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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 safety and performance.
- 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 a maintenance environment.
- Other info: Enjoy a hands-on role with clear decision-making authority and a focus on continuous improvement.
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 Tonypandy employer: Coppice Sirane
Contact Detail:
Coppice Sirane Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Engineering Shift Lead in Tonypandy
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the engineering field, attend industry events, and join relevant online forums. 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 how you can showcase your experience in diagnosing and repairing mechanical systems, as well as your ability to lead a team effectively.
✨Tip Number 3
Don’t just apply anywhere; focus on companies that align with your values and career goals. Check out our website for openings that match your skills and interests, and tailor your approach to each role.
✨Tip Number 4
Follow up after interviews! A quick thank-you email can go a long way in showing your enthusiasm for the role. Mention something specific from the interview to remind them of your conversation and keep you top of mind.
We think you need these skills to ace Engineering Shift Lead in Tonypandy
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that match the Engineering Shift Lead role. Highlight your mechanical engineering background, leadership experience, and any hands-on maintenance work you've done. We want to see how you fit into our team!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're passionate about this role and how your experience aligns with our needs. Don’t forget to mention your approach to safety and continuous improvement – we love that stuff!
Showcase Your Achievements: When detailing your past roles, focus on specific achievements that demonstrate your ability to improve equipment reliability and reduce downtime. Numbers speak volumes, so if you’ve got metrics to back up your claims, include them!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows you’re keen to join our 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 role is hands-on, so showing your technical expertise will definitely impress.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare to talk about your experience in leading teams, especially in a maintenance or engineering environment. Think of examples where you've coached or developed team members, set clear expectations, and managed performance issues. They want to see that you can create a culture of accountability and teamwork.
✨Emphasise Safety and Compliance
Safety is key in this role, so be ready to discuss your understanding of HSE requirements and compliance standards. Share any experiences where you've championed safe systems of work or led risk assessments. This will show that you take safety seriously and can lead by example.
✨Be Ready for Continuous Improvement Talk
Familiarise yourself with Lean tools, RCA, and 5 Whys methodology. Prepare to discuss how you've identified and implemented process improvements in previous roles. They’ll be looking for someone who can drive improvements in OEE and reliability, so have some success stories ready to share.
