Lead Engineer

Lead Engineer

Full-Time 34000 - 40000 £ / year (est.) No working from home possible
All The Top Bananas

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead a dynamic engineering team to ensure safe and efficient manufacturing operations.
  • Company: Join Weetabix, a company committed to diversity and innovation.
  • Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, annual bonus, flexible work, and personal development opportunities.
  • Other info: Be part of an exciting growth journey with excellent career progression.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact in a fast-paced environment while developing your engineering skills.
  • Qualifications: Experience in engineering maintenance and team leadership is essential.

The predicted salary is between 34000 - 40000 £ per year.

At Weetabix, we believe that diverse teams drive better ideas, stronger decisions, and a more inclusive workplace for everyone. We are committed to building an organisation where people from all walks of life feel they belong, where different voices, experiences, and backgrounds are valued and respected.

Weetabix is on an exciting growth journey, and many of the opportunities we are recruiting for are newly created roles. These positions reflect our investment in people, capabilities, and innovation as we continue to build for the future.

The Recipe (About the Role)

As a Lead Engineer, you will provide day-to-day engineering leadership for a manufacturing shift, ensuring equipment and processes run safely, reliably, and efficiently. Working closely with a team of multi-skilled engineers, you will coordinate planned maintenance, respond to breakdowns, and support strong shift performance.

  • Provide day-to-day coordination and assistance to a multi-skilled engineering team, prioritising workload to align with operational needs and maximise efficiency.
  • Deploy engineering resource effectively, matching skills to tasks to minimise downtime, remove bottlenecks, and improve overall productivity.
  • Aid team development through targets setting, performance reviews, coaching, and structured development planning, including apprentices.
  • Deliver hands-on technical assistance, mitigating breakdowns and assisting the resolution of priority issues to maintain safe and efficient operations.
  • Prepare and contribute to shift reporting, including engineering updates, breakdown trends, and impact on manufacturing performance.
  • Ensure all engineering activity meets company standards and complies with Health and Safety, Food Safety, and statutory requirements.
  • Manage Permit to Work processes, ensuring safe control of contractors, high-risk activities, and maintenance work.
  • Maintain accurate use of the Computerised Maintenance Management System (CMMS), ensuring high-quality data, timely job closure, and effective use of maintenance history.
  • Provide coaching and training to engineering and production colleagues, building capability and assisting long-term team development.
  • Carry out additional tasks in line with the role, assisting wider business needs as required.
  • Work across a fast-paced manufacturing environment, prioritising engineering barriers across multiple production facilities.
  • Guide root cause investigations using methods such as Root Cause Analysis, Five Whys, and Failure Modes and Effects Analysis to deliver lasting corrective and preventive actions.
  • Assist major breakdowns and technical issues, driving rapid fault resolution and reducing downtime.
  • Partner with engineering and operational teams to improve reliability, performance, and continuous improvement.

The Ingredients (What we need from you)

  • Engineering maintenance expertise across mechanical, electrical, and control systems in complex manufacturing.
  • Experience developing engineering capability, including assisting teams and apprentices across maintenance and improvement activities.
  • Proficient in Computerised Maintenance Management Systems (CMMS), using data to improve planning and inform outcomes.
  • Clear insight of manufacturing operations and impact on Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), downtime, cost, quality, and waste.
  • Works jointly with production and engineering teams to align maintenance planning, scheduling, and continuous improvement.

Your Bowl of Perks (Benefits)

  • Competitive salary & Annual Flexible benefits.
  • Annual bonus.
  • Double-matched pension scheme (up to 12% from us).
  • 25 days annual leave increasing with service.
  • Annual Salary review.
  • Healthcare plan.
  • Discounted Weetabix products.
  • Continued investment in your personal development.
  • Access to 24/7 counselling service (via Grocery Aid partnership).
  • The freedom of Flexible Work Opportunities.
  • Enhanced Maternity / Paternity / Adoption Leave.
  • Additional Time Off for Fertility Treatment and Neonatal Care.
  • Working Parents Support Group.
  • Fully stocked kitchens filled with our delicious products for you to enjoy.

