Technology Engineer - Decatur, IL

Archer Daniels Midland

Technology Engineer - Decatur, IL

Job Summary

The role of the E&I Reliability Engineer has evolved into a highly specialized position bridging the gap between field expertise and data science. Acting as a data scientist on the shop floor, the primary goal is not to execute rapid emergency repairs, but rather to design and implement prescriptive strategies that ensure the asset never requires an emergency intervention in the first place.

This role is responsible for the site’s Electrical, Instrumentation, and Packaging equipment reliability. The engineer will apply statistical reliability methods, and root cause analysis to guarantee the optimum availability of the plant's assets, aligning maintenance strategies and total business objectives.

Essential Job Functions

Safety & Electrical Compliance: Support electrical equipment reliability by ensuring the site stays 100% compliant with infrared (IR) scans, required switchgear maintenance and testing, and arc flash studies. Review arc flash studies and help the plant team create proactive hazard remediation plans.
Asset Criticality & Strategy Development: Conduct criticality screening and risk analysis for E&I assets. Utilize Reliability Centered Maintenance (RCM) to develop Equipment Maintenance Strategies (EMS), optimizing Preventive Maintenance programs to ensure the right tasks are performed at the right intervals.
Defect Elimination & RCA: Participate in and lead Root Cause Analysis (RCA) for Electrical, Instrumentation, and Packaging equipment failures using methodologies such as 5 Whys, Ishikawa, and Fault Tree Analysis to eliminate recurrence.
Condition Monitoring & Industry. Help the site create, audit, and upgrade electrical preventative and predictive programs. Transition from basic monitoring to Predictive 4.0 (telemetry, advanced IR, acoustic emission). Monitor and validate anomaly detection models (AI/ML concepts) and IIoT sensor data.
Capital Improvement & Project Integration: Identify E&I and packaging capital improvement projects through failure analysis and bad actor/threat list development. Work with site leadership to prioritize projects based on Life Cycle Costing (Capex vs. Opex). Write and manage AFEs for approved capital improvement projects.
Technical SME & Standardization: Act as the Plant Subject Matter Expert (SME) to ensure Best Practices and the Most Effective Technologies (MET) are proposed during project scope development. Serve as the site Focal Point for high voltage contractors repair and inspections.
Data-Driven Analytics: Review all preventative and predictive data collection reports to provide analytical recommendations for repair or replacement.
Craft Training & Assessment: Help lead skill gap assessments for craftspeople. Build training materials, standards, and training plans for the site's E&I craft technicians to foster a Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) culture.

Job Requirements

Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering, Automation, Mechatronics, or a related field. Additional advanced certifications in Reliability Engineering or Data Analytics are highly desired.
Experience: Proven experience in an industrial manufacturing setting focusing on electrical systems, instrumentation, and automation.
Professional experience with RCM, FMEA/FMECA, and RCA methodologies is mandatory.
Technical Skills (Hard Skills): Proficiency in CMMS (Maximo). Knowledge of IIoT protocols, Big Data extraction. Familiarity with Digital Twins concepts and prescriptive maintenance architectures.
Competencies & Soft Skills:
Systemic Vision: Understanding that maintenance is an integrated part of the supply chain and production, striving for optimal business availability. Bridge Communication:
Change Management: Resilience to foster a proactive reliability culture.
Data-Driven Decision Making: The courage to halt a critical machine if data indicates imminent failure. A constructive skeptic who trusts trends over superficiality.

Working Conditions

Environment: Industrial setting with potential exposure to dust, chemicals, and irritants.
Temperature: Ability to work in inside areas where temperatures may exceed 100°F.
Safety Hazards: Exposure to high-voltage equipment and machinery; strict adherence to LOTO, Arc Flash, and safety protocols.
Physical Mobility: Walking 1–3 hours daily; ability to climb stairs/ladders and perform audits.
Stationary Work: Sit for 5–8 hours for computer-based analysis and dashboard development.

Physical Requirements

Lifting: Must be able to lift up to 25 lbs. from waist to shoulder on an occasional basis.
Mobility: Must be able to walk 1–3 hours daily, including walking long distances across the facility to perform equipment audits.
Postures: Must be able to squat, kneel, and climb stairs/ladders on an occasional basis.
Stationary Work: Must be able to sit for 5–8 hours for computer-based analysis and keyboarding.

Excited about this role but don’t think you meet every requirement listed? We encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this role or another one of our openings.

ADM requires the successful completion of a background check.

REF:113331BR

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