Company Profile:

Searles Valley Minerals provides customers worldwide with high quality soda ash, sodium sulfate, and boron products from a large saline mineral deposit in California’s Mojave Desert.  Searles Valley Minerals uses an environmentally friendly solution mining technology to extract mineral rich brines from over 25,000 acres of leased and owned reserves which it processes using proprietary technologies in three manufacturing facilities in Trona, California. 

JOB DESCRIPTION

The Reliability Technician collects and analyzes vibration data to determine condition of rotating equipment and troubleshoots as necessary.  This person will compare data against standards of accuracy and measurable criteria for repairs and installations to maintain or improve the reliability of SVM assets.  This position is responsible for identifying issues that may cause unsafe conditions, unnecessary loss of production, or equipment damage. The main objective is to correct conditions found during analysis and prevent recurrence.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Inspect, troubleshoot, and analyze data from rotating equipment to maintain the reliability of plant equipment for continued operations.

• Utilize technologies of vibration, infrared thermography, ultrasound, and NDT testing such as thickness, hardness and metal composition.
• Determine correction methods to improve machine health and reliability.
• Enter work orders in computerized maintenance system that properly describe tasks needing to be performed to correct undesirable conditions.
• Follow up work order verification to ensure established standards are met by using measurable criteria.
• Perform baseline and acceptance testing of new and rebuilt equipment.

Collect and interpret data for repairs of equipment or new projects to maximize uptime.

• Perform running vibration monitoring of rotating equipment and special diagnostic testing.
• Perform complex analysis of vibration, ultrasound, and thermal imaging to determine machine health.
• Maintain vibration databases, trends; balance data, and history and monthly reports.
• Perform air and liquid flows, speed verifications, temperature monitoring, film & thickness testing, ultrasound monitoring, hardness testing, and dynamic balancing.

Perform predictive analysis to determine equipment vulnerabilities and potential end of life.

Perform resonance, phase, and cross-channel phase testing.

May perform repairs or replace equipment to expedite maintenance processes, as needed.

Be responsible for adhering to SSHE (Safety, Security, Health & Environmental) policies, procedures and programs, regulations and company directives, and actively participate in preventing unsafe acts.

Understand and maintain awareness of the primary SSHE hazards and risks in the work area and the safeguards in place to manage those hazards and risks.

LEADERSHIP RESPONSIBILITIES:

No direct supervisory responsibility.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• High school diploma or general education degree (GED) and 3 - 5 years related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 3 – 5 years as a mechanic or millwright.
• Has an in-depth knowledge of PdM, Vibration Analysis and internal components of equipment.
• Understanding of predictive maintenance techniques.
• Analytical ability and expertise in maintaining rotating equipment and solving related problems.
• Must possess a CA Driver’s License.

Desirable skills:

• Ability to perform equipment balancing.
• Ability to perform machine laser alignments.
• Good working knowledge of Microsoft Office suite.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

Requires normal or correctable vision, normal hearing, and manual dexterity.

May regularly require: climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching or crawling.

May frequently require lifting up to 50 lbs.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

Primarily in physical plant and exposure to outdoor weather and loud noise.

Regularly works near moving mechanical parts, in high precarious places, near fumes or airborne particles, in non-weather related conditions such as extreme heat, and may be subject to vibration.

Frequently works in non-weather related conditions such as wet and/or humid.

Occasionally works with toxic or caustic chemicals.

Occasional risk of electrical shock.

Percent Travel: 5%.

BENEFITS

Searles Valley Minerals is a Responsible Care® Company that has a commitment to a culture of safety throughout its operations.  We employ over 700 employees and contractors and operate continuously to safely and sustainably provide customers with quality products.  We ship thousands of tons of high grade mineral product daily to major manufacturers in the US and worldwide.  Searles Valley Minerals provides a competitive salary and an outstanding employee benefit package that includes comprehensive medical and dental plans, short-term and long-term disability insurance, life insurance, paid time off, a 401k retirement savings program, and paid holidays.  This compensation package coupled with a dynamic and challenging work environment employing a diverse, sustainable and highly skilled workforce makes Searles Valley Minerals an excellent employment opportunity.