Associate Project Leader Jobs in Oregon (NOW HIRING)

About the Role

Carson is growing its Fluid Performance business to serve large industrial customers, including mills and other heavy lubricant users, with a full reliability services offering. And we need an experienced, hands-on technical leader to anchor it.

The Reliability Solutions Lead is our senior field technician and on-site project leader for this work. This person runs reliability projects from planning through completion, performs and directs the advanced field work, develops the technicians who join the team, and helps shape the standards, processes, and offerings that will define the program. The role advances Carson's goal of delivering technical, program-level service that strengthens our customers' operations and bottom line and makes Carson a true long-term partner.

Position Summary

Reporting to the Director of Carson Industrial Solutions, the Reliability Solutions Lead leads and executes reliability projects at customer sites, gives Sales the scoping and budget detail needed to quote work accurately, makes sure jobs are planned and ready to go, and delivers them safely, on time, and on budget. The Lead also hires, trains, and directs technician support and works with leadership to build the program. The ideal candidate brings strong mechanical and millwright skills, deep lubrication and filtration know-how, proven project leadership, and a customer-first, safety-first mindset.

Key Responsibilities

Project Leadership and Execution

• Run reliability projects of every type from planning through close-out: align with plant owners and operations, schedule and sequence the work, line up crews and materials, and confirm each job is ready to execute.
• Give Sales and Estimating the scoping, budget, and technical detail they need to quote new opportunities accurately.
• Perform and direct field work to spec, on schedule, and on budget, including evening, weekend, and emergency work when customer operations call for it.
• Own the outcome of each project: workmanship, timeline, safety, and customer satisfaction.

Technical Field Work

• Install, service, and troubleshoot filtration systems (fixed, mobile, and automatic), oil dehydration units, and automatic lubrication systems.
• Repair and fabricate hydraulic hoses, make up and break down flanged and gasketed connections, and install air, grease, and hydraulic lines.
• Handle contamination control and reservoir cleaning, and capture and dispose of used and waste oil correctly.
• Pull oil samples cleanly, place sample ports in the right locations, and use portable particle counters and thermal imaging to gauge equipment condition.
• Carry out failure analysis: pinpoint lubrication-related failures and judge whether a failure is isolated or part of a recurring trend, then recommend the fix.
• Work from equipment drawings, schematics, and specifications to plan how a job will be done.

Team Development and Program Build-Out

• Recruit, train, and direct the first reliability technician(s), and grow the crew as the workload builds.
• Act as the team's mentor and trainer, lifting the skill level of everyone around you.
• Help define and document the program: service offerings, standard operating procedures, safety practices, and equipment needs.

Customer and Administrative

• Build and keep strong, lasting customer relationships, and flag additional issues you notice on site.
• Keep accurate documentation, work orders, and reporting in the CRM.
• Honor every Carson and customer safety rule and environmental requirement, and work safely at all times.
• Other duties as assigned.

Required Skills and Competencies

• Mechanically inclined.
• Able to read and understand equipment drawings.
• General understanding of how hydraulics, gears, bearings, turbines, and compressors work.
• Lubrication failure modes and what causes them.
• Ability to visually inspect and diagnose additional issues, observationally sound.
• Understanding operation of filtration equipment, auto lubrication and hard installed filtration units.
• Ability to install air, grease, and hydraulic lines.
• Proper oil analysis sampling.
• Ability to use portable particle counter/thermography.
• Installation of sample ports, and knowing the proper locations for recommending sample ports.
• Ability to go beyond a failure to diagnose if it was a one-off or a pattern failure.
• Ability to talk to a customer when on site to bring attention to additional issues.
• Project management: the capability to take over a project and lead.
• Leak repair, welding, and hydraulic hose repair.
• Knowledge about best practices for keeping reservoirs clean from contaminants.
• Resourceful problem-solver who works well with little oversight.

Education and Experience

• Five or more years working with lubricants and industrial or heavy equipment.
• Skilled in an industrial maintenance trade such as millwright, welder, or machinist.
• Associate's degree, or equivalent hands-on experience in place of formal schooling; bachelor's degree a plus.
• Background in petroleum or a related industry.
• Prior leadership, mentoring, or team-building experience preferred.

Licenses and Certifications

• MLA or MLT preferred, or the willingness to earn it within twelve months of hire.
• Valid driver's license in good standing, a clean driving record, and current auto insurance.

Equipment and Software

• Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems.
• Everyday business software (Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook) and standard collaboration tools such as Teams.
• Hydraulic and lubrication service equipment, hand and power tools, and heavy equipment such as forklifts.

Work Environment and Physical Requirements

• Work takes place at customer industrial sites, in equipment shops, warehouses, and outdoors, with exposure to chemicals, high noise, moving machinery, and dust, dirt, and grease.
• Frequent travel to customer sites, including overnight stays, is part of the role. Because customer operations set the pace, the work can call for a fast response outside normal hours, including evenings and weekends when the situation demands.
• Regular standing, walking, bending, crouching, and stooping, repetitive hand and finger motion, and use of tools that take fine dexterity.
• Able to lift and carry loads of roughly 75 pounds and to keep steady footing while working at height.
• Operating a company vehicle and tolerating road vibration while driving.

Safety-Sensitive Position

This is a safety-sensitive role. Applicants and employees are screened for drugs and alcohol at hire and on a random, for-cause, and post-incident basis, and a background check and drug screen follow any offer. Passing all of these is a requirement of holding the position.

Employer Notes

• Background check and drug screen will be conducted and driving record verified.

Please apply online at:  www.Carsonteam.com/careers

Benefits include: Medical, Dental, Vision, 401K, Aflac, Pre-paid legal, Long Term Disability, Life Insurance, Employee Assistance Program, and PTO.

Carson is an equal opportunity employer and gives consideration for employment to qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.