Reliability Engineer

Job Title: Reliability Engineer

Job Description

This role focuses on reliability engineering and analysis, where you will lead root cause analysis for equipment and process failures, analyze performance data, and develop engineering improvements. You will work closely with maintenance and production teams to ensure sustainable solutions.

Responsibilities

• Lead root cause analysis (RCA) for equipment and process failures using structured problem-solving tools such as 5 Whys, Fishbone, and FMEA.
• Analyze equipment performance data and failure trends to identify systemic reliability issues and recommend solutions.
• Develop and implement engineering improvements to enhance equipment reliability, performance, and lifecycle.
• Partner with Maintenance and Production teams to validate failure modes and ensure sustainable solutions are implemented.
• Provide engineering support for troubleshooting complex mechanical issues across production systems including conveyors, ovens, pumps, and continuous process equipment.
• Identify and implement design improvements or modifications to existing equipment to improve safety, quality, and efficiency.
• Design and develop mechanical components, guards, and equipment modifications using CAD tools (AutoCAD / Inventor).
• Create detailed fabrication drawings and specifications for internal use or external vendors.
• Coordinate with vendors and fabrication shops to ensure designs meet functional, safety, and manufacturability requirements.
• Support installation and validation of fabricated components to ensure proper fit, function, and performance.
• Support and/or lead capital improvement projects, including scope definition, equipment specification, installation support, and commissioning.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on reducing downtime, improving throughput, and enhancing process stability.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to implement equipment and process enhancements.
• Ensure all engineering solutions comply with OSHA, environmental, and company safety standards.
• Develop and maintain technical documentation including equipment specifications, engineering standards, and modification records.
• Support development and improvement of standard operating procedures (SOPs) related to equipment and process performance.

Essential Skills

• Project management
• Mechanical engineering
• Lean manufacturing
• Manufacturing engineering
• Experience managing projects over $5,000
• Continuous improvement in a manufacturing setting
• Strong mechanical background
• Ability to work cross-divisionally and coordinate with different teams
• Reliability engineering
• Industrial engineering
• Process improvement

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt preferred but not required

Work Environment

The position is onsite, Monday to Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM, with flexible hours. You may be called approximately once a month to handle any issues after hours and will participate in a rotating Saturday schedule every 5-6 weeks, with flexible compensatory time offered. This is an opportunity to help build and formalize a new team, shaping protocols for manufacturing reliability and continuous improvement. The company values its team with a history of low turnover, maintaining operations for 35 years without layoffs.

Interested in learning more? Schedule a meeting with Recruiter, Vicky Glass, using this link: https://talentassistant.actalentservices.com/assistant/bookings/qGY4OVBM

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Chesapeake, VA.

The pay range for this position is $40.00 - $50.00/hr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: • Medical, dental & vision • Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital • 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available • Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) • Short and long-term disability • Health Spending Account (HSA) • Transportation benefits • Employee Assistance Program • Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

This is a fully onsite position in Chesapeake,VA.

This position is anticipated to close on Sep 25, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications withoutregard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability,sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protectedby law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification oradjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability,please email for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance:Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in thecity and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicantswith arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector:It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as acondition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this lawshall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI):We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process,including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applicationsand qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, youacknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.