Opex Engineer - Northampton
Opex Engineer - Northampton

Opex Engineer - Northampton

Northampton Full-Time 30000 - 40000 £ / year (est.) No home office possible
Greencore Group

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Run machine performance studies and develop maintenance routines to enhance efficiency.
  • Company: Join Greencore, a leading UK convenience food creator with a vibrant culture.
  • Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, holidays, pension contributions, and exclusive employee discounts.
  • Other info: Receive on-the-job training and development opportunities for career advancement.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact in food manufacturing while growing your career with us.
  • Qualifications: Mechanical engineering experience in food manufacturing and strong communication skills.

The predicted salary is between 30000 - 40000 £ per year.

Why Greencore? Following the combination with Bakkavor in January 2026, we're one of the UK's leading creators of convenience food, driven by a simple purpose: to make every day taste better. As a vibrant and fast-moving business, we're proud to employ over 28,000 talented colleagues across 36 manufacturing sites and 21 distribution depots in the UK and the US. Together, we bring delicious food to life. Our products cover every meal occasion from breakfast through to dinner and dessert, with lunch and snacking in between. In FY25, our shared passion helped us achieve combined revenues of approximately £4bn. Our extensive direct to store (DTS) network, with 17 depots across the UK, allows us to deliver fresh and frozen food both our own and from trusted partners to thousands of stores every day, ensuring consumers enjoy the very best, whenever and wherever they shop.

Here at Northampton, we operate one of the most impressive facilities in Europe, based across a campus of 5 manufacturing units, and we have a team of around 2,000 colleagues making high quality premium products every day. We are the sole supplier of sandwiches, wraps, rolls and sushi for Marks & Spencer.

What you'll be doing:

  • Run machine performance studies to identify and resolve the major causes of downtime, speed loss and waste.
  • Run trials to understand optimum performance settings of machines.
  • Develop new preventative maintenance routines to embed long term fixes.
  • Work with internal and external stakeholders to design machine modifications, or new machines, to drive improvements in performance.
  • Develop and write business cases to secure capital investment for improvement initiatives.
  • Run studies to understand and simplify changeover activity.
  • Develop good practice and pro-actively share amongst the GME and GEE community.

What we're looking for:

  • Experience operating as a mechanical engineer within a food manufacturing environment.
  • Project management experience supported by robust root cause analysis skills and an ability to identify and deliver permanent solutions.
  • Good communication skills, ideally having been practised by leading people through change, engaging people in the need for change.
  • Skilled in or open to learning about lean improvement techniques.

At Greencore we put our people at the core. We celebrate their differences and help everyone to be themselves at work. Together we make every day taste better. If this sounds like you join us, grow with Greencore and be a part of driving our future success.

What You'll Get in Return:

  • Competitive salary and job-related benefits.
  • Holidays.
  • Competitive matched pension contributions.
  • Company share save scheme.
  • Exclusive Greencore employee discount platform.
  • Access to a full Wellbeing Centre platform.

Throughout your time at Greencore, you will be supported with on the job training and development opportunities to further your career.

Opex Engineer - Northampton employer: Greencore Group

Greencore is an exceptional employer, offering a vibrant work culture where over 2,000 colleagues collaborate in one of Europe's most impressive food manufacturing facilities. With a strong focus on employee growth, we provide extensive training and development opportunities, competitive salaries, and a range of benefits including a matched pension scheme and exclusive discounts. Join us in Northampton to be part of a dynamic team dedicated to making every day taste better while enjoying a supportive environment that celebrates diversity and innovation.
Greencore Group

Contact Detail:

Greencore Group Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

We think this is how you could land Opex Engineer - Northampton

✨Tip Number 1

Network like a pro! Reach out to current or former employees at Greencore on LinkedIn. A friendly chat can give you insider info and maybe even a referral, which can really boost your chances.

✨Tip Number 2

Prepare for the interview by researching Greencore's values and recent projects. Show us that you’re not just another candidate; you’re genuinely interested in making every day taste better with your skills!

✨Tip Number 3

Practice your answers to common interview questions, especially around problem-solving and project management. We want to see how you tackle challenges, so be ready to share specific examples from your experience.

✨Tip Number 4

Don’t forget to follow up after your interview! A quick thank-you email can keep you fresh in our minds and shows your enthusiasm for the role. Plus, it’s a great chance to reiterate why you’d be a perfect fit!

We think you need these skills to ace Opex Engineer - Northampton

Mechanical Engineering
Machine Performance Analysis
Preventative Maintenance
Project Management
Root Cause Analysis
Communication Skills
Lean Improvement Techniques
Stakeholder Engagement
Change Management
Business Case Development
Operational Efficiency
Problem-Solving Skills
Collaboration
Data Analysis

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Opex Engineer role. Highlight your experience in mechanical engineering and any project management skills you've got. We want to see how your background fits with what we're looking for!

Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're passionate about working at Greencore and how you can contribute to our mission. Keep it engaging and relevant to the role.

Showcase Your Skills: Don’t forget to showcase your skills in lean improvement techniques and root cause analysis. We love seeing candidates who are proactive and ready to drive change, so make sure these come through in your application.

Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for the best chance of success. It’s straightforward and ensures your application goes directly to us. Plus, you’ll get to explore more about our culture and values!

How to prepare for a job interview at Greencore Group

✨Know Your Machines

Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of machine performance and maintenance. Be ready to discuss specific examples from your past experience where you've successfully identified and resolved downtime or speed loss issues.

✨Showcase Your Project Management Skills

Prepare to talk about your project management experience, especially in a food manufacturing context. Have a couple of solid examples ready that demonstrate your ability to lead change and deliver permanent solutions.

✨Communicate Effectively

Good communication is key! Think about how you've engaged teams in the past and be prepared to share those experiences. Highlight any instances where you’ve led people through change and how you made them feel involved in the process.

✨Lean Improvement Techniques

If you're skilled in lean improvement techniques, make sure to mention it! If not, express your eagerness to learn. Companies like Greencore value candidates who are open to developing new skills that can drive performance improvements.

Opex Engineer - Northampton
Greencore Group
Location: Northampton

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