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Customer Reliability Engineer - job 1 of 4

Company Description

John Crane, a business of Smiths Group, is a global leader in mission-critical flow control solutions for energy and process industries that enable efficient and sustainable operations. Our products include mechanical seals and systems, couplings, bearings, filtration systems, and predictive digital monitoring technologies. 

We have a global network of more than 200 sites in over 50 countries and employ more than 6,000 people worldwide. We partner with our customers to help them keep their operations safe, reduce downtime, improve efficiency, and meet the latest environmental standards. 

John Crane is part of Smiths Group. For over 170 years, Smiths has been pioneering progress by engineering for a better future. We serve millions of people every year, helping to create a safer, more efficient, productive, and better-connected world across four global markets: energy, security & defence, space & aerospace, and general industrial. Listed on the London Stock Exchange, Smiths employs approximately 16,000 colleagues in over 50 countries. 

Job Description

The Customer Reliability Engineer works on-site at a customer facility, participating in activities with the customer to comply with the partnership agreement. The Engineer makes independent seal and equipment evaluations, selections and recommends with oversight from the account manager and/or regional engineer. Also, they may lead one or more customer reliability personnel at a customer facility.

Responsibilities:

  • Reviews customer applications and makes specific recommendations.
  • Troubleshoots specific customer applications and analyzes, evaluates, and rectifies seal operation problems and failures.
  • Improves MTBR and reduces material costs.
  • Reduces inventory by establishing standards for reduction, minimizing variances found in the physical inventory and optimizing inventory levels.
  • Communicates orally and in writing with customers, company personnel, and vendors providing counseling, recommendations, and technical assistance.
  • May include making both technical and commercial presentations to customers or management.
  • Assists and directs development of customer seal standardization programs.
  • Also, assist developing inventory management programs that are to be implemented by customers.
  • Solves problems on existing installations pro-actively. Negotiates with customers and sales personnel regarding material changes or modifications of customer equipment, seal, or auxiliary equipment.
  • Help customers find and define productivity improvements obtained through seal upgrades.
  • Approves overall seal and component part design and materials, proposals, layouts, installation, assembly and detail drawings.
  • Prepares reports and recommendations to management and assist in development and management of partnership programs.
  • Devise and recommend new approaches to problems encountered in assignment.
  • Recommends new standards and procedures on design and manufacture of seal components.
  • Observes and reports field performance results; collects and evaluates data customers, while working with local John Crane office and sales representative.
  • Additional duties as assigned

Qualifications

  • Requires Bachelor of Science in Engineering, prefer ME.
  • Minimum 2 years’ experience with mechanical seals, rotating equipment and basic engineering principles applied to perform work assignments in addition to PC and software knowledge.
  • Knowledge of labor reporting, work order variances, QAD, MFG-PRO, SAP, or equivalent
  • Previous participation in continuous improvement activities including but not limited to Kaizen, SMED, and Lean activities or equivalent.
  • Strong knowledge of personal computers, MS Office, and machining practices. CNC Programming a plus.
  • Ability to work flexible hours including weekends as needed to meet business demands.
  • Moderate level of understanding of the financial aspects of a manufacturing operation.
  • Capable of handling multiple priorities simultaneously in a high-stress environment.
  • Excellent written and verbal business communication.
  • Excellent training, leadership, facilitation, influencing, negotiating, and interpersonal skills.
  • Ability to complete tasks in a timely and efficient manner.

Salary Range:

$60,000 — $150,000 USD

Additional Information

With colleagues stretching across the globe, we are proud of our diversity. To foster inclusivity, we run employee resource groups (ERGs) to provide a safe space for employees to connect and support each other. Our cross-business ERGs include Veterans, Pride Network, Black Employee Network, Women@Work Network, and Neurodiversity. 

Across our company, we recognize excellence, culminating in the Smiths Excellence Awards, our annual celebration of the most extraordinary activities, people, and projects that best showcase our strengths and help drive our business forward. We announce these on our annual Smiths Day, a global celebration of Smiths around our network. 

Join us for a great career with competitive compensation and benefits, while helping engineer a better future.

#smiths

We believe that different perspectives and backgrounds are what make a company flourish. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment regardless of color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, economic status, disability, age, or any other legally protected characteristics. We are proud to be an inclusive company with values grounded in equality and ethics, where we celebrate, support, and embrace diversity.

