Reliability Engineer / Reliability Consultant

Job Description

Job Description

Location: Nationwide (Weekly Travel Required)
Engagement Type: 1099 Independent Consultant

Implementation Engineers is seeking an experienced Reliability Consultant with deep expertise in asset performance, maintenance excellence, and organizational transformation to join our Asset Performance Excellence Practice. This high-impact consulting role is designed for professionals who have successfully led reliability improvement initiatives in complex manufacturing, industrial, and regulated environments where downtime is not an option.

The ideal candidate combines advanced technical reliability expertise with strong consulting, facilitation, and change management capabilities. They have hands-on experience leading Reliability-Centered Maintenance (RCM), Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA/FMECA), and advanced Root Cause Analysis (RCA) initiatives while partnering with stakeholders across all levels of the organization, from frontline operations teams to executive leadership.

Success in this role requires the ability to influence organizational behavior, facilitate cross-functional problem solving, and drive sustainable operational improvements that enhance asset performance, reliability, and business results. The successful candidate will serve as both a technical expert and trusted advisor, helping clients implement proven reliability methodologies that create lasting organizational impact.

Responsibilities:

• Lead Reliability-Centered Maintenance (RCM) initiatives across complex manufacturing and industrial environments.
• Facilitate Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA) and Failure Modes, Effects, and Criticality Analysis (FMECA) workshops.
• Conduct advanced Root Cause Analysis (RCA) using structured methodologies such as Apollo, Cause & Effect Analysis, Fault Tree Analysis, and similar approaches.
• Lead criticality assessments and asset performance improvement initiatives to eliminate recurring failures.
• Develop and implement Predictive Maintenance (PdM), Preventive Maintenance (PM), and Condition-Based Maintenance (CBM) strategies.
• Analyze equipment reliability and failure trends using CMMS platforms, historian systems, and reliability modeling tools.
• Support equipment acquisitions and capital projects from a reliability engineering perspective.
• Develop and monitor key performance metrics, including MTBF, MTTR, OEE, and asset availability.
• Facilitate cross-functional teams through reliability, maintenance, and operational improvement initiatives.
• Partner directly with client leadership teams to drive sustainable organizational change and operational excellence.

Requirements:

• ASQ Certified Reliability Engineer (CRE) certification strongly preferred. Candidates demonstrating equivalent reliability engineering expertise and progressing toward CRE certification will also be considered.
• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Industrial Engineering, or a related discipline. Advanced degrees are a plus.
• 10+ years of hands-on reliability engineering, asset management, maintenance excellence, or operational reliability experience.
• Demonstrated expertise in:
  • Reliability-Centered Maintenance (RCM)
  • Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA)
  • Failure Modes, Effects, and Criticality Analysis (FMECA)
  • Advanced Root Cause Analysis (RCA)
• Experience facilitating reliability workshops and guiding cross-functional teams through structured problem-solving methodologies.
• Deep working knowledge of CMMS platforms such as SAP, Maximo, Infor, or equivalent systems.
• Familiarity with predictive technologies including vibration analysis, thermography, ultrasound, and oil analysis.
• Strong understanding of Lean, Six Sigma, TPM, and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Previous consulting experience strongly preferred.
• Experience leading organizational change, stakeholder alignment, and sustainable business transformation efforts.
• Formal facilitation training or certifications related to reliability engineering methodologies are highly preferred.
• Proven ability to influence operators, maintenance teams, engineers, and executive stakeholders through effective facilitation and coaching.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Certified Maintenance & Reliability Professional (CMRP)
• Experience supporting Tier 1 or Tier 2 defense contractors.
• Experience within aerospace, defense, military, government, oil and gas, or other highly regulated industries.
• Experience working within mission-critical manufacturing environments where asset reliability directly impacts operational performance.