Reliability Engineer

POSITION OVERVIEW 

Ascend Performance Materials is a global leader in high-performance chemicals, fibers and plastics, committed to enhancing quality of life through innovation. With fully integrated manufacturing facilities across North America, Europe, and Asia, we develop essential solutions that drive safer vehicles, cleaner energy, advanced medical devices, and durable consumer goods. Guided by a strong focus on safety, sustainability, and customer success, we operate responsibly while delivering value through cutting-edge technologies and industry expertise. Join our team and be part of a collaborative environment where your work drives meaningful global impact.

TARGETED OUTCOMES

The Reliability Engineer drives mechanical asset availability for their assigned production unit and forecasts capital and maintenance needs to reduce risks to production OEE and maintenance budget. 

The primary role of the Reliability Engineer is to ensure the availability and inability of mechanical assets to meet the unit’s production goals.

Additionally, the Reliability Engineer supports both Capital and Expense projects to ensure design is both reliable and maintainable. Our goals and KPI’s include outstanding safety performance, continuous improvement of both Technical and Behavioral skills through training and certification courses, absolute environmental compliance, zero unplanned equipment down time, consistent product quality, proper design and documentation of the asset care plans and use of Six-Sigma tools to continually improve maintenance, reliability and production.  They also drive performance to the levels which we believe are our “Entitlement” using Ascend to Excellence (A2E) behaviors, tools and skills and support the Ascend Core Values in every aspect of the job.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES  

Leadership 

• Demonstrates leadership in driving Ascend’s Zero-incident safety culture. 
• Implement established maintenance and reliability strategies. 
• Identify needed maintenance technician training and procedure development. 
• Identify and implement Cost Improvement and Cost Avoidance opportunities.

Processes 

• Respond to equipment failures and ensure that the daily production goals are achieved. 
• Support maintenance and capital replacements, repairs, and overhauls to mechanical equipment assets, including rotating & stationary equipment. 
• Write maintenance procedures, job plans and repair plans. 
• Document equipment failure history and costs using SAP and OEE data. 
• Perform routine mechanical equipment troubleshooting. 
• Perform repair vs. replacement analysis on equipment. 
• Perform equipment root cause failure analysis. 
• Scope out and implement equipment replacement and upgrade projects. 
• Perform Asset Management duties for equipment including maintaining files and database for equipment data, ensure standardization of equipment and standards for equipment, and organize and manage spare inventories as part of the overall asset care strategy for the assets 
• Coordinate proactive fixes from Condition Monitoring findings with operations and maintenance personnel. 

TEAM 

• Reports To: Mechanical Reliability Manager 

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE 

• Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering 
• 0-3 plus years experience. 
• Prior Chemical, Plastics or Refining industry experience preferred. 
• Rotating and Fixed Equipment trouble shooting and specification. 
• Experience with modeling tools such as Fathom, Compress, Aspen or Solidworks. 

REQUIRED SKILLS 

• Excellent communication skills, both written and oral. 
• Self-motivated, well organized, and possess strong interpersonal skills. 
• Willingness to perform “hands on” field work, including testing and troubleshooting. 
• Knowledgeable with respect to Microsoft Outlook, Excel and PowerPoint software programs. 
• Must have excellent time management skills and be able to multi-task effectively. 
• Ability to travel (typically <5%). 
• Successful completion of the Fundamentals of Engineering exam.  
• Professional engineering registration preferred but not required. 
• CMRP, Vibration Analysis Lev 1, Pump and Mechanical Seal Training Courses, API Certs 
• Knowledge of MI section of PSM Compliance 

At Ascend Performance Materials, we value transparency and fairness in our hiring process. We do not accept unsolicited resumes from third-party recruiters, search firms, or staffing agencies. Any resumes received from such entities will be considered the property of Ascend Performance Materials, and we will not be obligated to pay any fees for such submissions. Our Talent Acquisition Team actively engages with preferred recruitment partners who have established agreements with us. We encourage all interested candidates to apply directly through our official channels to be considered for any open positions.

Skills Summary:

About Us:

Ascend Performance Materials is the premium provider of high quality chemicals, fibers and plastics. With world scale integrated manufacturing facilities we are able to develop new products from our core technologies, and provide flexibility to respond to the expanding needs of customers. Ascend has global sales and distribution facilities across the globe and six manufacturing facilities globally. As a privately-held company, our people do big things and make big decisions, often much earlier in their careers than at larger companies. Ascend Performance Materials offers team members the opportunity to contribute in big, meaningful ways—all within a stable and growing business.

Why work at Ascend?

Our vision is to be the recognized leader in the nylon 6,6 value chain, creating new possibilities with PA66 for everyone, everywhere, every day. We achieve that through living our Ascend values.

We care. We operate safely with high integrity for our employees, our customers and our communities. Our people are our greatest assets, and our Total Rewards Program extends beyond traditional benefits to include access to on-site medical clinics at our U.S. facilities, a global wellness rewards program and Performance Matters, an employee-driven recognition plan. Our Commitment to Zero demonstrates our belief that is it possible to operate with zero personal injuries, zero process safety incidents and zero environmental releases. And the Ascend Cares Foundation, led by Ascend employees, supports Ascend families in times of need, provides inspiring opportunities ​​for community engagement and facilitates community leadership.

Customer-focused. We exist for our customers; they drive our actions. Their success is our success. Our plastics and chemicals are building blocks that help make everyday essentials safer and more sustainable, and we constantly strive to develop new and innovative products to meet the future needs of our customers. And that customer focus doesn’t only apply to the marketplace – it also applies to how we treat our colleagues and our fellow community members.

Better every day. We invest in our people and our processes to improve every day. A2E, our continuous improvement program, guides the way we do business. And this way of problem solving applies not only to our manufacturing practices but also to our commitment to developing our people. You’ll see it during your career at Ascend in our leadership development, skills training and mentoring programs

Agile. We think broadly and lead proactively in a constantly evolving organization and industry. Agility doesn’t mean simply working quickly – it means critical thinking, creative problem solving and novel approaches to everyday challenges.

One Ascend. All together, with a common set of goals and an eye toward the future. We don’t accept silos. We look for ways to share across departments, sites and geography. This means you won’t be boxed into a single role at Ascend – you could get the chance to work with teams across the globe to improve the way we serve our people, our customers and our communities.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, protected veteran status, citizenship, genetic information or other protected status under federal, state or local laws.