What are the responsibilities and job description for the Reliability Engineer position at Cleco?
At Cleco, we're not just powering lives—we're powering a cleaner, smarter future for Louisiana. With bold investments in innovative energy solutions, we’re transforming how we power our communities: smarter, cleaner, and more sustainable. This is a long-term commitment to our people and our communities because our future—and the future of generations to come—depends on it. If you're ready to make an impact where it matters most, join us at Cleco—where we're Energizing Your Tomorrow.
The Power Generation Reliability Program Manager leads and advances the company’s Equipment Health / Condition-Based Maintenance (CBM) and asset reliability programs across its power generation fleet. This role is responsible for improving equipment reliability, optimizing maintenance strategies, and reducing forced outages through data-driven decision making, predictive technologies, and cross-functional leadership. The Reliability Program Manager will be considered an expert in their discipline and possess in-depth knowledge of related processes and engineering tools to solve complex problems and drive strategic planning initiatives for critical generation assets.
The successful candidate will serve as both a technical authority and program leader, partnering with Operations, Maintenance, Engineering, and Supply Chain to implement best-in-class reliability and asset management practices.
Key Responsibilities
Reliability Engineering & Asset Management
Required Education, Skills & Experience
BEHAVIORAL
The Power Generation Reliability Program Manager leads and advances the company’s Equipment Health / Condition-Based Maintenance (CBM) and asset reliability programs across its power generation fleet. This role is responsible for improving equipment reliability, optimizing maintenance strategies, and reducing forced outages through data-driven decision making, predictive technologies, and cross-functional leadership. The Reliability Program Manager will be considered an expert in their discipline and possess in-depth knowledge of related processes and engineering tools to solve complex problems and drive strategic planning initiatives for critical generation assets.
The successful candidate will serve as both a technical authority and program leader, partnering with Operations, Maintenance, Engineering, and Supply Chain to implement best-in-class reliability and asset management practices.
Key Responsibilities
Reliability Engineering & Asset Management
- Lead the development, execution, and continuous improvement of condition-based maintenance (CBM) and predictive maintenance (PdM) strategies for generation assets.
- Perform equipment criticality analysis, failure modes and effects analysis (FMEA/FMECA), and root cause failure analysis (RCFA) to reduce repeat failures and forced outages.
- Establish and maintain asset health indices, reliability metrics, and risk-based maintenance plans.
- Support long-term asset management strategies aligned with ISO 55000 principles and Cleco’s business objectives.
- Serve as the CBM Program Manager, owning program governance, standards, procedures, and performance reporting.
- Manage CBM technologies including vibration analysis, oil analysis, thermography, motor diagnostics, ultrasound, and online monitoring systems.
- Develop multi-year CBM and reliability roadmaps, including technology upgrades, staffing needs, and training plans.
- Track and communicate program benefits such as availability improvements, cost avoidance, and risk reduction.
- Leverage data from CMMS/EAM systems (e.g. SAP), historian systems, and monitoring platforms to identify trends and actionable insights.
- Develop dashboards and KPIs to measure reliability performance, maintenance effectiveness, and asset health.
- Champion the use of advanced analytics and digital solutions to support predictive and prescriptive maintenance.
- Partner with plant operations and maintenance teams to translate reliability findings into executable work plans.
- Provide technical guidance and mentoring to engineers, technicians, and CBM analysts.
- Support outage planning, major maintenance events, and capital projects with reliability input.
- Interface with OEMs, vendors, and consultants to evaluate equipment performance and improvement opportunities.
Required Education, Skills & Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related engineering discipline with 10 years of experience in power generation, heavy industrial reliability, or asset management or an equivalent of 15 years of experience in power generation, heavy industrial reliability, or asset management
- Demonstrated experience implementing or leading CBM/PdM programs in a power plant or similar industrial environment.
- Strong working knowledge of rotating equipment, electrical systems, and balance-of-plant assets.
- Experience performing RCFA, FMEA, and reliability-centered maintenance (RCM).
- Proficiency with CMMS/EAM systems and data analysis tools.
- Strong communication skills with the ability to influence across organizational boundaries.
- Program or project management experience (PMP a plus).
BEHAVIORAL
- Building Organizational Talent*
- Building Partnerships
- Leading Teams
- Business Acumen
- Communication
- Courage
- Building Self-Insight
- Building Talent*
- Driving for Results
- Energizing the Organization
- Driving Execution
- Building Trusting Relationships
- Driving Innovation
- Planning and Organizing
- Safety
- Establishing Strategic Direction