At no time during the hiring process will Smiths Group, nor any of our recruitment partners ever request payment to enable participation – including, but not limited to, interviews or testing. Avoid fraudulent requests by applying jobs directly through our career’s website (Careers - Smiths Group plc)

Average salary estimate

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What You Should Know About Customer Reliability Engineer, Smiths Group

As a Customer Reliability Engineer at John Crane, you will be at the forefront of our commitment to providing exceptional service and support within the energy and process industries. Located in Concord, CA, this role is all about collaboration and innovation as you engage directly with customers to ensure optimal performance of our flow control solutions. You will be responsible for reviewing customer applications and providing tailored recommendations, troubleshooting seal operation problems, and helping to significantly improve mean time between repairs (MTBR). This position requires a proactive approach, as you'll be identifying opportunities for productivity improvements and establishing inventory management programs alongside customer teams. With your engineering background, you'll approve design and materials proposals and will have the chance to mentor customer reliability personnel. Your strong communication skills will be put to use as you engage in technical discussions with customers and management alike, guiding them with your insights. The working environment is dynamic, and there’s an emphasis on flexibility – you need to be ready to tackle multiple priorities at once. If you’re passionate about enhancing customer operations and have experience in mechanical seals and rotating equipment, we would love for you to join our team at John Crane and help us to engineer a better future together!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Customer Reliability Engineer Role at Smiths Group
What are the key responsibilities of a Customer Reliability Engineer at John Crane?

The key responsibilities of a Customer Reliability Engineer at John Crane include reviewing customer applications to make specific recommendations, troubleshooting seal operation issues, improving MTBR, and establishing inventory reduction standards. The engineer also communicates with customers and company personnel to provide technical assistance, developing and managing partnership programs with customers, and leading a team of reliability personnel.

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What qualifications are required for the Customer Reliability Engineer role at John Crane?

To qualify for the Customer Reliability Engineer role at John Crane, candidates must possess a Bachelor of Science in Engineering, preferably in Mechanical Engineering. Additionally, a minimum of two years’ experience with mechanical seals and rotating equipment is required, along with knowledge of various software and reporting systems such as SAP and MS Office. Strong communication and problem-solving skills are also essential for this position.

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How does the Customer Reliability Engineer role at John Crane contribute to customer operations?

The Customer Reliability Engineer at John Crane plays a vital role in enhancing customer operations by troubleshooting problems with seal installations, recommending improvements, and developing inventory management programs. By actively collaborating with clients, the engineer helps drive productivity and efficiency, reduce downtime, and ensure compliance with environmental standards.

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What soft skills are important for a Customer Reliability Engineer at John Crane?

Important soft skills for a Customer Reliability Engineer at John Crane include excellent written and verbal communication, leadership skills, and interpersonal abilities. The engineer must be able to facilitate discussions, negotiate with various stakeholders, and effectively present technical information to management and customers.

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Is a background in continuous improvement techniques important for the Customer Reliability Engineer role at John Crane?

Yes, a background in continuous improvement techniques, such as Kaizen and Lean activities, is important for the Customer Reliability Engineer role at John Crane. Candidates who have participated in these initiatives can bring valuable insights and strategies for enhancing operational efficiency and reducing costs.

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Common Interview Questions for Customer Reliability Engineer
Can you describe your experience with troubleshooting mechanical seals?

When answering this question, describe any specific instances where you've diagnosed issues with mechanical seals. Highlight the steps taken to identify and resolve the issues and the impact your solutions had on the equipment's performance.

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What strategies do you use for managing customer expectations?

Explain your approach by discussing methods for maintaining clear communication, setting realistic timelines, and providing regular updates to customers, emphasizing the importance of understanding their needs and feedback.

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How do you prioritize tasks in a high-stress environment?

Share techniques that you use for effective prioritization, such as assessing urgency and impact, creating task lists, and utilizing project management tools. Provide an example demonstrating your ability to manage multiple priorities successfully.

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Can you give an example of a time you improved a process or system?

Detail a particular situation where you identified a process inefficiency and implemented a solution. Focus on the data-driven actions and collaborative efforts taken to enhance the system's productivity significantly.

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What experience do you have in developing inventory management programs?

Discuss any relevant experience you have had in inventory management, outlining the strategies employed, the software used, and the improvements achieved. This will demonstrate your understanding of inventory optimization and customer needs.

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How do you stay updated on industry trends and advancements?

Mention the resources you use such as industry publications, webinars, workshops, or professional groups. Share any personal initiatives you've taken to continue learning and staying informed about changes in the engineering field.

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What is your experience with making technical presentations?

Talk about instances where you've had the opportunity to present technical information to either customers or management. Highlight your preparation techniques and how you tailored the content to your audience for maximum impact.

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Describe your approach to risk assessment in reliability engineering.

Explain your methodology for conducting risk assessments, highlighting how you identify potential issues, analyze their impact, and recommend mitigation strategies. Providing an example will strengthen your response.

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How do you ensure effective communication across teams?

Discuss your strategies for fostering open communication channels, using collaborative tools, and actively seeking feedback from your peers. Mention how you adapt your communication style to suit different audiences.

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What do you find most rewarding about working as a Customer Reliability Engineer?

Share your passion for engineering and problem-solving while expressing how satisfying it is to see the tangible results of your efforts in improving customer operations and building strong lasting relationships.

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Founded in 1851 and headquartered in London, United Kingdom, Smiths Group is a multinational technology company serving the medical technology, security and defense, industrial, energy, and aerospace markets.

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DATE POSTED
April 5, 2025

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