Equipment Specialist II

Equipment Specialist II

Join us at Panasonic Energy as we expand to De Soto, Kansas, where we're building the world's largest lithium-ion battery factory. This is an exciting opportunity to grow your career while contributing to the future of electric vehicles. As part of our team, you'll help push the limits of battery technology, enhancing performance and efficiency in sustainable transportation. Our state-of-the-art facility, just outside the Kansas City Metro, will be a hub for innovation in green energy solutions.

If you're passionate about sustainability and eager to contribute to the electric vehicle revolution, we invite you to be part of our dynamic team. Join us and make a meaningful impact on the future of energy and transportation.

The Equipment Specialist II is a fully proficient technical specialist responsible for improving equipment reliability, reducing defects, increasing productivity, and supporting safe manufacturing operations through advanced troubleshooting, root cause analysis, and continuous improvement activities. This role independently diagnoses and resolves complex equipment issues, implements corrective and preventive actions, and provides technical support across multiple manufacturing processes and equipment platforms. Working closely with production, maintenance, quality, and engineering teams, the Equipment Specialist II utilizes mechanical expertise, controls knowledge, and data analysis to drive equipment performance and operational excellence.

The position serves as a key technical resource and mentor to developing team members while supporting the execution of engineering and process improvement initiatives.

Essential Duties:

• Functional Operations:
  Independently troubleshoot, repair, and maintain manufacturing equipment with minimal supervision
• Demonstrate advanced understanding of assigned production equipment, machine functions, and manufacturing processes
• Recover equipment following failures, repairs, upgrades, and improvement activities and verify operational readiness
• Diagnose and resolve complex mechanical, pneumatic, hydraulic, and basic electrical system issues
• Utilize machine knowledge to identify mechanisms contributing to defects, alarms, downtime, and performance losses
• Install, test, and validate equipment improvements, modifications, and engineering changes
• Interpret mechanical and electrical drawings to support troubleshooting, maintenance, and equipment modifications
• Maintain complete and accurate documentation of troubleshooting activities, repairs, equipment modifications, and project work
• Performance Optimization & Continuous Improvement:
  Lead PDCA-based problem-solving activities and root cause investigations
• Perform root cause analysis and develop both immediate countermeasures and permanent corrective actions
• Analyze equipment, process, and production data to identify trends, correlations, and improvement opportunities
• Utilize tools such as Excel, Tableau, JMP, MES, or equivalent systems to support decision-making and issue resolution
• Drive initiatives focused on defect reduction, downtime reduction, equipment reliability, and productivity improvement
• Identify and prioritize equipment performance issues and develop action plans to address recurring problems
• Support engineering teams in validating equipment performance, process improvements, and technical solutions
• Training & Team Support:
  Provide technical guidance and support to Equipment Specialist I team members and other operational personnel
• Demonstrate and teach proper troubleshooting methods, equipment recovery procedures, and precision measurement techniques
• Assist with onboarding, technical training, certifications, and skill development activities
• Share best practices, lessons learned, and technical knowledge across shifts and teams
• Provide accurate and comprehensive shift pass-downs and communicate equipment status effectively
• Cross-Functional Collaboration & Communication:
  Collaborate with production, maintenance, engineering, quality, and operational leadership to coordinate equipment-related activities
• Communicate technical findings, equipment risks, and recommended actions to stakeholders
• Support planning and execution of equipment outages, upgrades, and improvement projects
• Coordinate work activities across multiple groups to ensure timely completion of corrective actions
• Build effective working relationships and serve as a trusted technical resource within the organization
• Quality, Safety, & Compliance:
  Follow all company, departmental, environmental, quality, and safety policies and procedures
• Ensure all equipment work is completed in accordance with established standards, specifications, and documentation requirements
• Support investigations related to quality issues and equipment-related defects
• Identify and address safety risks associated with equipment operation and maintenance activities
• Maintain a safe, clean, and organized work environment while promoting safe work practices
• Comply with lockout/tagout…