Plant Electrical Reliability Engineering

Job Title: Electrical Reliability Engineer

The Electrical Reliability Engineer supports the Maintenance and Reliability organization at a chemical manufacturing plant by leading electrical reliability projects, applying reliability engineering principles, and performing statistical data analysis. This fast-paced role thrives in a dynamic team environment and focuses on improving the performance, safety, and longevity of electrical equipment and control systems across the facility.

Oversee preventive and predictive maintenance programs for electrical equipment and control systems to ensure safe and reliable operation.

Provide electrical oversight for activities generated by the Management of Change process, ensuring compliance with plant standards and safety requirements.

Support capital projects from the design phase through startup, providing electrical reliability input and technical guidance.

Identify and utilize preferred equipment manufacturers, specialists, and consultants to optimize equipment performance and reliability.

Inspect new and repaired electrical equipment and recommend appropriate spare parts to support long-term maintenance strategies.

Provide technical assistance to hourly E&I technicians and contractors, offering troubleshooting support and guidance on complex electrical issues.

Offer guidance on new electrical equipment technologies, plant electrical standards, and updates to drawings and documentation.

Develop and implement reliability and maintenance procedures for electrical equipment to standardize best practices across the plant.

Prepare reliability control plans for critical electrical equipment, including preventive maintenance, predictive maintenance, operator monitoring, critical repairs, and spare parts bills of materials quality assurance.

Analyze equipment failures, recommend corrective actions, and drive implementation of solutions to prevent recurrence.

Lead Root Cause Failure Analysis (RCFA) teams and apply lean principles to improve work processes and eliminate waste.

Participate in reliability-focused Failure Modes and Effects Analyses (FMEA) teams where appropriate to identify and mitigate risk.

Develop and implement reliability control plans for electrical systems as part of an ongoing asset risk management initiative.

Lead troubleshooting of electrical equipment performance issues as requested or required, ensuring timely resolution.

Actively participate in plant safety programs and maintain a strong working knowledge of Process Safety Management, OSHA requirements, and other applicable safety standards.

At least 5 years of experience as a reliability engineer, with a focus on electrical systems.

Bachelors degree in electrical engineering or a closely related field.

Hands-on experience in electrical reliability, including low and medium voltage electrical distribution equipment, variable frequency drives (VFDs), motors, and motor control systems.

Knowledge of electrical design, equipment selection, repair techniques, and performance assessment for industrial electrical systems.

Knowledgeable in repair and troubleshooting techniques for electrical and instrumentation equipment.

Experience in chemical or petrochemical plant maintenance and/or reliability engineering.

Familiarity with predictive technologies such as infrared inspections, testing history, and diagnostic software or systems.

Experience using SAP, Meridium, or similar work management and reliability data collection and analysis systems.

Working knowledge of the National Electrical Code, NFPA 70E, and ISA standards.

Familiarity with safety procedures and requirements in hazardous chemical environments.

Strong organizational, leadership, and influencing skills to drive reliability initiatives and process improvements.

Demonstrated ability to incorporate safety into the foundation of all work activities.

Demonstrated ability to generate and implement work process improvements in maintenance and reliability.

Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced industrial setting.

Familiarity with Lean and Six Sigma tools for business process improvement.

Demonstrated ability to be highly motivated and self-directed, working effectively with limited daily supervision.

Proficiency with Microsoft Office tools, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

Experience working with a wide range of electrical hardware and reading and interpreting electrical schematics.

Experience in maintenance electrical and maintenance engineering within industrial environments.

Demonstrated ability to work effectively with individuals at all levels of an organization, including engineering, operations, and maintenance teams.

Comfort working with both older legacy equipment and modern, top-of-the-line electrical and instrumentation systems.

This role is based in an industrial chemical manufacturing plant environment and is part of a small, dedicated team of approximately 10 engineers. The Electrical Reliability Engineer will help oversee and direct E&I technicians while working on a broad range of equipment, including more than 27,000 unique instruments. The environment includes both older equipment and new, advanced technologies, providing exposure to a wide variety of electrical systems and reliability challenges. Work may occur in various weather conditions within the industrial facility, and the role requires adherence to established safety procedures, process safety management practices, and electrical safety standards.

This is a Permanent position based out of Hopewell, VA.

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.

This is a Permanent position based out of Hopewell, VA.

Application Deadline

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.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 without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email View email address on click.appcast.io 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 applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.