Systems Reliability Engineer

Upwing Energy is developing and commercializing first-of-their-kind Subsurface Compressor Systems (SCS) for natural gas extraction. Our development efforts combine exciting engineering challenges in turbomachinery; rotordynamics; high-speed and high-power electric motors; power electronics; industrial automation; aerodynamics; structural, thermal and fluid flow simulations; mechanical design and design-for-manufacturability.

General Purpose of Job:

The ideal System Reliability Engineer will have a strong and varied technical background; they must have the desire and capability to drive the development of the company’s Subsurface Compressor Systems (SCS). This position will be responsible for ensuring the SCS, Surface Control Center (SCC), and Hydraulic Control Center (HCC) are deployment ready prior to shipping out of the Cerritos facility. The System Reliability Engineer will be responsible for leading Root Cause Failure Analysis (RCFA) on deployed units and driving product improvements as a result of the investigation findings. This position will also provide remote and onsite technical support to the field team during deployment, commissioning, and standard operations in a customer well.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Fundamentally understands full system operating principles, risks, and benefits

Interfaces with engineering, operations, test and field deployment personnel to build, test, deploy and recover tools in an effort to understand what improvements need to be made to extend operating life and enhance performance

Provides technical support to the Manufacturing team and evaluates impact of deviations to overall system function and reliability

Ensures SCS, SCC, and HCC are deployment ready prior to shipping units from Cerritos

Compiles deployment packages for the field team and clearly communicates any special deployment and/or operational considerations that need to be accounted for before shipping the SCS, SCC, and HCC from Cerritos

Provides remote & onsite support to the field team during commissioning, normal operation, and decommissioning activities

Remotely monitors the health of the SCS fleet operating in the field

Develops detailed requirements for system level tests, performs data review of units under test, draws conclusions based on results, and drives corrective actions

Leads Failure Modes Effects Analysis (FMEA) and Root Cause Failure Analysis (RCFA) investigations of fielded SCS systems

Leads test initiatives stemming from RCFA activities

Writes operations manuals and troubleshooting manuals for the SCS, SCC, and HCC

Reports updates of activities and status to teams and management regularly

Participates with engineering in product improvements and qualification

Communicates expectations internally

Provides design contributions to the core engineering team

Skills, Experience, Education, and Abilities:

BS in Mechanical Engineering or Electrical Engineering

A minimum of 5 years of engineering experience with a minimum of 3 years of System Reliability Engineering (or equivalent) experience

Experience with rotating machinery, turbomachinery, power electronics or industrial automation of complex systems is strongly preferred

Demonstrated ability to troubleshoot complex mechanical & electrical systems in high pressure, time critical situations is preferred.

Strong familiarity with a wide range of ancillary equipment and control/automation of that equipment is a plus

SolidWorks experience is preferred

Experience post processing large data sets using MATLAB or Python is preferred

Strong written and oral communication skills

Ability to evaluate options, propose solutions, and make decisions

Must be capable of identifying and advocating vigorously for system interests in the development process

Experience analyzing high fidelity vibration and electrical data using FFT and time waveform analysis techniques is preferred

Intangibles Sought:

Must have the initiative to take ownership and drive results

Fundamental curiosity as to how things work

Drive to constantly learn new things and apply them to development

Determination to investigate and understand root cause

Ability to both evaluate the big picture and dive into details whenever necessary

Be open to new ideas and input from others in a collegial, team environment

Strong interpersonal skills with the power of positive persuasion

Strong organizational skills

Integrity, commitment, and honesty

Readiness to do whatever task is necessary to move the product/team/company forward

Supervisory Responsibilities:

None

Physical Demands / Work Environment:

Most time will be spent in an office environment or shop floor. Personal protective equipment may be required in designated areas. Overseas travel up to 10% may be required to support field deployment needs. Some time will be spent at the customer wellsite when supporting field operations. 24/7 on call support may be required up to 30% of the time. Must be able to wear a Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) for some tasks.