Title:  Mechanical/Reliability Engineer

Organizational Information

 Department: Maintenance  

Location: Rivers State

Report To

Maintenance Manager  

Position Description

Major Areas of Responsibility

• Develop, implement, and continuously improve reliability strategies for critical assets including pumps, compressors, turbines, heat exchangers, and pipelines.
• Apply Reliability-Centred Maintenance (RCM) and Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA/FMECA) methodologies to identify failure risks and define appropriate maintenance tactics.
• Conduct Root Cause Failure Analysis (RCFA) for recurring equipment failures, developing and tracking corrective actions through to resolution and verification.
• Monitor and report asset performance using reliability KPIs including MTBF (Mean Time Between Failures), MTTR (Mean Time To Repair), equipment availability, and Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE).
• Analyse maintenance and operational data to identify failure trends, predict equipment degradation, and drive improvements in asset lifecycle performance.
• Maintain and update the equipment register, asset hierarchy, and equipment index within the Computerised Maintenance Management System (CMMS).
• Compile and maintain the statutory equipment list, coordinating all preparations for regulatory inspections, re-certification, and compliance documentation in line with DPR/NUPRC requirements.
• Collaborate with the maintenance planning team to develop and optimise preventive and predictive maintenance plans based on reliability data and equipment criticality.
• Support and coordinate condition monitoring programmes including vibration analysis, thermography, oil analysis, ultrasonic testing, and non-destructive testing (NDT).
• Intervene promptly during equipment breakdowns, failures, or malfunctions, providing technical leadership to diagnose faults and restore operations safely and efficiently.
• Oversee or participate directly in the repair and replacement of mechanical components, ensuring work is executed to the correct technical standards and specifications.
• Participate actively in shutdown and turnaround planning, providing reliability engineering input to scope definition, work prioritisation, and execution reviews.
• Perform routine system checks and update maintenance settings in line with operational changes, management of change (MOC) requirements, or post-maintenance activities.
• Identify and recommend engineering modifications, upgrades, or design improvements to enhance equipment reliability, reduce maintenance costs, and improve system efficiency.
• Ensure all maintenance activities comply with applicable safety, environmental, and engineering standards including API, ASME, ANSI, ASTM, IEC, NEC, and NFPA codes.
• Prepare and submit technical reports, reliability studies, RCFA findings, and performance analysis documentation to the Maintenance Manager and relevant stakeholders.
• Maintain accurate documentation of all maintenance activities, equipment histories, and reliability programme outcomes within the CMMS.
• Perform any other duties as may be assigned by the Line Manager.

Leadership

• Lead and motivate the maintenance team to achieve reliability and asset management objectives through clear direction, coaching, and performance accountability.
• Promote and enforce a safety-first culture in all maintenance activities, ensuring full compliance with PTW, LOTO, isolation, and HSE procedures at all times.
• Mentor and develop junior engineers and technicians, building technical competence and reliability engineering capability within the team.
• Engage effectively with cross-functional stakeholders - operations, production, projects, and HSE, to align maintenance priorities with business objectives.
• Deliver top-quartile results consistently and take advantage of learning opportunities to drive personal and team development.
• Understand the corporate vision and ensure personal and team contributions actively support its achievement.

Minimum Requirements

• B.Eng., B.Sc., or HND in Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or a related engineering discipline from a recognised institution.
• Minimum of 8 years of practical and working experience in oil and gas facilities, with a demonstrated focus on mechanical maintenance and reliability engineering.
• Advanced working knowledge of mechanical systems including rotating equipment (pumps, compressors, turbines) and static equipment (pressure vessels, heat exchangers, pipelines).
• Certified Maintenance and Reliability Professional (CMRP) — Society for Maintenance and Reliability Professionals, or commitment to obtain within an agreed timeframe.
• Experience with CMMS platforms, with specific proficiency in SAP S/4HANA Plant Maintenance (PM) or equivalent.
• Proficiency in reliability tools including RCM, FMEA/FMECA, RCFA, and condition monitoring techniques.
• Knowledge of oil and gas industry construction standards and codes including API, ASME, ANSI, ASTM, IEC, NEC, and NFPA.
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, P&IDs, mechanical schematics, and electrical drawings.
• Knowledge of HSE policies and practices applicable to oil and gas maintenance operations.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications and experience with data analysis and reporting tools.
• Experience in technical report writing and maintenance documentation.

Additional Desirable Qualifications

• M.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering, Reliability Engineering, or a related discipline is an added advantage.
• Certification in NEBOSH or equivalent oil and gas HSE qualification.
• Membership of a recognised professional engineering body such as COREN (Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria) or NSE (Nigerian Society of Engineers).
• Familiarity with RBI (Risk-Based Inspection) methodologies and asset integrity management principles.
• Experience with digital maintenance tools, predictive analytics platforms, or Industrial IoT (IIoT) condition monitoring systems.
• Knowledge of oil and gas metering systems and power generation, transmission, and distribution equipment.

Required Knowledge and Abilities

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to interpret complex technical data and translate findings into actionable reliability improvements.
• Project management capability - ability to plan, coordinate, and deliver reliability improvement projects within scope, schedule, and budget.
• Strong leadership and people management skills, with the ability to direct and develop a technical team.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to present technical findings clearly to both engineering and non-engineering audiences.
• Sound judgement and decision-making capability, particularly under time pressure during equipment failures or production upsets.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously and maintain quality and accuracy under operational demands.
• Critical thinking and a continuous improvement mindset - always seeking better ways to improve reliability, reduce costs, and enhance safety.

Skills

Personal Attributes

• Detail-oriented and methodical in approach to fault diagnosis and root cause analysis.
• Proactive and self-driven — takes ownership of reliability outcomes rather than waiting for problems to escalate.
• Collaborative team player who builds trust across maintenance, operations, and engineering functions.
• Patient listener with strong interpersonal skills and a genuine commitment to developing others.
• Resilient and calm under pressure, particularly during unplanned shutdowns or major equipment failures.
• Committed to continuous learning and professional development within the reliability engineering discipline.

Behavioural Competencies