Please note: We benchmark roles based on your skills and experience, so we do not advertise fixed salary ranges. Unfortunately, we are unable to provide sponsorship for this position; therefore, we are seeking candidates who do not require sponsorship.

Lead Engineer employer: All The Top Bananas

My Four Wheels is an exceptional employer, offering a rewarding career as a Trainee Driving Instructor with flexible working hours and the potential to earn up to £50,000+ annually. With comprehensive training provided through our new Training Academy, employees benefit from ongoing support and resources, ensuring a fulfilling journey towards becoming a qualified instructor while enjoying the satisfaction of teaching locally in Westfield, Surrey.

All The Top Bananas

Contact Details:

All The Top Bananas Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Lead Engineer

Join Local Manufacturing Groups

Getting involved in local manufacturing groups or associations can seriously boost your visibility. These groups often have insider info on job openings and networking events, plus they help you connect with like-minded folks in the industry. Check out what's happening in your area!

Show Off Your Skills in Practical Spaces

Consider participating in workshops or open days at manufacturing companies. It's a great way to show off your hands-on skills in a real-world environment and can sometimes lead to job offers right on the spot. Keep an eye on announcements from local manufacturers for these opportunities!

Leverage the Power of Internships

While you're looking for full-time positions, don't underestimate the power of internships! Even if you don't see a direct role, securing an internship at a company can open doors to future jobs. Many manufacturing firms prefer to hire from their intern pool, so it's definitely worth considering.

Apply Directly Through Company Websites

When you find a role at a company you love, like All The Top Bananas, apply directly on their website. This way, you’re more likely to be noticed by the hiring team. Plus, showing that you took the time to seek out their application process highlights your genuine interest in the firm!

We think you need these skills to ace Lead Engineer

Engineering Leadership
Multi-skilled Engineering Coordination
Planned Maintenance Management
Breakdown Response
Technical Expertise in Mechanical, Electrical and Control Systems
Coaching and Development of Engineering Teams
Computerised Maintenance Management Systems (CMMS)

Some tips for your application 🫡

Showcase Your Technical Skills:In the manufacturing-production sector, it's crucial to highlight your technical skills and experience. Make sure your CV features any relevant qualifications, such as certifications in machinery operation or production management, and don’t forget about any specific systems or software you’re familiar with. This can really set you apart!

Emphasise Teamwork and Communication:Working in manufacturing often means being part of a larger team. Highlight your experience in collaborative projects or environments where communication was key. Maybe you have experience with lean manufacturing principles? Talk about how you worked with your team to improve productivity and maintain quality.

Tailor Your Cover Letter to the Company:Don’t just recycle an old cover letter! Take the time to tailor your cover letter to All The Top Bananas specifically. Mention what excites you about their production processes or products, and how your previous experiences can contribute to their goals. We want to see your enthusiasm for the role!

Use Concrete Examples of Your Achievements:When detailing your work experience, include measurable achievements that can demonstrate your impact. Whether it’s improving efficiency by a certain percentage or successfully leading a project, these specifics can make a huge difference. Numbers speak volumes in the manufacturing world!

How to prepare for a job interview at All The Top Bananas

Know Your Manufacturing Processes

Before you walk into the interview with All The Top Bananas, brush up on the specific manufacturing processes relevant to the role. Understanding lean manufacturing principles or quality control techniques could give you a solid edge to discuss how you’d fit into their operations.

Technical Questions Are Key

Be prepared for technical questions around machinery, production scheduling, or materials handling. Make sure you can confidently explain how you've dealt with these in past experiences or internships. Knowing industry-specific software could also be a big plus!

Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills

Manufacturing environments often focus on continuous improvement. Be ready to discuss specific instances where you’ve solved a production issue or implemented a process improvement. It’s all about demonstrating your analytical thinking and hands-on approach.

Align Your Values with Quality and Safety

In a full-time role, companies like All The Top Bananas value commitment to quality and safety. Be prepared to discuss how you prioritise these factors in your work. It’s about showing that you’re not just looking for a job, but that you genuinely care about contributing positively to their production environment.