Reliability Engineer

Reliability Engineer - 649960
Location: Lafayette, IN
Pay Range: $45/hr - $50/hr DOE
Work Hours: 1st Shift - Core hours onsite (Overtime as required)
Type of Employment: Contract to Hire (6 months)
Benefits: Competitive Benefits Package upon conversion to direct hire
The Planet Group is currently seeking a Reliability Engineer for a growing company supporting the manufacturing industry in Lafayette, Indiana.

The Reliability Engineer will be responsible for leading reliability improvements for CNC machining centers and manufacturing assets to enhance equipment availability, overall equipment effectiveness (OEE), and process capability. This position will work onsite at a manufacturing facility and partner closely with Maintenance, Manufacturing Engineering, Operations, and OEM teams to identify equipment issues, eliminate recurring failures, and implement long-term corrective actions.

Key responsibilities include:

• Analyze equipment downtime data to identify recurring failures and reliability improvement opportunities.
• Lead root cause analysis (RCCA) investigations and implement permanent corrective actions.
• Evaluate preventive maintenance programs against actual equipment failure trends and recommend improvements.
• Develop data-driven recommendations for PM optimization, frequency adjustments, and new maintenance strategies.
• Track and improve key reliability metrics including:
  • Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF)
  • Mean Time To Repair (MTTR)
  • Machine availability
  • PM compliance
• Support predictive maintenance initiatives including vibration analysis, lubrication monitoring, and thermal inspections.
• Improve machine uptime and production reliability through structured reliability methods.
• Partner with maintenance teams, operators, and engineering groups to improve equipment performance.
• Develop clear reports and one-page summaries outlining failures, findings, and recommended solutions.
• Support Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) activities and operator care programs.
• Manage critical spare parts and equipment obsolescence strategies.
• Assist with reliability considerations for new equipment design and commissioning.
• Coach operators and technicians on equipment care, defect identification, and reliability practices.

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, Manufacturing, Industrial)
  and/or 10+ years of relevant manufacturing reliability experience.
• Experience supporting CNC machining centers and manufacturing equipment maintenance operations.
• Strong background in:
  • Reliability engineering
  • Preventive maintenance optimization
  • Root Cause Analysis (RCCA)
  • Equipment troubleshooting
  • Maintenance improvement initiatives
• Experience analyzing maintenance data and developing actionable recommendations.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office 365, Excel, and Power BI.
• Experience with CMMS systems and maintenance data analytics.
• Ability to work onsite in a manufacturing environment.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to collaborate with maintenance, engineering, and production teams.

• Black Belt Certification (Lean/Six Sigma).
• Experience with Total Productive Maintenance (TPM).
• Experience with Llumin CMMS+ or similar maintenance management systems.
• Project management experience.
• New Capital Introduction (NCI) experience.
• Hands-on CNC machining experience, including:
  • Machine setup
  • Operation
  • Programming
  • Technician/operator coaching

The Planet Group is a global professional services firm delivering strategic staffing and advisory solutions. We operate at the intersection of talent and transformation - connecting the right people with the right opportunities. Named one of the fastest-growing private companies in the US, The Planet Group operates with a global reach and a performance-first mindset. We partner with clients to move fast, stay agile, and drive measurable results - building high-impact teams that fuel transformation and growth.

The Planet Group is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.

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