Maintenance Engineer

Location: Baton Rouge, LA
Employment Type: Full-Time, Direct Hire
Industry: Chemical / Petrochemical Manufacturing

Position Overview

We are seeking a Maintenance Engineer to support the reliability, performance, and ongoing maintenance of equipment at an established industrial manufacturing facility in the Baton Rouge area.

This position will work closely with plant operations, maintenance technicians, and engineering personnel to troubleshoot equipment issues, improve mechanical reliability, and support maintenance programs that keep production running safely and efficiently.

The ideal candidate will have a strong mechanical engineering background, practical experience with industrial equipment, and the ability to identify and resolve problems directly in a plant environment.

This is a hands-on, plant-based engineering role. Candidates should be comfortable working directly with maintenance personnel, evaluating equipment in the field, and providing technical solutions to mechanical and operational challenges.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide technical support for maintenance and reliability activities throughout the manufacturing facility.

• Troubleshoot mechanical equipment failures and recurring performance issues to identify effective, long-term solutions.

• Evaluate the condition and performance of rotating equipment, including pumps, compressors, turbines, and other industrial machinery.

• Support maintenance activities involving fixed equipment, heat exchangers, and associated mechanical systems.

• Develop, implement, and improve preventive and predictive maintenance programs to increase equipment availability and reduce unplanned downtime.

• Utilize equipment performance data, maintenance records, and operating trends to identify reliability concerns and prioritize corrective actions.

• Lead or participate in root cause failure investigations and develop recommendations to prevent recurring equipment problems.

• Establish and monitor equipment reliability metrics to measure maintenance effectiveness and identify opportunities for improvement.

• Support maintenance planning and scheduling activities, including work order reviews, equipment repair strategies, and maintenance prioritization.

• Work directly with maintenance technicians and contractors to coordinate repairs, equipment inspections, and mechanical maintenance activities.

• Apply condition-monitoring techniques such as vibration analysis, lubrication assessments, thermal imaging, and other predictive maintenance methods.

• Provide engineering support for equipment overhauls, major repairs, and planned maintenance outages.

• Manage smaller capital improvement projects and provide maintenance input during the planning and installation of new equipment.

• Develop maintenance procedures and equipment care strategies for newly installed or modified plant assets.

• Review operating information and maintenance reports to identify equipment issues requiring immediate or planned attention.

• Collaborate with operations and engineering teams to improve equipment reliability, maintenance efficiency, and overall plant performance.

• Participate in process safety reviews, equipment risk assessments, and continuous improvement initiatives.

• Ensure maintenance activities and contractor work comply with applicable safety, environmental, and regulatory requirements.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering from an accredited four-year college or university.

• Minimum of 2-3 years of relevant maintenance or reliability engineering experience in an industrial manufacturing environment. Candidates with 7+ years of experience are strongly encouraged to apply.

• Experience working with mechanical equipment in a chemical, petrochemical, refining, or comparable heavy industrial facility.

• Strong understanding of rotating equipment, mechanical systems, and industrial maintenance practices.

• Experience troubleshooting equipment failures and identifying root causes of mechanical problems.

• Familiarity with preventive maintenance programs, maintenance planning, and equipment reliability improvement.

• Working knowledge of industrial maintenance practices and applicable mechanical engineering standards.

• Ability to interpret technical information, evaluate equipment performance, and recommend practical solutions.

• Basic understanding of electrical and instrumentation systems as they relate to mechanical equipment operation.

• Strong organizational and communication skills with the ability to coordinate maintenance activities across multiple departments.

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and computerized maintenance or equipment management systems.

• Must possess an active Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC).

• Must currently reside within commuting distance of Baton Rouge, LA. Relocation assistance is not available.

Preferred Qualifications

• 7+ years of maintenance and reliability engineering experience within chemical processing, petrochemical, or refinery operations.

• Experience with SAP or a comparable computerized maintenance management system (CMMS).

• Formal training in Root Cause Failure Analysis (RCFA).

• Knowledge of API, ASME, and ANSI standards applicable to industrial equipment.

• Experience with vibration monitoring, lubrication programs, thermal imaging, and other equipment condition-monitoring technologies.

• Experience supporting plant shutdowns, turnarounds, equipment overhauls, or major maintenance projects.

• Familiarity with process safety management and industrial environmental compliance requirements.

• Professional Engineer (PE) license.

• Experience coordinating outside contractors and providing technical guidance to maintenance teams.

Work Environment

This position is based at an operating industrial manufacturing facility and requires regular interaction with plant equipment, maintenance personnel, and production operations.

The successful candidate must be comfortable working in an active industrial environment and responding to mechanical maintenance needs as they arise.

The role requires a combination of technical engineering knowledge, field troubleshooting, project coordination, and collaboration with plant personnel.

Ideal Candidate

We're looking for a mechanically strong engineer who enjoys solving equipment problems and improving the reliability of industrial operations.

The right individual will be able to evaluate mechanical failures, explain the reasoning behind recommended repairs, and work directly with maintenance teams to implement effective solutions.

Candidates should be prepared to discuss specific examples of mechanical troubleshooting, equipment reliability improvements, maintenance projects, and technical challenges they have personally worked through.

Engineers with practical experience in chemical plants, refineries, petrochemical facilities, and other heavy industrial manufacturing environments are encouraged to apply.

Ref: #209-Rowland Houston