Principal Reliability Engineer

Labcorp is a global leader in laboratory services, providing the insights and answers that help healthcare providers, patients, researchers, pharmaceutical companies and health systems make confident decisions and improve outcomes. Through our unparalleled science, data, technology and laboratory network, we advance diagnostics, accelerate innovation and help address some of the world’s most important health challenges. As we shape the future of healthcare, we are leveraging advanced technologies, intelligent digital solutions and data-driven innovation across our operations to enhance how work gets done and deliver greater value to customers and patients. With our global scale and deep expertise, you’ll have the opportunity to do meaningful work, grow your career and make a real impact on people’s health around the world. Together, we’re improving health and improving lives.

Principal Reliability Engineer

Burlington, NC, Indianapolis IN or Durham, NC

Locations: Burlington, NC • Indianapolis, IN • Durham, NC

Position Overview

The Principal Reliability Engineer is the organization’s highest‑level technical authority within a defined engineering discipline. This senior individual contributor sets enterprise reliability strategy, advances asset performance, and leads high‑impact capital and infrastructure initiatives across a complex global facilities portfolio. The role ensures systems are engineered, constructed, and maintained for maximum reliability, operational efficiency, and optimized lifecycle cost while partnering with senior leadership to standardize practices and strengthen a culture of reliability across all facility types.

Job Responsibilities

Reliability Engineering & Strategy

• Define and implement enterprise reliability strategies to improve system performance and asset lifecycle outcomes.
• Conduct advanced failure analysis and root cause investigations; implement corrective and preventive actions.
• Establish asset reliability frameworks, maintenance strategies, and performance metrics.
• Lead efforts to reduce downtime, improve uptime, and optimize lifecycle costs.
• Perform audits and assessments to ensure adherence to reliability standards.

Project Engineering Leadership

• Serve as the technical lead on engineering and capital projects from concept through commissioning.
• Manage engineering design, installation, and project execution activities to ensure delivery on time and within budget.
• Coordinate with contractors, suppliers, designers, and internal stakeholders to ensure seamless project delivery.
• Support a project portfolio totaling approximately $5M–$25M annually across 100 or more projects of varying complexity.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable regulatory, safety, and engineering standards.

Engineering Standards & Governance

• Develop, implement, and maintain global engineering design standards and procedures to ensure consistency and quality.
• Establish and harmonize project execution standards, documentation, and processes across regions.
• Provide technical oversight and governance for design reviews and system implementations.
• Evaluate emerging technologies and recommend improvements to engineering practices.

Subject Matter Expertise

• Function as the enterprise subject matter expert for a specific engineering discipline (Electrical, HVAC, Mechanical, Automation & Instrumentation).
• Provide expert guidance on design, construction, commissioning, and operational performance.
• Support complex troubleshooting and resolution of critical system issues.
• Influence standards, specifications, and long‑term engineering strategy within the discipline.

Leadership & Collaboration

• Partner with senior leadership in Capital, Engineering, Construction, and Facilities to plan and execute prioritized initiatives.
• Mentor and guide engineers and technical teams to build organizational capability.
• Serve as a liaison between internal clients and external partners to ensure alignment and execution excellence.
• Drive a culture of reliability, continuous improvement, and engineering excellence across the organization.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Electrical, Mechanical, or related field); 5 or more years of applicable professional engineering experience may be used in lieu of degree.
• 10 or more years of progressive experience in project engineering, reliability engineering, or facilities engineering.
• 5 or more years of experience leading complex, multi‑site, or high‑impact facility projects.
• 5 or more years of experience with CMMS, predictive maintenance technologies, and reliability analytics.

Preferred Qualifications

• Professional Engineer (PE) license.
• Certified Maintenance & Reliability Professional (CMRP).
• Project Management Professional (PMP).
• 5 or more years of experience in asset‑intensive or regulated environments (healthcare, life sciences, manufacturing).

Additional Job Standards

• Advanced technical expertise in at least one engineering discipline (Electrical, HVAC, Mechanical, Automation & Instrumentation).
• Strong project management and execution capabilities.
• Strategic thinking with the ability to translate business needs into engineering solutions.
• Advanced analytical and critical thinking skills, including root cause analysis.
• Ability to influence without authority and operate as a principal‑level individual contributor.
• Effective communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Continuous improvement and standardization mindset.
• Up to 25% travel.
• Comfortable working in and around vivarium's

.

Benefits: Employees regularly scheduled to work 20 or more hours per week are eligible for comprehensive benefits including: Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, STD/LTD, 401(k), Paid Time Off (PTO) or Flexible Time Off (FTO), Tuition Reimbursement and Employee Stock Purchase Plan. Employees regularly scheduled to work less than 20 hours, Casual, Intern, and Temporary employees are only eligible to participate in the 401(k) Plan. Employees who are regularly scheduled to work a 7 on/7 off schedule are eligible to receive all the foregoing benefits except PTO or FTO. For more detailed information, please click here

Labcorp is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer:

Labcorp strives for inclusion and belonging in the workforce and does not tolerate harassment or discrimination of any kind. We make employment decisions based on the needs of our business and the qualifications and merit of the individual. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), family or parental status, marital, civil union or domestic partnership status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, personal appearance, age, veteran status, disability, genetic information, or any other legally protected characteristic. Additionally, all qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with applicable law. 

We encourage all to apply

If you are an individual with a disability who needs assistance using our online tools to search and apply for jobs, or needs an accommodation, please visit our accessibility site or contact us at Labcorp Accessibility. For more information about how we collect and store your personal data, please see our Privacy Statement.