Pave Talent · 2 weeks ago
Equipment Reliability Engineer - Food Manufacturing
Frederick, MD
Full-time
Onsite
Senior Level
$110K/yr - $130K/yr
5+ years expPave Talent is partnering with an established mid-size food manufacturer in Frederick, MD to find an Equipment Reliability Specialist who will play a pivotal role in transforming reactive maintenance into a structured reliability-centered program. In this role, you will lead root cause failure analysis, optimize preventive maintenance programs, and drive uptime improvements across automated production lines.
Professional ServicesRecruitingStaffing Agency
Responsibilities
Lead root cause failure analysis on equipment failures—from conveyors to mixers to ovens—identifying systemic issues and implementing permanent solutions rather than quick fixes
Optimize preventive maintenance programs by conducting FMEA assessments, comparing current PM schedules against failure data, and building a maintenance strategy that actually prevents breakdowns
Collaborate with the maintenance planner to restructure the CMMS hierarchy, ensuring accurate equipment documentation and enabling data-driven maintenance decisions
Partner with OEMs to retrofit problematic equipment, evaluate new technology solutions, and drive continuous improvement projects like converting friction-drive conveyors to direct-drive systems
Mentor maintenance technicians during critical shutdown periods, building their troubleshooting capabilities and fostering a culture of proactive maintenance
Drive uptime improvements by systematically addressing the root causes of chronic downtime events—your success will be measured by how consistently your lines run without interruption
Qualification
Required
5+ years of hands-on experience in industrial maintenance or reliability engineering within manufacturing environments
Proven ability to troubleshoot mechanical, electrical, pneumatic, or hydraulic systems in production settings
Experience conducting root cause analysis and implementing corrective actions that stick
Comfort working with CMMS systems to document maintenance activities and analyze failure patterns
Strong problem-solving mindset with the ability to work independently and as part of a collaborative team
Preferred
Food or beverage manufacturing experience (GMP, SQF, HACCP familiarity is a plus)
FMEA methodology experience and preventive maintenance program development
CMRP (Certified Maintenance & Reliability Professional) or CRL (Certified Reliability Leader) certifications
Familiarity with Upkeep, Maximo, or similar CMMS platforms
Technical degree in engineering, industrial maintenance, or related field (though equivalent hands-on experience is equally valued)
High-Paying On-Call System: For those interested in additional income, there's a well-compensated on-call program ($400 for 1-4 hours, $1,000 for 4-8 hours) for experienced troubleshooters who can resolve complex issues during off-hours
Benefits
Competitive base salary + 10% annual performance bonus
Health and dental benefits starting after 30 days
401(k) matching
Paid time off
Company
Pave Talent
Pave Talent offers recruiting and staffing services, matching companies with direct-hire candidates across multiple industries.
11-50 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Early StageLeadership Team
Jeff Brown
Founder & CEO
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