Sr. Facilities Mechanical Engineer

Panasonic•De Soto, KS

165d•Onsite

About The Position

Join Panasonic Energy as we expand to De Soto, Kansas, building the world's largest lithium-ion battery factory. This role supports the operation, maintenance, performance, design, and optimization of mechanical facility systems, including central utility plants, HVAC, plumbing, and associated controls. The Senior Facilities Mechanical Engineer operates with a high degree of autonomy, using independent judgment and technical expertise to solve complex system challenges. This position influences engineering direction and impacts major facility programs by driving reliability improvements, supporting expansion projects, and ensuring systems operate safely and efficiently. The role partners closely with Operations & Maintenance, Production, and Engineering teams to troubleshoot issues, implement best practices, and deliver innovative solutions that support occupant safety, indoor environmental quality (IEQ), production reliability, and energy efficiency.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering Technology, or related engineering field (e.g., Aerospace, Chemical, Industrial Engineering).
7+ years of relevant experience in Mechanical Design, MEP Construction Coordination, Facilities Engineering, and/or Project Management, including leadership or mentoring responsibilities.
Experience with Direct Digital Control (DDC) systems and SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) interfaces.
Demonstrated ability to evaluate, operate, and optimize complex, integrated facility systems across mechanical, controls, and production environments.
Proven ability to lead technical initiatives, influence decisions, and drive results across cross-functional teams without direct authority.
Strong technical leadership and engineering judgment, with the ability to solve complex or ambiguous problems and implement effective solutions.
Experience reviewing and interpreting complex design and construction documents using tools such as AutoCAD, Bluebeam, and/or Visio to support project execution and system improvements.
Strong communication, collaboration, and presentation skills, with the ability to convey technical information clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences.
Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment, demonstrating strong initiative, accountability, and follow-through.
Experience using data analysis, trending, or fault detection tools to identify issues and drive system performance improvements.
Must have working-level knowledge of the English language, including reading, writing, and speaking English.
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).

Nice To Haves

Relevant and extensive on-site work experience with central plants and related mechanical equipment, mechatronics/automation engineering, and/or developing and executing reliability programs for same.
Applicable professional certifications or licenses such as Certified Reliability Engineer (CRE), Certified Maintenance & Reliability Professional (CMRP), Certified Energy Manager (CEM), Professional Engineer (PE), or other relevant credentials.
10+ years of relevant experience in Mechanical Design, MEP Construction Coordination, Facilities Engineering, and/or Project Management within industrial or advanced manufacturing environments.
Experience supporting the mechanical design and/or construction of large-scale facilities, preferably in advanced manufacturing or high-volume production environments (e.g., battery, electronics, automotive, energy storage).
Experience working with specialized environments such as cleanroom and/or dry room systems.
Experience leading or supporting energy efficiency, sustainability, or system optimization initiatives.
Experience managing projects within scope, schedule, and budget, and developing or maintaining Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
Basic understanding of control loop (PID) tuning.

Responsibilities

Support the operation, performance, design, and installation of mechanical facility systems, including HVAC (air and hydronic), exhaust, plumbing, and process/chemical distribution systems and associated controls.
Lead complex troubleshooting and resolution of mechanical system issues using advanced engineering expertise.
Drive innovation in mechanical system applications and improvements across facility infrastructure.
Manage or lead large, complex projects or programs and contribute to project strategy for facility expansions and upgrades related to mechanical equipment, including chillers, cooling towers, boilers, pumps, heat exchangers, compressors, air handling systems, cleanroom and dry room systems, dust collectors, CRAC units, and associated PLC/SCADA systems.
Conduct routine assessments of system performance through field rounds, testing, and data analysis to ensure reliability and functionality.
Leverage the expertise of Facilities personnel to identify and resolve highly complex system performance issues.
Provide strategic technical direction to improve system reliability, efficiency, and performance.
Champion innovation by driving continuous improvement initiatives focused on energy efficiency and IEQ.
Utilize automated fault detection and diagnostic tools to identify performance issues and prevent early equipment failure.
Collaborate with O&M and Production teams to troubleshoot root causes of utility and system performance issues.
Analyze system data and operational trends to recommend and implement optimization strategies.
Train and mentor junior facilities staff on mechanical systems, troubleshooting techniques, and safety practices.
Provide technical leadership across teams by sharing expertise and best practices.
Develop, update, and improve Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), training documentation, and system records.
Support team development by contributing to technical training, knowledge sharing, and process improvement.
Lead cross-functional collaboration with O&M, Production, Engineering, and external stakeholders to ensure reliable facility operations.
Present technical recommendations, system performance insights, and improvement strategies to senior leadership.
Coordinate maintenance activities, shutdowns, and emergency response efforts to minimize disruption to operations.
Build relationships with internal teams, external vendors, and other sites to drive alignment and share best practices.
Support facility design and expansion projects by reviewing system designs, sequences of operations, and controls integration.
Communicate with vendors and service providers to ensure quality execution and performance.
Conduct audits of supplier work to ensure compliance with standards and expectations.
Ensure compliance with company safety policies, environmental regulations, and operational standards.
Promote a safe work environment by enforcing safety procedures and best practices.
Maintain accurate documentation, calibration records, and maintenance logs to support audits and inspections.
Uphold 6S standards by maintaining clean, organized, and hazard-free work areas.
Respond rapidly and effectively to emergency situations, including equipment failures, fire events, or evacuations.

Benefits

Medical, dental, vision, prescription plans
Health Savings Account and Flexible Spending Account options
Life, accident, critical illness, disability, legal, identity theft, and pet insurance
401(k) plan with company matching contributions and immediate vesting
Vacation, holidays, personal days, sick leave, volunteer, and parental & caregiver leave
Tuition reimbursement for job-related courses after six months of service
Lifestyle Spending Account, EAP, virtual health management, chronic condition, neurodiversity, tobacco cessation, substance abuse support, and life stage and fertility resources
High5 employee recognition and awards platform, quarterly and annual employee recognition
Opportunity for an annual performance-based bonus
On-site cafes, plentiful snack and beverage kitchens, revolving on-site vendor visits and employee events