Jr. Mechanical Engineer

Overview

We are seeking a motivated and detail-oriented Jr. Mechanical Engineer to join our Maintenance team at the Roanoke Cement Plant in Troutville, Virginia. This salary-exempt position reports directly to the Maintenance Manager.

 

The Jr. Mechanical Engineer will support maintenance, reliability, and continuous improvement efforts across the plant’s mechanical systems. This is a developmental role designed to build technical expertise in rotating equipment, material handling systems, and heavy industrial mechanical assets within a cement manufacturing environment.

Responsibilities

Maintenance & Reliability

• Assist in preventive and predictive maintenance activities for mechanical equipment including pumps, conveyors, gearboxes, compressors, hydraulic and pneumatic systems.
• Support troubleshooting efforts to diagnose mechanical failures and help implement corrective actions.
• Participate in root cause analysis (RCA) investigations for recurring equipment issues.
• Monitor equipment performance data and assist in identifying reliability improvement opportunities.
• Support lubrication program management and basic condition monitoring activities.

Equipment & Asset Management

• Assist in developing and updating maintenance procedures and SOPs.
• Maintain accurate equipment records and history in CMMS.
• Support spare parts identification and help optimize inventory levels.
• Assist in planning plant shutdowns and coordinating mechanical work activities.

Project & Continuous Improvement

• Support installation, commissioning, and modification of mechanical systems.
• Assist with small capital and improvement projects focused on reliability, cost reduction, and energy efficiency.
• Review mechanical drawings, P&IDs, and technical documentation with guidance from senior engineers.
• Participate in continuous improvement initiatives such as Lean, 5S, or TPM efforts.

Safety & Compliance

• Adhere to all plant safety, environmental, and regulatory standards.
• Participate in safety inspections, job hazard analyses, and permit-to-work processes.
• Ensure mechanical work is executed in compliance with company safety and quality standards.
• Promote a strong safety-first culture within the maintenance team.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with production, electrical, reliability, and maintenance teams to support plant goals.
• Provide technical support to maintenance technicians under supervision.
• Participate in outage planning and execution activities.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Maintenance Manager.

Qualifications

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related discipline.

Experience

• 0–3 years of experience in an industrial or manufacturing environment preferred.
• Internship, co-op, or hands-on experience in maintenance, reliability, or heavy equipment environments is considered valuable.

Technical Skills

• Foundational knowledge of rotating equipment, bearings, lubrication systems, and alignment principles.
• Basic understanding of reliability tools such as RCA and 5-Why.
• Ability to read and interpret mechanical drawings and P&IDs.
• Familiarity with CMMS systems is a plus.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Outlook).

Soft Skills

• Strong analytical and troubleshooting skills.
• Effective communication and teamwork abilities.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and prioritize in a fast-paced industrial environment.
• High attention to detail and strong safety awareness.
• Willingness to work in a heavy industrial cement plant environment, including occasional outage support.
• Visa Sponsorship: This position is not eligible for employer-sponsored visa support now or in the future. Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship.
• Relocation Assistance: No relocation assistance is offered for this role. Candidates must be able to commute to the work location independently.

Preferred (Not Required)

• Exposure to cement, mining, aggregates, power generation, or heavy manufacturing environments.
• Experience with vibration monitoring, thermography, or other condition monitoring tools.
• Familiarity with Lean, TPM, or continuous improvement methodologies.
• Relevant safety training