Job Summary

IFF in Newark, DE is seeking a Senior Operations Reliability Engineer to join our team!

The Newark N&B Site is aligned to the pharma solutions business and is a leading manufacturer of microcrystalline cellulose and other pharmaceutical business excipient grade materials. Our site is also a key supplier to the Food & Beverage markets. The Newark N&B Site has an exciting opportunity to support the reliability improvement initiative.

The Senior Operations Reliability Engineer should have a good working knowledge of Plant safety, quality, maintenance, reliability, and work management best practices. The individual must be able to analyze data across multiple systems to identify opportunities and drive improvements to safety, quality, and plant assets. This person must have the organizational capability to network with various resources and teams across multiple functions (EHS, quality, operations, maintenance, engineering, technology, external vendors, etc.) and be able to communicate well across all levels (operators, mechanics, peers, manufacturing and business leadership, etc.). Senior Operations Reliability Engineer will report to the Maintenance and Reliability Manager and shall serve as a backup for the Maintenance and Reliability Manager when needed.

Responsibilities include but not limited to:

Maintain and serve as subject matter expert on plantwide utilities (Air compressors, Boiler, Moving equipment, etc,)
Provide technical expertise to analyze data to quantify impacts to site, prioritize bad actors, complete FMEA+ analysis and report metrics.
Lead or participate in Root Cause Failure Analysis (RCFA) or incident investigations.
Develop engineering solutions for chronic and sporadic equipment reliability problems and collaborate with technical, operations, and maintenance to implement solutions.
Participate in capital project reviews with focus on maintainability, verification that installation plan meets OEM recommendations or basic installation practices, equipment life cycle costs, and documentation requirements.
Support maintenance personnel during equipment overhauls and outages.
Conduct root cause analysis to determine the underlying cause of equipment problems/failures.
Design and implement new procedures for monitoring and testing equipment.
Provide technical support to production, maintenance management and technical personnel.


The Pharma Solutions business will be taking on its next chapter of growth as a trusted partner for the pharmaceutical industry with the announcement to sell Pharma Solutions to Roquette. This move will position Pharma Solutions to expand its industry leadership through continued investment in innovation to meet the evolving needs of pharmaceutical manufacturers and developers worldwide.
The sale is presently expected to close in the first half of 2025, pending regulatory approvals and other closing conditions. The Pharma Solutions business unit will remain a part of IFF until close and, at such time, it will transition to Roquette. In applying for this position, you acknowledge your awareness that the position is a part of the Pharma Solutions business unit and has been identified to transition to Roquette.

B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering or related engineering field.Experience working with Microsoft® Office (particularly Excel, Word, and PowerPoint).>10 years experience in a chemical/manufacturing plant (or related industry) with a focus on maintaining equipment, reliability, or PSM, preferably in a pharmaceutical or food manufacturing environment.Excellent computer aptitude, communication, and interpersonal skills.Self-directed and self-motivated.Ability to work as a team member in a respectful manner in a diverse work environment.Strong analytical skills with demonstrated ability to consistently solve problems in a decisive and efficient manner.Knowledge of various predictive technologies (i.e. vibration analysis, oil sampling, ultrasonics, thermography).Analytical thinking: the ability to think critically and logically, as well as the ability to work with large sets of data and make sense of them.Technical aptitude: a strong understanding of the systems, equipment, and processes at hand. This includes knowledge of the engineering principles and specific systems used.Problem-solving: the ability to think creatively and come up with innovative solutions to complex problems.Communication: the ability to explain technical concepts in a clear and understandable manner, as well as the ability to collaborate effectively with others.Project management: the ability to manage multiple projects and tasks simultaneously and effectively including planning, scheduling, and organizing.Data management skills: the ability to use statistical analysis tools as well as the ability to interpret and communicate the results of the analysis.A continuous improvement mindset: identifying and implementing ways to continuously improve reliability.Safety-conscious: the ability to identify potential hazards and take the necessary steps to mitigate them.

Preferred Knowledge/Skills/Competencies

Experience using and understanding of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and software systems such as SAP®, FMEA+, database/SQL infrastructures, and document control.Six Sigma Greenbelt certified, experience with 5S, and understanding of lean principles.

We are a global leader in taste, scent, and nutrition, offering our customers a broader range of natural solutions and accelerating our growth strategy. At IFF, we believe that your uniqueness unleashes our potential. We value the diverse mosaic of the ethnicity, national origin, race, age, sex, or veteran status. We strive for an inclusive workplace that allows each of our colleagues to bring their authentic self to work regardless of their religion, gender identity & expression, sexual orientation, or disability.

Visit IFF.com/careers/workplace-diversity-and-inclusion to learn more