Engineering Operations Manager - Ocado Logistics

Here at Ocado Logistics, it’s our mission to provide an outstanding customer experience for our partners, developing groundbreaking technology, opening multiple sites at an accelerating rate and engaging in exciting new business partnerships around the world - changing the way the world shops, for good.

About The Role

This is more than an engineering role. It’s a leadership opportunity at the heart of a highly automated, legacy Customer Fulfilment Centre, where technology, people, and performance come together at scale. You will lead a large, multi‑skilled engineering function of around 50 colleagues, including two Team Managers and teams made up of engineers, technicians, technical assistants, and an apprentice. Operating within a 24/7 environment, you will balance hands‑on technical troubleshooting with strategic leadership, ensuring automation and MHE systems perform safely, reliably, and efficiently. Partnering closely with operational teams, you will act as a motivator and influencer, championing a strong people‑focused culture, continuous improvement, and exemplary health and safety standards. Your leadership will directly shape both operational performance and the development of future engineering talent. This is a high‑impact role where attitude, coaching capability, and technical credibility are just as important as experience. The role operates on a Panama shift pattern (usually working 10am - 10pm), offering a competitive salary and benefits package.

You Will Be:

• Providing day‑to‑day technical leadership and troubleshooting support across complex automation and MHE systems.
• Inspiring and leading two shift‑based engineering teams through their Team Managers, fostering engagement, accountability, and high performance.
• Managing and developing a large, diverse team of engineers, technicians, technical assistants, and an apprentice, with a strong focus on coaching and capability building.
• Acting as a motivator and people leader, steering, influencing, and inspiring others through clear direction and positive leadership behaviours.
• Championing health and safety, ensuring best practice is embedded into every activity and decision.
• Driving a culture of continuous improvement (CI), using Lean principles, data, and structured problem‑solving to enhance reliability and performance.
• Collaborating with operational leaders to ensure seamless integration between engineering, inbound, outbound, and support teams.
• Leading from the front, setting the standard for attitude, behaviours, safety, quality, and operational excellence.
• Owning engineering systems and improvement initiatives, delivering sustainable, long‑term solutions.
• Developing future leaders by coaching, mentoring, and supporting both technical and leadership growth across the team.

About You

You are a people‑oriented engineering leader with the presence, energy, and credibility to lead at scale. You are passionate about leadership and developing others, and you understand that attitude and behaviours are key to building a successful, engaged team.

You bring:

• A strong people‑first mindset, with a genuine passion for coaching, developing, and motivating others.
• Proven experience influencing and leading large teams through others, creating alignment and trust.
• A focus on continuous improvement and health & safety, embedding these into everyday ways of working.
• The confidence to make decisions and steer teams through complex technical and operational challenges.
• Excellent communication skills, able to engage at all levels and translate technical issues into clear actions.
• Resilience and adaptability, thriving in a fast‑paced, 24/7 operational environment.
• Strong technical credibility across mechanical and electrical disciplines, with the ability to support hands‑on troubleshooting when required.
• A high level of ownership and accountability, driven to solve problems and deliver sustainable results.
• Good technical ability relating to automation hardware and software, this may include, but is not limited to: HNC Engineering or equivalent; Engineering Technician Apprenticeship; Or Electrical and/or mechanical skills preferably gained in an FMCG background to at least NVQ 3.

What You Can Expect To Receive In Return

At Ocado we believe in a workplace where everyone feels valued and supported, so you’ll find a safe and collaborative atmosphere that is as fresh as our product as well as an award winning recognition programme and benefits package that includes a healthy work‑life balance, extensive healthcare coverage, competitive salaries, and exclusive employee discounts. Join Ocado Logistics today and become a part of a culture that wholeheartedly values and supports your well‑being throughout every stage of your career.

Benefits:

• Pension Plan: Secure your future with our pension scheme, featuring up to 7% employer contribution matching.
• Financial Protection: We offer Income Protection and Life Insurance for financial security.
• Wellbeing Support: Access dedicated apps and an Employee Assistance Programme for holistic well‑being.
• Private Medical Cover: Rest easy with comprehensive private medical insurance.
• Generous Leave: Growing after 5 years, with an option to buy more.
• Family‑Friendly: We support your family with maternity, adoption, shared parental leave, and paternity leave.
• Share Schemes: Join exciting share plans to participate in our success.
• Lifestyle benefits: Our benefits platform includes a Cycle to Work scheme, car salary sacrifice, and much more.
• Shopping Perks: Enjoy a 15% discount on Ocado.com and savings at popular retailers, days out, and restaurants.

Ocado Group is an equal opportunities employer and as such makes every effort to ensure that all potential employees are treated fairly and equally, regardless of their sex, sexual orientation, marital status, race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief, age, or disability or union membership status.