Instrumentation & Electrical Reliability Lead

Job Description

Job Description

SUMMARY

Our client is seeking an Instrumentation & Electrical Reliability Engineer to support the safe, reliable, and efficient operation of a large continuous-process chemical manufacturing facility. This position is being created due to a recent retirement and represents a critical technical leadership role within the site. The successful candidate will serve as the primary instrumentation and electrical subject-matter expert, providing day-to-day troubleshooting support, driving reliability improvements, and leading instrumentation and power system initiatives across the facility.

While the role maintains responsibility for the site's electrical distribution and power systems, the preference is for a candidate with a strong background in instrumentation, controls, and process automation. This individual will also serve as the primary technical liaison with the local utility provider and collaborate closely with operations, maintenance, engineering, and capital project teams to ensure long-term asset reliability and operational excellence.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide technical support for instrumentation, controls, and electrical power distribution systems to ensure safe and reliable plant operations.
• Lead troubleshooting efforts involving instrumentation, electrical equipment, and control systems to minimize downtime and improve performance.
• Participate in Process Safety Management (PSM) activities, hazard reviews, and risk assessments.
• Support Management of Change (MOC) activities, including documentation updates, programming validation, training, and implementation.
• Review engineering design packages and capital project documentation to ensure compliance with engineering standards and project requirements.
• Develop and execute reliability improvement initiatives for instrumentation and electrical assets.
• Maintain critical equipment lists and ensure compliance with site reliability and regulatory requirements.
• Conduct Root Cause Failure Analysis (RCFA) investigations and implement sustainable corrective actions.
• Manage and enhance preventive maintenance programs for electrical distribution and instrumentation systems.
• Develop and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) related to equipment reliability and maintenance effectiveness.
• Support Site Acceptance Testing (SAT), commissioning, and startup activities for capital projects.
• Maintain electrical and instrumentation documentation, including single-line diagrams, wiring diagrams, schematics, and equipment records.
• Provide technical expertise for power distribution systems, MCCs, VFDs, motors, transformers, substations, UPS systems, and field instrumentation.
• Coordinate activities with contractors, engineering firms, utility providers, and internal stakeholders during maintenance and project execution.
• Partner with operations and maintenance teams to identify opportunities for continuous improvement and long-term asset reliability.

REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering required.
• Minimum of 4+ years of experience in Instrumentation, Electrical, or I&E Reliability Engineering within a manufacturing environment.
• Experience in chemical, petrochemical, refining, polymer, or other continuous-process manufacturing environments strongly preferred.
• Strong understanding of electrical power distribution systems, instrumentation, process controls, and reliability engineering methodologies.
• Experience with PLCs, control systems, interlocks, and Safety Instrumented Systems (SIS).
• Working knowledge of applicable industry standards including ANSI, ISA, IEC, API, NFPA, and NEC.
• Familiarity with IEC 61511, functional safety concepts, and Safety Instrumented Systems preferred.
• Experience supporting capital projects from design through startup and commissioning.
• Ability to interpret P&IDs, PFDs, instrumentation loop drawings, and electrical schematics.
• Experience performing Root Cause Failure Analysis (RCFA) and implementing reliability improvements.
• Formal NFPA 70E training preferred.
• EIT or Professional Engineer (PE) certification is a plus.
• Strong communication, project management, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities and thrive in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.