At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and motivate the engineering team while driving improvements in reliability and performance.
- Company: Established food manufacturing business with a focus on engineering excellence.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, excellent work-life balance, and long-term career development.
- Other info: Dynamic role combining leadership, strategy, and hands-on engineering support.
- Why this job: Shape the engineering function and make a real impact in a growing industry.
- Qualifications: Experience in leading engineering teams within food manufacturing or FMCG environments.
Stonehouse, Gloucestershire
£53,000 + Benefits
Days | Permanent
Are you an experienced Engineering Team Leader, Supervisor or Lead Engineer looking to take the next step in your career? Do you have a strong background within food manufacturing or FMCG and enjoy leading teams while remaining technically involved?
We are recruiting for a Lead Engineer to join a well-established food manufacturing business. This is a fantastic opportunity for an electrically biased, multi-skilled engineer who can combine strong leadership with hands-on engineering support to drive reliability, continuous improvement and engineering excellence across the site.
The Role
Reporting directly to the Site Manager, you will lead the engineering function, developing the site's engineering strategy while ensuring equipment reliability, legal compliance and continuous improvement. This is a predominantly leadership-based role (approximately 70%) with around 30% hands-on engineering support when required.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead, motivate and develop the site engineering team.
- Develop and implement the site's engineering strategy.
- Drive improvements in engineering KPIs, including breakdown reduction, maintenance completion and cost control.
- Manage engineering budgets and expenditure.
- Oversee and continuously improve the planned preventative maintenance (PPM) programme.
- Ensure the CMMS is fully utilised to plan, record and monitor engineering activities.
- Manage engineering compliance across all relevant statutory areas, including LOLER, electrical systems, pressure systems, refrigeration, boilers, calibration, asbestos, legionella and change management.
- Manage engineering stores and spare parts.
- Ensure site services remain reliable and capable of supporting future production growth.
- Manage contractors and external service providers.
- Lead capital expenditure (CAPEX) projects, including equipment upgrades and site improvements.
- Provide technical guidance and hands-on support to engineers during complex breakdowns when required.
The Ideal Candidate
- Previous experience leading an engineering team within a food manufacturing or FMCG environment.
- Multi-skilled engineer with a strong electrical bias preferred.
- Proven experience improving engineering performance and driving continuous improvement.
- Strong knowledge of engineering compliance and maintenance best practice.
- Experience managing engineering budgets and CAPEX projects.
- Good understanding of BRC and UK food manufacturing standards.
- Excellent leadership, communication and organisational skills.
- Degree qualified would be advantageous but is not essential.
- Dairy or cheese manufacturing experience would be beneficial but is not required.
What's on Offer
- £53,000 salary.
- Days-based position offering an excellent work-life balance.
- Opportunity to lead and shape the engineering function.
- Long-term career development within a successful and growing food manufacturing business.
- A varied role combining leadership, strategy and hands-on engineering.
If you're an experienced Engineering Supervisor, Team Leader or Lead Engineer looking for your next challenge within FMCG or food manufacturing, we'd love to hear from you. Apply today for a confidential discussion or reach out to Ryan Guy.
Lead Maintenance Engineer employer: Kingston Barnes Ltd
At Kingston Barnes Ltd, we pride ourselves on being an excellent employer, offering a dynamic work culture that fosters collaboration and innovation in Tewkesbury. Our commitment to employee growth is evident through mentorship opportunities for apprentices and a competitive benefits package, including 30 days of holiday and standby allowances, making it a rewarding place to advance your career in engineering maintenance.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Lead Maintenance Engineer
✨Join Engineering Meetups!
Get yourself along to local engineering meetups or tech conferences. These are great places to connect with like-minded folks and industry leaders who might just have a lead on that full-time Lead Maintenance Engineer role you’re after at Kingston Barnes Ltd.
✨Show Off Your Projects!
Don’t be shy about showcasing your engineering projects. Whether it’s a funky app, a mechanical design, or a complex algorithm, having a solid portfolio on platforms like GitHub can really make you stand out. Plus, it gives potential employers at Kingston Barnes Ltd a taste of what you can bring to the table!
✨Engage with Online Communities
Dive into engineering forums and online communities, like Reddit or specific engineering Discord channels. Sharing your insights, asking questions, and being active can help you build connections that might lead to job opportunities at Kingston Barnes Ltd.
✨Apply Through Company Websites
When you spot a role like Lead Maintenance Engineer at Kingston Barnes Ltd, apply directly through their website. Often, this can show your genuine interest in the company and you might just get noticed quicker than via typical job boards.
We think you need these skills to ace Lead Maintenance Engineer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Technical Expertise:When applying for an engineering role like Lead Maintenance Engineer, it’s essential to highlight your technical skills. Include any relevant software or tools you're proficient in on your CV—think CAD software, simulation tools, or programming languages. Don't skimp on any engineering projects you've worked on that demonstrate your ability to solve complex problems.
Focus on Results and Impact:In the engineering world, we love numbers and real-world impact. Quantify your achievements wherever possible—like reducing costs by a certain percentage, improving efficiency, or successfully completing a project ahead of schedule. This gives your future employers at Kingston Barnes Ltd a clear picture of the value you can bring.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Use your cover letter to express your passion for engineering and explain why you’re drawn to Kingston Barnes Ltd specifically. Share what aspects of their work excite you and how your values align with theirs. This is your chance to show a bit of personality while keeping it professional!
Include Relevant Certifications:If you have any engineering certifications, especially ones that are recognised in your field, make sure to feature them prominently on your CV. They demonstrate not just your knowledge, but also your commitment to professional development, which is something we at StudySmarter value highly.
How to prepare for a job interview at Kingston Barnes Ltd
✨Brush Up on Core Engineering Principles
Before heading into the interview with Kingston Barnes Ltd, make sure you're solid on the fundamental engineering principles relevant to the role. Be ready to discuss concepts such as thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, or structural analysis, depending on the specifics mentioned in the job description. Don’t skip any hands-on projects or coursework; these can be excellent talking points!
✨Show Off Your Problem-Solving Skills
Expect technical questions or case studies during your interview—after all, engineering is all about solving problems! Prepare a few examples of how you've tackled engineering challenges in the past, whether at university or in any practical experience. Practising with mock technical interviews can really help you articulate your thought process and solutions.
✨Relate Your Experience to the Role
In a full-time role, employers like Kingston Barnes Ltd want to see that you can adapt and grow within their team. Be ready to discuss how your previous internships, projects, or studies relate directly to the work you'll be doing. Highlight specific experiences that showcase your collaborative skills and how you've successfully worked within a team environment.
✨Know Your Tools and Software
Most engineering roles require familiarity with specific tools and software. Prepare to talk about your proficiency with programmes like AutoCAD, MATLAB, or SolidWorks if they’re relevant to the role. Even better, have examples of projects where you’ve used these tools, as it'll demonstrate your hands-on experience and readiness for the job.
