JOB PURPOSE
The Reliability Engineer is responsible for improving equipment reliability, eliminating chronic losses, and stabilizing production assets through engineering-led maintenance strategies. This role sits within the Maintenance Department serves as the technical owner of loss elimination, defining asset reliability strategies and standards to transition the plant from reactive to preventive and predictive maintenance. Working closely with Maintenance and Operations, this position ensures asset strategies and improvements permanently eliminate failure modes impacting Safety, Quality, Production, and Cost. The role focuses on defining and driving reliability strategy and is not responsible for day-to-day maintenance execution.
You’ll be part of a team that believes in doing work that matters – for people and the planet. Because here, we don’t just hire for jobs. We invite you to be part of something bigger.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Reliability & Loss Elimination
- Identify and prioritize chronic losses and bad actor assets using downtime, cost, and defect data
- Lead root cause analysis (RCA) and implement permanent solutions to eliminate repeat failures
- Develop and maintain reliability strategies for critical equipment
- Use data to validate improvements and track results
- Drive prioritization of reliability efforts based on business impact (Safety, Quality, Cost, Delivery)
- Ensure solutions are sustained through standards, PMs, and procedures
Maintenance Strategy & Standards
- Define and optimize maintenance strategies (PM, PdM, run-to-failure) based on failure modes and asset criticality
- Improve PM effectiveness through failure-mode-driven tasks
- Drive continuous improvement of maintenance plans using CMMS data and feedback
- Eliminate non-value-added PMs and improve maintenance efficiency
- Ensure maintenance strategies prevent repeat failures
- Develop SMPs and standards
Plant Floor Engagement & Capability Building
- Work directly on the plant floor to validate failures and root causes
- Coach maintenance and operations teams in RCA and reliability thinking
- Partner with Operations to reduce misuse and avoidable losses
- Support implementation of practical, sustainable improvements
- Support capital projects related to fixed equipment, process improvement, utilities, and facilities
Continuous Improvement & Governance
- Apply structured improvement methodologies (TPM/WCM, focused improvement)
- Embed reliability improvements into daily operations
- Collaborate across Engineering, Maintenance, Quality, and Operations
- Maintain reliability data to support decision-making
Digital & Predictive Capability
- Apply condition monitoring techniques (vibration, thermography, oil analysis)
- Support development of predictive maintenance strategies
- Use data and analytics to improve asset performance
Key Deliverables
- Reduce downtime and improve asset reliability (MTBF / MTTR / BD%, PMs )
- Eliminate chronic failures and bad actors
- Improve effectiveness of maintenance strategies
- Deliver sustained improvements through data
- Increase capability of maintenance and operations teams
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor’s degree in engineering: Mechanical, Chemical, or equivalent
- 5+ years of related experience in FMCG, chemical, oil & gas, pharmaceutical or automotive industry
- Strong understanding of maintenance and reliability fundamentals (breakdown analysis, failure modes, RCA, FMEA, bad-actor analysis)
- Experience using data to drive decisions
- Experience with preventive and predictive maintenance
- Familiarity with CMMS systems
- CAD experience (e.g., SolidWorks, AutoCAD)
- 3D printing or rapid prototyping experience
- Condition monitoring and predictive maintenance experience
- Experience using digital tools or analytics
Pay: The pay range for this position is $88,600 to 133,000. Unilever takes into consideration a wide range of factors that are utilized in making compensation decisions including, but not limited to, skill sets, experience and training, licensure and certifications, qualifications and education, and other business and organizational needs.
Bonus: This position is bonus eligible.
Long-Term Incentive (LTI): This position is LTI eligible.
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At Unilever, inclusion is at the heart of everything we do. We welcome applicants from all walks of life and are committed to creating an environment where everyone can thrive/succeed. All applicants will receive fair and respectful consideration, and we actively support the growth and development of every employee.
Unilever is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Persons with Disabilities.
For more information on your federal rights, please see Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal
Employment is subject to verification of pre-screening tests, which may include drug screening, background check, credit check and DMV check.
If you are an individual with a disability in need of assistance at any time during our recruitment process, please contact us at [email protected]. Please note: This email is reserved for individuals with disabilities in need of assistance and is not a means of inquiry about positions or application statuses. The Protected Veterans or Individuals with Disabilities AAP narratives are available for inspection by any employee or applicant for employment Monday through Friday during normal business hours at establishment.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Chemical, or equivalent engineering
- 5+ years related experience in FMCG, chemical, oil & gas, pharmaceutical, or automotive industry
- Strong understanding of maintenance and reliability fundamentals (breakdown analysis, failure modes, RCA, FMEA, bad-actor analysis)
- Experience using data to drive decisions and track results
- Experience with preventive and predictive maintenance strategies
- Familiarity with CMMS systems
- CAD experience (SolidWorks, AutoCAD)
- 3D printing or rapid prototyping experience
- Condition monitoring experience (vibration, thermography, oil analysis)
- Experience using digital tools or analytics
Unilever Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Unilever and has not been reviewed or approved by Unilever.
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Healthcare Strength — Healthcare coverage is described as comprehensive, spanning medical, dental, vision, life insurance, and occupational health support alongside a 24/7 employee assistance program. Wellbeing offerings such as health checks, resilience tools, and counseling support the perceived depth of health-related benefits.
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Retirement Support — Retirement support includes a 401(k) match that reaches up to 5% of base salary, strengthening the overall value of the package. Share and savings options are also referenced as part of longer-term financial support beyond salary.
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Flexible Benefits — Benefits customization is enabled through tools such as a “My Reward” system and a “Benefits Envelope” that allows employees to personalize selections. Flexible working approaches are also associated with improved overall satisfaction, reinforcing perceived choice and adaptability in the total rewards offering.
Unilever Insights
What We Do
Be part of the world’s most successful, purpose-led business. Work with brands that are well-loved around the world, that improve the lives of our consumers and the communities around us. We promote innovation, big and small, to make our business win and grow; and we believe in business as a force for good. Unleash your curiosity, challenge ideas and disrupt processes; use your energy to make this happen. Our brilliant business leaders and colleagues provide mentorship and inspiration, so you can be at your best. Our portfolio ranges from nutritionally balanced foods to indulgent ice creams, affordable soaps, luxurious shampoos and everyday household care products. We produce world-leading brands including Lipton, Knorr, Dove, Axe, Hellmann’s and Omo, alongside trusted local names and innovative-forward thinking brands like Ben & Jerry’s, The Dollar Shave Club and Dermalogica. Every individual here can bring their purpose to life through their work. Join us and you’ll be surrounded by inspiring leaders and supportive peers. Among them, you’ll channel your purpose, bring fresh ideas to the table, and simply be you. As you work to make a real impact on the business and the world, we’ll work to help you become a better you.
