Engineer - Controls Engineering in Ilchester, Somerset

Engineer - Controls Engineering in Ilchester, Somerset

Ilchester +1 Full-Time 35000 - 40000 £ / year (est.) No working from home possible
Mars

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Ensure plant reliability and safety through maintenance and collaboration with operations.
  • Company: Join Mars, a purpose-driven company with a commitment to your growth.
  • Benefits: Competitive salary, welcome bonus, private healthcare, and generous annual leave.
  • Other info: Enjoy perks like gym membership, free coffee, and structured development opportunities.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact in a dynamic environment while working with world-famous brands.
  • Qualifications: Qualified Engineer with hands-on experience in electrical and mechanical maintenance.

The predicted salary is between 35000 - 40000 £ per year.

Castle Cary

£45,000– £50,600 (including shift allowance, DOE) + £2,500 Welcome Bonus, Performance Bonus & Exceptional Benefits

32 Hrs a week – Shift Pattern: Saturday & Sunday alternating weekly between (nights) 10pm-10am & (days) 10am-10pm. Weekday-1x shift - Mon-Fri 8am-4pm/6am-2pm.

Why Join Us?

We care about the world and your future. Mars offers competitive compensation and benefits along with some great perks, like fun freebies and best-in-class development. As a Mars Associate, you have our ongoing commitment to your growth and development as you work across our world-famous brands. The world we want tomorrow starts with how we do business today, and we're here to support you every step of the way.

The Role

We are seeking a proactive and highly capable Multi-Skilled Engineer to join our technical team at the Mars Petcare manufacturing facility in Castle Cary. In this critical site-based role, you will be responsible for ensuring maximum plant reliability, efficiency, and safety across our production and packaging lines.

You will deliver both planned preventative maintenance (PPM) and rapid breakdown response. As a key member of our engineering community, you will collaborate closely with operations to drive continuous improvement, minimize downtime, and uphold the world-class safety and quality standards that define Mars Petcare.

What’s in it for you?

  • Welcome Bonus paid in your first week’s salary
  • Career growth opportunities with structured development & Mars University
  • Private healthcare + equal parental leave
  • Generous pension (up to 9% contribution)
  • Life assurance (4x salary)
  • Gym membership & wellbeing support
  • Annual leave starting at 24 days, rising to 32 with service
  • Free perks on site: parking, Lavazza coffee, tea, fruit twice a week, and access to our employee shop

What We’re Looking For

  • Qualified Engineer: Approved apprenticeship, NVQ Level 3, ONC, or equivalent qualification in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering.
  • Multi-Skilled Competency: Proven hands-on experience executing both electrical and mechanical maintenance, fault-finding, and diagnostics in a fast-paced manufacturing or production environment.
  • Safety First Mindset: Strong understanding of Health, Safety, and Environment (HSE) guidelines, including Permit to Work systems, LOTO (Lock Out Tag Out), and risk assessments.
  • Communication & Collaboration: Excellent interpersonal and teamwork skills, with the ability to communicate technical handovers and machinery statuses clearly to operational peers.
  • Own transport is essential due to the site location.

Key Responsibilities

  • Planned & Reactive Maintenance: Execute scheduled preventative maintenance routines (PPMs) and provide high-quality, rapid-response fault diagnosis and repairs to minimize production downtime.
  • Safety & Compliance Leadership: Actively support and drive the highest Health, Safety, and Quality standards across the site, ensuring all engineering activities comply with Mars policies and UK legislative requirements.
  • Continuous Improvement: Identify opportunities to optimize machine performance, modify equipment layouts, and implement sustainable technical solutions that enhance plant reliability and decrease waste.
  • Collaboration & Detailed Documentation: Maintain accurate maintenance logs, update CMMS data, and deliver clear, structured shift handovers to ensure seamless continuity for weekday engineering teams.

What You Can Expect from Mars

  • Work alongside 130,000+ Associates worldwide guided by our Five Principles
  • Be part of a purpose-driven company shaping “the world we want tomorrow”
  • Access world-class training & development from day one
  • Join a company with an industry-leading salary and benefits package

Locations

IlchesterSomerset

Engineer - Controls Engineering in Ilchester, Somerset employer: Mars

Mars in Melton Mowbray is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work culture that fosters innovation and collaboration. With competitive salaries, private healthcare, and ample opportunities for career advancement, employees are encouraged to grow and thrive in their roles while working with state-of-the-art technology in the FMCG sector.

Mars

Contact Details:

Mars Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Engineer - Controls Engineering in Ilchester, Somerset

Get Involved in Control Systems Communities

Dive into control systems forums and relevant LinkedIn groups to showcase your expertise. Engage in discussions, answer questions, and share your knowledge—this can help us get noticed by potential employers looking for someone just like you!

Attend Industry Conferences and Workshops

Join conferences or workshops specifically tailored to control systems engineering, like the IEEE conference. These events are goldmines for networking with industry leaders and might just lead us to that perfect role at Mars.

Get Practical Experience Through Projects

Start or contribute to projects that highlight your control systems skills. Whether it’s a simulated environment or real-world application, having tangible results will give us a huge edge when chatting with Mars.

Choose Job Boards Wisely

Focus on niche job boards that specialise in engineering roles. Channels like Engineers.co or similar can help ensure that we’re not only applying to random jobs but targeting positions that align perfectly with our control systems engineering skills!

We think you need these skills to ace Engineer - Controls Engineering in Ilchester, Somerset

Communication Skills
Problem-Solving Skills
Property Maintenance
Multi-Trade Skills
Plumbing Diagnosis
Joinery Skills
Painting Skills

Some tips for your application 🫡

Highlight Your Technical Skills:When applying for the Engineer - Controls Engineering role, make sure to showcase your technical expertise in control systems. Be specific about the software and programming languages you’ve worked with—mention anything from MATLAB to PLC programming. This will help us see your proficiency in the tools that are essential for the job.

Quantify Your Achievements:In the engineering world, numbers speak volumes! Use your CV to quantify your achievements—whether it’s a percentage improvement in system efficiency or successful project completions under budget. This will not only make your application stand out but also showcase your problem-solving capabilities to us.

Tailor Your Cover Letter:Don’t hesitate to get personal in your cover letter! Talk about why you’re passionate about control systems engineering and how your previous experiences have prepared you for this role at Mars. We want to see your genuine interest and motivation to contribute to our projects.

Professional Documentation:For a full-time role, ensure that your application documents are professional and well-structured. Include a clear CV format and cover letter that highlights key projects or systems you've worked on. Don’t forget to mention any relevant certifications or training that would make you a valuable addition to us at Mars.

How to prepare for a job interview at Mars

Brush Up on Control Systems Concepts

Make sure we're up to speed with control systems theory—think stability analysis, PID tuning, and state-space representation. Revising these fundamentals will help us answer technical questions more confidently and demonstrate our expertise during the interview.

Familiarise Yourself with Simulation Tools

Get hands-on with popular simulation tools like MATLAB/Simulink or LabVIEW. A lot of interviews might include technical assessments or practical tasks to gauge our understanding of system modelling and control design using these tools, so being proficient could really set us apart.

Be Ready for Problem-Solving Scenarios

We should expect scenario-based questions where we'll have to solve real-world control system challenges. Practising how to approach problems logically and articulately will help us show our analytical thinking to the interviewer at Mars.

Show Your Passion for Engineering

As this role is full-time, it's crucial we convey our genuine enthusiasm for control systems engineering. Sharing personal projects or experiences where we tackled interesting engineering tasks can illustrate our commitment and eagerness to contribute to the team at Mars.