Mechanical Reliability Engineer

Texas International Refining Company (TIRCO) is seeking a highly motivated Mechanical Reliability Engineer to support the safe, reliable, and cost-effective operation of refinery assets. This position serves as a technical leader for equipment reliability, Mechanical Integrity, maintenance optimization, and continuous improvement initiatives across the refinery.

The Mechanical Reliability Engineer works closely with Operations, Maintenance, Inspection, Projects, and Contractors to reduce equipment failures, improve asset availability, strengthen Mechanical Integrity programs, and drive measurable improvements in reliability performance.

Key Responsibilities

Reliability Engineering

• Lead reliability improvement initiatives for fixed and rotating equipment.
• Identify recurring equipment issues and implement sustainable corrective actions.
• Develop and maintain equipment reliability strategies and maintenance plans.
• Analyze equipment performance trends, maintenance history, and failure data.
• Utilize reliability engineering tools including:
  • Root Cause Failure Analysis (RCFA)
  • Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA/FMECA)
  • Reliability-Centered Maintenance (RCM)
  • Bad Actor Programs
• Establish equipment criticality rankings and risk-based maintenance strategies.

Mechanical Integrity & Compliance

• Support refinery Mechanical Integrity programs and regulatory compliance efforts.
• Assist with Mechanical Integrity programs governed by OSHA PSM and applicable API and ASME standards, including API 510, API 570, and API 653.
• Review inspection findings and develop repair recommendations.
• Support fitness-for-service evaluations and risk assessments.
• Ensure Mechanical Integrity action items and recommendations are tracked to completion.

Rotating Equipment Reliability

• Provide engineering support for:
  • Pumps
  • Compressors
  • Motors
  • Gearboxes
  • Fans and blowers
• Investigate equipment failures and recurring reliability issues.
• Optimize preventive and predictive maintenance programs.
• Support vibration analysis, oil analysis, thermography, and condition monitoring activities.
• Develop reliability improvement plans and corrective actions.

Fixed Equipment Reliability

• Provide engineering support for:
  • Pressure vessels
  • Storage tanks
  • Piping systems
  • Heat exchangers
  • Air coolers
  • Process heaters
  • Structural systems
• Evaluate equipment damage mechanisms and failure risks.
• Support repair planning, outage execution, and equipment modifications.
• Review Management of Change (MOC) packages for mechanical impacts.

Maintenance & Asset Management

• Support maintenance planning and scheduling activities.
• Review preventive maintenance programs for effectiveness and optimization.
• Participate in work order reviews and equipment prioritization efforts.
• Maintain equipment reliability documentation and asset records.
• Support CMMS data integrity and equipment history management.
• Develop reliability metrics, reports, and dashboards.

Capital Projects & Engineering Support

• Serve as project engineer for small capital and reliability improvement projects.
• Develop project scopes, cost estimates, schedules, and justifications.
• Review engineering drawings, specifications, and vendor documentation.
• Support commissioning, startup, design reviews, and hazard reviews.

Root Cause Investigations

• Lead investigations related to equipment failures and unplanned downtime.
• Facilitate cross-functional RCFA teams.
• Identify immediate, contributing, and root causes.
• Develop and track corrective actions through implementation.
• Present findings and recommendations to refinery leadership.

Vendor & Contractor Coordination

• Evaluate contractor repair recommendations and technical solutions.
• Review vendor proposals and equipment recommendations.
• Support procurement activities related to equipment and repair services.
• Provide technical oversight during critical repairs and outages.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with reliability-focused service providers.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in refining, petrochemical, chemical manufacturing, terminal, pipeline, power generation, or heavy industrial environments.
• Strong understanding of rotating and fixed equipment reliability principles.
• Experience supporting Mechanical Integrity programs.
• Experience conducting Root Cause Failure Analysis (RCFA).
• Working knowledge of applicable API and ASME standards.
• Excellent troubleshooting, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Experience utilizing CMMS systems and reliability data.

Preferred

• Professional Engineer (PE) license.
• Certified Reliability Engineer (CRE) certification.
• API 510, API 570, and/or API 653 certifications.
• Experience supporting refinery maintenance and turnaround activities.
• Experience with Fiix or similar CMMS platforms.

What Success Looks Like

A successful Mechanical Reliability Engineer at TIRCO is recognized as the refinery’s technical expert for equipment reliability and asset health. This individual proactively identifies and eliminates reliability risks before failures occur, drives disciplined root cause analysis, improves equipment availability, strengthens Mechanical Integrity performance, and delivers measurable reductions in downtime and maintenance costs. Through close partnership with Operations, Maintenance, Inspection, and Projects, the engineer helps ensure the refinery operates safely, reliably, and profitably while building a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.

Why Join TIRCO?

At TIRCO, you'll have the opportunity to make a direct impact on refinery reliability, operational performance, and safety. We are committed to maintaining a culture of accountability, collaboration, continuous improvement, and operational excellence while investing in the development and success of our employees.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Texas International Refining Company (TIRCO) is an Equal Opportunity Employer. TIRCO provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, military status, citizenship status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.