanical process in the processing of sugar beets into sugar, while showing strong leadership skills. The person should have a very strong mechanical knowledge, enjoy processing, and be a believer in preventive maintenance.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical or Maintenance Engineering is required. Will consider candidates with other engineering disciplines along with commensurate mechanical experience.
A minimum of 5 years as a mechanical engineer. Sugar beet processing, sugar refining, food processing, or similar industrial process experience is preferred.
Solid understanding of core concepts including mechanics, pneumatics, hydraulics, automation controls, etc.
Demonstrated experience with equipment reliability, as well as preventive and predictive maintenance, including lubrication, oil analysis, vibration analysis, thermography, etc.
Experience using continuous improvement tools like Lean Six Sigma and Root Cause Analysis.
Proficiency in evaluation of machine or component failure analysis, selection of maintenance materials, processes, and development of ongoing improvement of maintenance systems, practices and efficiencies.
Hands-on experience with 2D and 3D engineering design and manufacturing tools (e.g., AutoCAD, ProE, or other).
Mathematical computing and analysis tools (MATLAB, Excel, Power Bi, Python, LabView, etc.).
Hands-on experience with computer-aided engineering (CAE) and computer-aided manufacturing (CAM).
Adequate knowledge of engineering analysis tools (ANSYS, PROMECHNICA or other).
Ability to communicate technical knowledge with all levels of staff, including hourly workforce and senior management.
Demonstrated experience with improvements in safety, productivity, and quality.
Excellent computer competence (Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, Excel). SAP-HANA experience is preferred.
Knowledge of computerized maintenance management systems (CMMS) and materials management is preferred.
Strong customer focus mind-set.
Solid leadership skills, independent thinking, strong organizational and planning abilities and excellent analytical and problem-solving skills are essential.
Must be able to handle several priorities at one time.
Friendly, results-oriented, high level of energy and collaborative.

Nice To Haves

Sugar beet processing, sugar refining, food processing, or similar industrial process experience is preferred.
Experience managing improvement projects is preferred.
SAP-HANA experience is preferred.
Knowledge of computerized maintenance management systems (CMMS) and materials management is preferred.

Responsibilities

Provide solid leadership that lives our Core Values of: Safety, Integrity, Openness & Trust, Teamwork, Entrepreneurship, and Social Responsibility.
Be a safety leader with solid safety behaviors and demonstrated leadership. Working with others to perform against the plant site safety plan with the goal of being a zero-injury workplace.
Lead the effort with others to maintain a clean and safe production environment.
Assist with management of the CMMS (SAP-HANA) to assure data availability, accuracy, and integrity.
Assist with the development, management, and maintenance of facility preventative, predictive and condition-based monitoring programs (lubrication, vibration, and thermography rounds, etc.) to minimize mechanical downtime.
Develop, manage, and maintain a Root Cause Analysis program for both Production and Maintenance issues, including maintaining Equipment Reliability data and logs.
Produce reports, KPI's, and presentations showing the health and improvement of the reliability programs and maintenance in general. Assist the Maintenance Manager in justifying program and asset costs.
Contribute to improvement of work practices and execution to achieve the highest level of plant productivity and minimal mechanical downtime through training, written procedures, and maintaining equipment documentation (drawings and manuals).
Analyze problems in the manufacturing process and provide solutions to mechanical issues through design changes and improvements to the mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, and automated controls areas of the sugar beet process.
Collaborate with other plant personnel to develop the best possible solutions.
Participate in the maintenance budget development, to ensure the highest return on budget and asset investments based on equipment and program data.
Identify potential for cost reduction through extended asset life, reduce labor cost, and other asset/practices-related improvement techniques.
Work closely with the Maintenance Manager and property risk consultants to assure, applicable code compliance fire system maintenance, equipment reliability and inspections are scheduled and complete with minimal risk of mechanical or system failures.
Ensure health and safety standards are included and adhered to in written procedures and training.
Active involvement in the plant safety and quality effort and the assurance of all plant safety, housekeeping, regulatory, and policies within the assigned area.
Stay current in maintenance reliability technologies and best practices through trade magazines, seminars, and facility reliability conventions.
Lead Capital Equipment Improvement projects as needed in support of on-going Reliability and Mechanical improvements.
Assist with on-going efforts to create and maintain equipment bill of materials (BOM).
Other duties assigned by the Maintenance Manager.
To be successful, this position often requires more than 40 hours per week and occasional weekend work.