Reliability Master Data Engineer Nate Orwig believes teamwork and a strong sense of community are vital in his role at Pantex.
Thousands of dedicated Pantex citizens like Nate Orwig work every day to support the Pantex mission. Take three minutes to learn about who he is, what he does, and why he is proud to be a Pantexan.
What defines a community? Is it just people living in proximity? Isn’t a vital part of community the shared interests that unite people? However one defines it, community is an important part of both personal and professional life for Reliability Master Data Engineer Nate Orwig.
“I volunteer with the Texas Ramp Project, where we build wheelchair ramps for low-income older adults and people with disabilities,” he said, also noting additional volunteer efforts with the High Plains Food Bank and Salvation Army. According to Orwig, making a positive difference in the lives of others pays dividends that continue compounding far beyond a single individual’s efforts.
“A rising tide lifts all boats,” Orwig said. “If everyone can work together, we are improving Amarillo and the surrounding area as a whole. Also, I know when one day I need help other people will go out of their way to help me.”
Orwig enjoys making a difference, which perfectly aligns with his role at Pantex, where he makes a difference in many ways — including predicting the future.
“I started in Project Controls, assisting small-construction project managers with scheduling and cost,” he said. “I currently work in Reliability Engineering, where we use tools to predict future faults in equipment. Essentially, we want to schedule downtime to replace parts before the downtime schedules itself.”
Such a monumental task takes more than talent and intellect. It takes teamwork — community.
“Teamwork is very important in our role,” Orwig said. “When we troubleshoot a piece of equipment, we are looking at it from more than three different perspectives. We use vibration, thermography, and motion amplification (to name a few) to help diagnose equipment. Having a team that includes a subject-matter expert for each area is what helps us narrow down the root cause together.”
Orwig’s supervisor, Reliability Engineering Director Ryan George, said Orwig’s perspective gives his team exactly what it needs.
“Nate consistently seeks out new challenges and approaches them with clear goals, strong work ethic, and sharp insight,” George said. “His ability to collaborate across teams and deliver results makes him an invaluable asset to Reliability Engineering.”
What is your top bucket-list item, and why?
“At the top of my bucket list is to road trip around the U.S. I have done many cross-country drives to the East Coast to see family, and I want to drive the rest of the U.S. and camp to see the natural beauty we have here stateside.”
What is your favorite hobby, and why?
“My favorite activity outside of work is wrenching on small-engine projects that I buy or get from other people. Often, I get four-wheelers, motorcycles, and lawn mowers from coworkers that they ask me to get running again for them.”
What do you enjoy most about working at Pantex?
“One of my favorite things about working at Pantex is the camaraderie that comes with being here. We are a team, and together we are stronger than our individual parts.”
What is one thing your coworkers would be surprised to learn about you?
"I did sports announcing for WTAMU. While I was there, I announced every baseball and soccer game for two seasons while also filling in for basketball and softball games.”