At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a team to enhance equipment reliability and drive proactive maintenance.
- Company: Join SIVA Group, a leader in flexible packaging manufacturing.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, performance bonus, and excellent health benefits.
- Other info: Be part of a major operational transformation with great career growth.
- Why this job: Shape the future of engineering while making a real impact on manufacturing.
- Qualifications: Strong mechanical engineering background and leadership experience required.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 68000 £ per year.
Salary: £60,000–£68,000 DOE + up to 10% Performance Bonus + Excellent Benefits
Company: SIVA Group
SIVA Group is investing in a major operational transformation to improve equipment reliability, increase Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) and eliminate repeat engineering failures across our flexible packaging manufacturing site. We're looking for an experienced Reliability Engineering Lead to build and lead a proactive reliability function that moves us closer towards planned, preventive maintenance and continuous improvement. This is a newly created role with the opportunity to shape the future of engineering within the business.
If you’re a hands‑on engineer who enjoys leading from the front, coaching engineers and fixing problems permanently, we’d like to hear from you.
The Opportunity
You’ll lead a dedicated Reliability Team consisting of:
- 2 Mechanical Engineers
- 2 Electrical Engineers
You will be responsible for planning, organising and delivering the team's weekly workload while working alongside them on the shop floor. This is not a desk‑based planning role. We expect you to be visible on the factory floor, carrying out inspections, leading preventive maintenance activities, supporting major equipment overhauls and driving reliability improvements. The team's objective is simple: Eliminate repeat failures and improve equipment reliability. The team will focus on planned maintenance and reliability improvement projects— not day‑to‑day reactive breakdown response.
What You’ll Be Doing
- Lead the Reliability Team
- Lead, coach and develop a team of four engineers.
- Plan daily and weekly engineering workloads.
- Prioritise work based on business risk and production impact.
- Ensure planned work is completed safely, on time and to a high standard.
- Be Hands‑On
- Carry out Preventive Planned Maintenance (PPM) alongside your team.
- Lead equipment inspections and condition assessments.
- Support mechanical repairs and reliability improvements where required.
- Verify completed work before equipment is handed back to Production.
- Develop engineering standards and best practice.
- Drive Reliability
- Identify recurring equipment failures using downtime and OEE data.
- Lead Root Cause Analysis (RCA) investigations.
- Implement permanent corrective actions.
- Improve machine reliability across extrusion, print, converting and warehouse equipment.
- Reduce repeat engineering callouts and improve asset availability.
- Own the site’s weekly PPM schedule.
- Build structured maintenance plans for critical assets.
- Ensure work is fully planned with labour, parts and permits before execution.
- Work closely with Operations to maximise maintenance opportunities while minimising production disruption.
What We’re Looking For
You’ll be a practical mechanical engineer who enjoys solving problems, developing people and improving manufacturing performance. You’ll have:
- A strong mechanical engineering background (apprenticeship, HNC/HND or equivalent).
- Experience leading engineering teams within manufacturing.
- Experience planning and delivering Preventive Planned Maintenance programmes.
- Excellent mechanical fault‑finding skills.
- Strong organisational and planning ability.
- Experience leading Root Cause Analysis investigations.
- Excellent communication and leadership skills.
- Experience within packaging, plastics, printing, converting or FMCG manufacturing would be highly advantageous.
What Success Looks Like
Within your first 90 days you will:
- Establish a structured weekly PPM programme.
- Build and manage the Reliability Team’s workload plan.
- Introduce equipment condition inspection routines.
- Reduce repeat engineering failures on critical production equipment.
- Improve planned maintenance compliance.
- Become a recognised shop‑floor leader, working alongside your team every day.
Within 12 months you will have:
- Embedded a proactive reliability culture.
- Significantly reduced repeat breakdowns.
- Increased planned maintenance compliance.
- Improved machine availability and OEE.
- Developed a highly capable reliability engineering team.
Salary & Benefits
- Performance Bonus – Up to 10%
- Company pension contribution
- 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays
- Company sick pay
- Life assurance
- Private healthcare or health cash plan
- Ongoing professional development and training
- Opportunity to play a key role in a major manufacturing transformation programme
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Reliability Engineering Lead in Southampton
✨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 Reliability Engineering Lead role you’re after at Siva Group.
✨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 Siva Group 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 Siva Group.
✨Apply Through Company Websites
When you spot a role like Reliability Engineering Lead at Siva Group, 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 Reliability Engineering Lead in Southampton
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Technical Expertise:When applying for an engineering role like Reliability Engineering Lead, 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 Siva Group 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 Siva Group 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 Siva Group
✨Brush Up on Core Engineering Principles
Before heading into the interview with Siva Group, 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 Siva Group 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.
