Find a job 
Featured Companies 
Featured Universities 
For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and develop a shift-based engineering team while tackling hands-on maintenance and improvements.
- Company: Join a dynamic company focused on engineering excellence and safety.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, supportive leadership, and opportunities for personal and professional growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in engineering performance and foster a high-performance culture.
- Qualifications: Strong mechanical engineering background with leadership experience and problem-solving skills.
- Other info: Flexible shifts and a chance to drive continuous improvement in a collaborative environment.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
An experienced engineering leadership role focused on ownership of engineering performance during your shift. This is a hands-on leadership position combining technical expertise with people management, safety leadership and continuous improvement. You will lead, coach and develop a shift-based engineering team while actively involved in maintenance, breakdown response, fabrication and improvement work. You’ll play a key role in improving equipment reliability, reducing downtime and building a high-performance, safety-first culture.
What you'll be responsible for:
- People Leadership & Culture: Leading start-of-shift briefs, end-of-shift reviews and effective cross-shift handovers; setting clear expectations and holding the team to agreed standards; coaching, developing and recognising engineers on shift; managing performance, conduct and absence issues fairly and in line with company policy; creating a culture of accountability, teamwork and continuous improvement.
- Hands-on maintenance & breakdown response: Diagnosing and repairing mechanical, pneumatic and hydraulic faults; supporting electrical fault-finding where competent; carrying out fabrication, machining and component repair work; ensuring fast, safe and effective breakdown resolution to minimise downtime.
- Preventive Maintenance: Delivering scheduled preventive maintenance to defined standards; working from maintenance schedules and production plans; maintaining accurate maintenance records for compliance and analysis.
- Safety, Compliance & Housekeeping: Championing safe systems of work and leading point-of-work risk assessments; working closely with the H&S Manager to drive safety compliance; investigating accidents and near misses and ensuring corrective actions are completed; maintaining BRC accreditation, 5S standards and excellent housekeeping.
- Continuous Improvement & Projects: Identifying and implementing equipment and process improvements; supporting automation and cost-reduction initiatives; applying Lean tools, RCA and 5 Whys methodology; driving improvements in OEE, reliability and downtime reduction; facilitating small Kaizen activities and sharing best practice across shifts.
- Communication & Decision Making: Providing clear shift performance updates to the Head of Engineering; maintaining accurate breakdown, repair and PM records; liaising with internal teams and external suppliers; allocating labour and approving reasonable overtime within agreed parameters; stopping work where safety or quality is at risk and escalating appropriately; deputising for the Head of Engineering within agreed authority.
What success looks like: Strong shift-level safety performance and audit results; planned maintenance completed on schedule; engaged, well-coached engineering team; improved OEE and measurable CI cost savings; high levels of near-miss reporting and closed corrective actions.
Essential:
- Strong mechanical engineering background with hands-on experience
- Proven ability to diagnose and repair mechanical, pneumatic and hydraulic systems
- Experience with fabrication, machining and hand-fitting components
- Leadership experience within a maintenance or engineering environment
- Knowledge of RCA and 5 Whys problem-solving techniques
- Good understanding of HSE requirements and compliance standards
- Confident people leader who sets standards and holds others accountable
- Flexible and able to work rotating shifts
Desirable:
- Basic electrical fault-finding capability
- Experience with Lean / Continuous Improvement tools
- Manufacturing environment experience
- IOSH Managing Safely or equivalent H&S qualification
- Track record of improving OEE and equipment performance
Why Join Us: A leadership role that keeps you hands-on and technically challenged; real influence over engineering performance and site reliability; opportunity to develop people, systems and processes; supportive leadership structure and clear decision-making authority. If you're an experienced engineer ready to lead from the front balancing people, performance and technical excellence we'd love to hear from you. Apply now to join our Engineering leadership team. No agencies please.
Engineering Shift Lead in England employer: The Abbey
Contact Detail:
The Abbey Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Engineering Shift Lead in England
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the engineering field and let them know you're on the hunt for a Shift Lead role. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews by brushing up on your technical skills and leadership examples. Be ready to discuss how you've tackled mechanical faults or led a team through a tough project. Show them you’re not just a leader, but a hands-on problem solver!
✨Tip Number 3
Don’t forget to showcase your safety leadership experience! Talk about how you've championed safe systems of work and improved compliance in past roles. Safety is key in engineering, and we want to see that you take it seriously.
✨Tip Number 4
Finally, apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining our Engineering leadership team. Let’s get you in the door!
We think you need these skills to ace Engineering Shift Lead in England
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that match the Engineering Shift Lead role. Highlight your hands-on engineering experience, leadership roles, and any continuous improvement projects you've been involved in.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Use your cover letter to tell us why you're the perfect fit for this position. Share specific examples of how you've led teams, improved processes, or tackled challenges in previous roles. Make it personal and engaging!
Showcase Your Technical Skills: Don’t forget to mention your technical expertise! Whether it's diagnosing mechanical faults or implementing Lean tools, we want to see how your skills can contribute to our high-performance culture.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows you’re keen on joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at The Abbey
✨Know Your Engineering Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your mechanical, pneumatic, and hydraulic systems knowledge. Be ready to discuss specific examples of how you've diagnosed and repaired faults in the past. This role is hands-on, so showing your technical expertise will definitely impress.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare to talk about your experience in leading teams, especially in a maintenance or engineering environment. Think of examples where you've coached or developed team members, managed performance issues, or created a culture of accountability. They want to see that you can lead effectively!
✨Emphasise Safety and Compliance
Safety is a big deal in this role, so be ready to discuss your understanding of HSE requirements and compliance standards. Share any experiences where you've championed safe systems of work or led risk assessments. This will show that you take safety seriously.
✨Be Ready for Continuous Improvement Talk
Familiarise yourself with Lean tools, RCA, and 5 Whys methodologies. Prepare to discuss how you've identified and implemented process improvements in previous roles. They’ll be looking for someone who can drive improvements in OEE and reliability, so have some solid examples ready.
