Reliability Engineer II
Strattec Security · Milwaukee, WI
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SUMMARY
The Reliability Engineer at STRATTEC Corporation is responsible for improving the performance, safety, and longevity of critical manufacturing equipment by applying engineering principles, data analysis, and proactive maintenance strategies. This role serves as a technical expert focused on identifying failure modes, eliminating chronic downtime issues, optimizing preventive and predictive maintenance programs, and driving long‑term equipment reliability improvements across the plant.
Working closely with Maintenance, Engineering, Production, and the Maintenance Planner/Scheduler, the Reliability Engineer ensures STRATTEC’s manufacturing processes operate at peak efficiency and support high‑quality, high‑volume production. This position plays a central role in strengthening Total Productive Maintenance (TPM), advancing condition-based monitoring technologies, and building a data-driven reliability culture that reduces unplanned downtime, lowers maintenance costs, and improves asset performance.
Reliability Engineering & Root Cause Analysis
- · Lead root cause analysis (RCA), failure investigations, and corrective action development for recurring equipment issues.
- · Conduct equipment performance analyses using MTBF, MTTR, downtime tracking, and reliability metrics.
- · Recommend engineering solutions to eliminate chronic failures, improve equipment design, and optimize component life.
- · Collaborate with engineering and production to integrate reliability considerations into new equipment design and modifications.
Predictive & Condition-Based Maintenance
- · Manage predictive maintenance (PdM) technologies such as vibration analysis, thermography, lubrication analysis, and ultrasound.
- · Use equipment condition data to identify early signs of failure and generate corrective work orders.
- · Trend equipment health over time and implement data‑driven improvements.
Preventive Maintenance Optimization
- · Review and optimize preventive maintenance (PM) tasks based on equipment condition, failure history, and reliability trends.
- · Validate PM effectiveness through field audits, technician feedback, and data reviews.
- · Ensure PMs are accurately documented and updated in the CMMS.
CMMS Data & Equipment Health Monitoring
- · Maintain high-quality equipment history, BOM accuracy, asset hierarchies, and failure codes within the CMMS.
- · Analyze work order data to identify systemic issues, equipment bottlenecks, and improvement opportunities.
- · Work with the Maintenance Planner/Scheduler to ensure maintenance activities align with reliability priorities.
TPM & Continuous Improvement
- · Support TPM initiatives by developing engineering-based standards for autonomous and planned maintenance.
- · Assist with center lining, equipment restoration projects, and reliability‑focused kaizen activities.
- · Train technicians and operators on basic reliability concepts and equipment care best practices.
Spare Parts & Asset Strategy
- · Support critical spare parts identification, stocking strategies, and failure risk assessments.
- · Collaborate with storeroom and purchasing to optimize inventory and part standardization.
- · Evaluate asset risk using tools such as equipment criticality assessments and life-cycle cost analysis.
Safety & Compliance
- · Ensure all reliability and maintenance engineering practices support OSHA and plant safety standards.
- · Participate in safety reviews, risk assessments, and safe work procedure development.
Key Competencies
- · Strong analytical and diagnostic skills
- · Engineering mindset focused on long‑term solutions
- · Data‑driven decision-making
- · Excellent communication and cross-functional collaboration
- · Ability to lead investigations and influence improvements
- · Continuous improvement and reliability‑focused thinking
About the Job
An individual in this position must be able to successfully perform the essential duties and responsibilities listed above.
The above list reflects the general details necessary to describe the principle and essential functions of the position and shall not be construed as the only duties that may be assigned for the position.
Qualifications
Required
- · Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Industrial, or Reliability Engineering (or equivalent experience).
- · 3+ years of engineering or reliability experience in a manufacturing environment.
- · Strong understanding of mechanical systems, automation, instrumentation, and industrial processes.
- · Experience with RCA tools (5‑Why, Fishbone, A3, FMEA, etc.).
- · Proficiency with CMMS platforms and data analysis tools.
- · Knowledge of predictive maintenance technologies and reliability principles.
Preferred
- · Professional certifications such as CMRP, CRE, or CRL.
- · Experience with TPM, LEAN manufacturing, or automotive production.
- · Familiarity with CAD, data analytics software, and reliability modeling tools.
REASONING ABILITY
This role will require the ability apply principles of logical or scientific thinking to a wide range of intellectual and practical problems. Some of these principles will include the ability to deal with nonverbal symbolism (formulas, scientific equations, graphs, etc.,) and to deal with a variety of abstract and concrete variables.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to speak or hear. The employee frequently occasionally is required to sit, and is frequently required to stand, walk and use hands to type, touch and/or feel. The employee may occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
While the majority of time will be within an office environment, this role will require occasionally being near moving manufacturing equipment which includes requirements of hearing, vision, and/or foot protection.
RESPONSIBILITY FOR ENVIRONMENT
Associates are committed to our Environmental Management System, which provides for continuous improvement of our organization's efforts toward preventing pollution, complying with relevant environmental legislation and regulations, and complying with customer-based environmental requirements.
We are proud to foster an inclusive and diverse workplace culture. We value diversity and believe that a diverse and inclusive workforce is essential to drive innovation, foster creativity, and achieve success. We welcome and encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds and are dedicated to ensuring a fair and equitable recruitment and employment process for everyone.