What is a Maintenance Engineer?

A maintenance engineer is a technical professional responsible for ensuring the reliability, efficiency, and safety of industrial equipment and systems through preventive and corrective maintenance.

‍

Key Responsibilities of Maintenance Engineers

Maintenance engineers play a crucial role in industrial maintenance and plant operations. Their main responsibilities include:
‍

• Performing routine upkeep and periodic maintenance checks to proactively identify potential issues.
  ‍
• Investigating equipment breakdowns and troubleshooting onsite equipment issues to diagnose problems quickly.
  ‍
• Planning plant equipment upgrades and recommending machinery modifications to improve performance and reliability.
  ‍
• Performing electrical and mechanical repairs to restore functionality.
  ‍
• Ensuring all equipment, including lighting, heating, cooling systems, elevators, and escalators, operates smoothly.
  ‍
• Acting as on-call support in the event of malfunctioning machinery, ready to respond to emergencies.
  ‍
• Ensuring all machinery operates safely and adheres to regulations, including conducting safety audits and following OSHA rules.
  ‍
• Maintaining detailed records for machinery, such as daily, weekly, and monthly logs of maintenance and repairs.
  ‍
• Focusing on proactive and preventive maintenance for the most critical equipment, including routine inspections, lubrication, and parts replacement.

Maintenance engineers often collaborate with maintenance planners, manufacturing engineers, and design engineers to optimize equipment efficiency and reliability.

‍

Why Maintenance Engineers Matter for Production Costs

Unexpected equipment breakdowns can have a significant impact on production costs and business efficiency. For example, every hour of downtime can cost companies over $100,000. Maintenance engineers help mitigate these risks by:
‍

• Quickly eliminating costly downtime through expertise in diagnostics and repairs.
  ‍
• Focusing on proactive maintenance to prevent failures before they occur, avoiding expensive emergency repairs and production halts.
  ‍
• Ensuring operational safety, which prevents accidents and further costs or liabilities.

Their work directly contributes to a company's bottom line by ensuring continuous operation and preventing financial losses associated with machinery failures.

‍

Necessary Skills and Knowledge

To excel in this role, maintenance engineers require a blend of technical expertise and interpersonal abilities:
‍

Technical Proficiency:

• Ability to operate heavy tools, assets, and machinery.
  ‍
• Familiarity with reading system schematics and understanding standard operating procedures (SOPs).
  ‍
• Advanced mechanical knowledge of specialized equipment.
  ‍
• Understanding of plumbing, heating, and electrical systems.
  ‍
• Knowledge of Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) guidelines.
  ‍
• Familiarity with CMMS (Computerized Maintenance Management System) software, which helps automate workflows, reduce downtime, and improve key performance indicators.

Soft Skills:

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills for effective collaboration with diverse coworkers.
  ‍
• Ability to prioritize diverse workloads.
  ‍
• Comfort working on-call for emergency maintenance requests, which can occur at any time, including nights and weekends.

‍

Educational Background and Career Outlook

A bachelor's degree in an engineering discipline such as mechanical, manufacturing, production, or electrical engineering is typically required for most maintenance engineering positions. Some jobs may prefer a master's degree, but a Ph.D. is not usually necessary unless pursuing research or management roles.

Some individuals begin their careers as maintenance technicians and then advance through apprenticeship programs or technical certifications. Licensing is mandatory for maintenance engineers, with requirements varying by work type, locality, and state. Relevant certifications include:
‍

• Certified Reliability Engineer (CRE) from the American Society for Quality (ASQ), ideal for engineers working with large, complex equipment.
  ‍
• EPA 608 Certification, required for workers handling assets like HVAC systems that may release refrigerants.
  ‍
• Most maintenance engineers work full-time and in-house, though companies might use specialized contractors for additional support. The demand for maintenance workers is projected to grow by 4% by 2029, with the aviation industry showing particular promise for job seekers.

‍

Salary and Career Growth

Salaries for maintenance engineers vary based on education, experience, certifications, and skills. Annual salaries generally range from $68,000 to $86,000, with experienced professionals earning upwards of $130,000 per year.
‍

This career path offers several benefits, including opportunities for advancement into management positions or the choice to remain in hands-on roles. Maintenance engineers earn more than maintenance technicians and enjoy the added advantages of a flexible schedule and the ability to work across various industries.

‍

Maintenance Engineer vs. Maintenance Technician

Both maintenance engineers and technicians ensure an organization's assets remain functional. However, there are distinct differences:
‍

• Technical Depth: Maintenance engineers possess in-depth technical knowledge to optimize complex machinery, while technicians perform routine maintenance on a wider range of equipment.
  ‍
• Scope of Work: Engineers typically handle installations, diagnostics, and major repairs on specific equipment. Technicians focus on day-to-day routine tasks.
  ‍
• Leadership Role: Engineers play a vital role in organizational leadership and are responsible for improving overall asset reliability. Technicians rarely have the expertise for complex repairs or maintaining specific intricate equipment, though an engineer could fill in for a technician if needed.

‍

Summary

Maintenance engineers are essential for industrial maintenance, equipment reliability, and cost control. Their expertise in preventive maintenance, troubleshooting, and compliance ensures smooth operations and supports business profitability.
‍

Want to learn more about maintenance careers or solutions? Explore our glossary or contact us for expert advice!