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Industrial Systems Consulting · 4 weeks ago

Senior Reliability Engineer – Rotating Equipment

Bakersfield, CA

Full-time

Onsite

Senior Level, Lead/Staff

10+ years exp

Industrial Systems Consulting is seeking a Senior Reliability Engineer with deep expertise in rotating equipment within upstream oil and gas operations to support producing assets in the San Joaquin Valley. The role involves owning rotating equipment reliability from failure analysis through execution readiness and collaborating with operations and maintenance to optimize strategies and reduce downtime.

Civil EngineeringConstructionConsultingIndustrial

Hiring Manager

Bob Schaffer

Responsibilities

Act as the technical authority for rotating equipment reliability across upstream assets, including:

Crude, water, and injection pumps

Gas compressors (reciprocating & centrifugal)

Gas lift compressors, VRU equipment, fans, blowers, and gearboxes

Lead complex troubleshooting of chronic and acute equipment failures:

Vibration issues, seal and bearing failures, lubrication breakdowns

Cavitation, misalignment, resonance, process-induced damage

Start-up and operating envelope issues

Perform and facilitate:

Root Cause Failure Analyses (RCFA)

Bad actor identification and elimination

Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA)

Interpret and integrate:

Vibration data, oil analysis, thermography, inspection reports

Operating data and production constraints

Translate findings into repair vs. defer vs. operate decisions that are technically sound and regulator-defensible

Partner with Operations and Maintenance to:

Improve PM and PdM strategies

Optimize maintenance intervals and spare strategies

Reduce unplanned downtime and repeat failures

Provide engineering support for:

Work scopes, repair strategies, and equipment upgrades

Management of Change (MOC)

Capital projects and turnarounds impacting rotating equipment

Support permit-to-operate by ensuring reliability decisions align with safety, environmental, and regulatory requirements

Mentor junior engineers and provide technical guidance to planners, supervisors, and field teams

Qualification

Rotating equipment expertiseReliability engineeringVibration analysisLubrication analysisMechanical seals knowledgeAPI standards knowledgeGas compression systemsCommunication skillsMentoring skillsTeam collaboration

Required

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering (or equivalent)

10+ years of reliability engineering experience in upstream oil & gas

Demonstrated depth in rotating equipment troubleshooting (hands-on, field-based experience)

Strong working knowledge of: Vibration analysis and condition monitoring, Lubrication and oil analysis, Mechanical seals, bearings, couplings, API standards applicable to upstream rotating equipment

Experience working directly in producing fields and facilities

Ability to communicate technical risk and recommendations clearly to operations, maintenance, and leadership