Manufacturing Reliability Engineer

About Us

The Michigan Milk Producers Association (MMPA) is a member-owned and operated milk marketing cooperative known for producing high-quality, award-winning dairy products. Established in 1916, MMPA markets 5 billion pounds of milk annually and is the ninth largest dairy farmer-owned cooperative in the United States, serving members in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana and Wisconsin.

At MMPA, commitment to milk quality begins on the farm and extends through five processing facilities and wholly owned subsidiary brands, Superior Dairy and Heritage Ridge Creamery. With seven sites across Michigan, Indiana and Ohio, MMPA continues to shape the future of the dairy industry through innovation, product diversification and strategic growth while returning value to its member-owners.

Why you’ll love working here: Competitive salary Health and wellness benefits with medical coverage through Blue Cross Blue Shield, including mental health benefits Disability insurance Paid time off Retirement including 401k with employer contributions Personal and professional growth opportunities Employee appreciation events and recognition awards Employee wellness initiatives Employee feedback and suggestion forums Position Summary Michigan Milk Producers Association (MMPA) is seeking a Manufacturing Reliability Engineer to improve equipment reliability, process performance, and control system stability across our dairy manufacturing facilities.

This role is ideal for an engineer with experience in manufacturing, automation, controls, or industrial systems who is interested in expanding their expertise in reliability engineering. Working closely with Maintenance and Operations teams, the Manufacturing Reliability Engineer will investigate equipment failures, improve control systems, eliminate recurring issues, and drive long-term improvements in plant reliability and performance.

This is a hands-on, plant-based engineering role focused on identifying root causes of failures and implementing sustainable solutions that support safe, efficient production.

Responsibilities

Investigate chronic equipment and process failures using structured root cause analysis techniques. Develop and implement corrective actions that reduce downtime and improve asset reliability. Analyze downtime data, maintenance records, and operational trends to identify improvement opportunities. Troubleshoot and support PLCs, HMIs, instrumentation, VFDs, and industrial control systems.

Evaluate process and control system performance to identify inefficiencies, instability, and recurring failure trends. Implement controls and automation improvements that enhance equipment reliability and manufacturing performance. Partner closely with Operations and Maintenance teams to resolve complex technical issues and improve system performance.

Provide engineering support during significant equipment failures and plant troubleshooting events. Support maintenance teams through technical coaching, knowledge sharing, and troubleshooting assistance. Participate in reliability-focused capital projects, equipment upgrades, and engineering improvements. Recommend and implement long-term solutions to recurring equipment and process issues.

Participate in continuous improvement initiatives focused on safety, reliability, efficiency, and throughput. Build strong working relationships with employees across all levels of plant operations. Participate in a rotating weekend and off-shift engineering support schedule. Travel to MMPA manufacturing facilities as business needs require.

Required Qualifications Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a related technical discipline; equivalent experience may be considered. Two (2) or more years of experience in manufacturing, controls, automation, maintenance engineering, or a related industrial environment.

Experience working with PLCs, HMIs, instrumentation, VFDs, and industrial automation systems. Strong troubleshooting, analytical, and problem-solving skills. Understanding of mechanical, electrical, and process systems within a manufacturing environment. Ability to interpret electrical drawings, mechanical documentation, and process schematics.

Ability to work collaboratively with operations, maintenance, and engineering teams.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience in food, dairy, beverage, or other continuous-process manufacturing environments. Exposure to reliability engineering practices, including Root Cause Failure Analysis (RCFA), Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA), and CMMS platforms. Experience using process historians or manufacturing data analysis tools.

Professional certifications or interest in pursuing certifications such as Certified Maintenance & Reliability Professional (CMRP) or Certified Reliability Engineer (CRE). Physical Requirements Ability to work in a manufacturing environment, including production and maintenance areas. Ability to stand, walk, climb stairs, and navigate industrial facilities for extended periods.

Ability to occasionally lift up to 25 pounds. Ability to wear required personal protective equipment (PPE) and safely work around manufacturing equipment. Ability to travel between MMPA facilities as business needs require. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each responsibility satisfactorily.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the responsibilities. This job description is not designed to contain a comprehensive list of responsibilities that are required of the role.

Responsibilities

may change at any time with or without notice. MMPA provides the opportunity for meaningful work that makes a difference in the dairy industry and in our communities. The diverse talents and perspectives of our employees help us to meet the needs of our member farms and the customers we serve. We are interested in every qualified candidate who is eligible to work in the United States.

MMPA is committed to maintaining a safe, healthy, and productive environment for all employees as one of our top priorities. As part of our commitment to your well-being and workplace safety, all applicants are required to undergo a drug screening and background check as part of the hiring process. We are not accepting unsolicited candidate introductions, referrals, or résumés from third-party recruiters or staffing agencies for this position.

MMPA is an equal opportunity employer. #MMPAND1