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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and develop a shift-based engineering team while tackling hands-on maintenance and improvements.
- Company: Join a dynamic engineering team at Cambrian Industrial Park, focused on performance and safety.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, supportive leadership, and opportunities for personal and professional growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by improving equipment reliability and fostering a high-performance culture.
- Qualifications: Strong mechanical engineering background and proven leadership experience in maintenance environments.
- Other info: Enjoy a hands-on role with clear decision-making authority and a focus on continuous improvement.
The predicted salary is between 34000 - 48000 £ per year.
Location: Cambrian Industrial Park, Tonypandy, CF40 2XX
Salary: Circa £41,000 DOE
Contract: Full-time, permanent
Hours/Shift Patterns: Monday to Friday (6am to 2pm or 2pm to 10pm on a rotating shift)
Department: Engineering
The Role
We are seeking an experienced Engineering Shift Lead to take ownership of engineering performance during your shift. This is a hands-on leadership role, combining technical expertise with people management, safety leadership and continuous improvement.
You will lead, coach and develop a shift-based engineering team while remaining actively involved in maintenance, breakdown response, fabrication and improvement work. You'll play a key role in improving equipment reliability, reducing downtime and building a high-performance, safety-first culture.
What you'll be responsible for
- People Leadership & Culture
- Leading start-of-shift briefs, end-of-shift reviews and effective cross-shift handovers
- Setting clear expectations and holding the team to agreed standards
- Coaching, developing and recognising engineers on shift
- Managing performance, conduct and absence issues fairly and in line with company policy
- Creating a culture of accountability, teamwork and continuous improvement
- Hands-on maintenance & breakdown response
- Diagnosing and repairing mechanical, pneumatic and hydraulic faults
- Supporting electrical fault-finding where competent
- Carrying out fabrication, machining and component repair work
- Ensuring fast, safe and effective breakdown resolution to minimise downtime
- Preventive Maintenance
- Delivering scheduled preventive maintenance to defined standards
- Working from maintenance schedules and production plans
- Maintaining accurate maintenance records for compliance and analysis
- Safety, Compliance & Housekeeping
- Championing safe systems of work and leading point-of-work risk assessments
- Working closely with the H&S Manager to drive safety compliance
- Investigating accidents and near misses and ensuring corrective actions are completed
- Maintaining BRC accreditation, 5S standards and excellent housekeeping
- Continuous Improvement & Projects
- Identifying and implementing equipment and process improvements
- Supporting automation and cost-reduction initiatives
- Applying Lean tools, RCA and 5 Whys methodology
- Driving improvements in OEE, reliability and downtime reduction
- Facilitating small Kaizen activities and sharing best practice across shifts
- Communication & Decision Making
- Providing clear shift performance updates to the Head of Engineering
- Maintaining accurate breakdown, repair and PM records
- Liaising with internal teams and external suppliers
- Allocating labour and approving reasonable overtime within agreed parameters
- Stopping work where safety or quality is at risk and escalating appropriately
- Deputising for the Head of Engineering within agreed authority
What success looks like
- Strong shift-level safety performance and audit results
- Reduced downtime and improved equipment reliability
- Planned maintenance completed on schedule
- Engaged, well-coached engineering team
- Improved OEE and measurable CI cost savings
- High levels of near-miss reporting and closed corrective actions
What we're looking for
Essential
- Strong mechanical engineering background with hands-on experience
- Proven ability to diagnose and repair mechanical, pneumatic and hydraulic systems
- Experience with fabrication, machining and hand-fitting components
- Leadership experience within a maintenance or engineering environment
- Knowledge of RCA and 5 Whys problem-solving techniques
- Good understanding of HSE requirements and compliance standards
- Confident people leader who sets standards and holds others accountable
- Flexible and able to work rotating shifts
Desirable
- Basic electrical fault-finding capability
- Experience with Lean / Continuous Improvement tools
- Manufacturing environment experience
- IOSH Managing Safely or equivalent H&S qualification
- Track record of improving OEE and equipment performance
Why Join Us
- A leadership role that keeps you hands-on and technically challenged
- Real influence over engineering performance and site reliability
- Opportunity to develop people, systems and processes
- Supportive leadership structure and clear decision-making authority
If you're an experienced engineer ready to lead from the front balancing people, performance and technical excellence we'd love to hear from you.
Apply now to join our Engineering leadership team.
No agencies please.
Engineering Shift Lead in Stoke-on-Trent employer: Coppice Sirane
Contact Detail:
Coppice Sirane Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Engineering Shift Lead in Stoke-on-Trent
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the engineering field, attend industry events, and don’t be shy about asking for introductions. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by practising common questions related to leadership and technical skills. Think about specific examples from your past experiences that showcase your ability to lead a team and solve engineering problems. We want you to shine!
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your hands-on experience! When discussing your background, highlight your mechanical engineering skills and any leadership roles you've held. Make sure to mention how you’ve improved equipment reliability and reduced downtime in previous positions.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining our team and contributing to our engineering success.
We think you need these skills to ace Engineering Shift Lead in Stoke-on-Trent
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experience mentioned in the job description. Highlight your mechanical engineering background and any leadership roles you've had. We want to see how you can bring your unique expertise to our team!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're the perfect fit for the Engineering Shift Lead role. Share specific examples of how you've improved equipment reliability or led teams in the past. We love a good story!
Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills: Since we're all about continuous improvement, make sure to mention your experience with RCA and 5 Whys techniques. We want to know how you've tackled challenges in previous roles and what impact it had on your team or project.
Apply Through Our Website: Don't forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and get the ball rolling. Plus, it shows you're keen to join our awesome team at StudySmarter!
How to prepare for a job interview at Coppice Sirane
✨Know Your Engineering Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your mechanical, pneumatic, and hydraulic systems knowledge. Be ready to discuss specific examples of how you've diagnosed and repaired faults in the past. This will show that you have the hands-on experience they’re looking for.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare to talk about your leadership style and how you've successfully managed teams in a maintenance or engineering environment. Think of examples where you've coached team members or handled performance issues effectively. They want to see that you can lead and inspire a shift-based team.
✨Emphasise Safety and Compliance
Familiarise yourself with HSE requirements and safety compliance standards. Be ready to discuss how you've championed safe working practices in previous roles. Highlight any experience you have with risk assessments and maintaining high safety standards.
✨Continuous Improvement Mindset
Be prepared to share your experiences with Lean tools, RCA, and 5 Whys methodology. Discuss any projects where you've implemented process improvements or cost-reduction initiatives. They’ll be keen to hear how you’ve driven improvements in equipment reliability and overall efficiency.
