At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a dynamic engineering team to ensure efficient manufacturing operations.
- Company: Join Weetabix, a company committed to diversity and innovation.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, flexible benefits, and personal development opportunities.
- Other info: Flexible work opportunities and a supportive workplace culture await you.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a fast-paced environment while developing your leadership skills.
- Qualifications: Engineering maintenance expertise and experience in team development required.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 60000 £ per year.
At Weetabix, we believe that diverse teams drive better ideas, stronger decisions, and a more inclusive workplace for everyone .
Were committed to building an organisation where people from all walks of life feel they belongwhere different voices, experiences, and backgrounds are valued and respected.
Closing date: 28th July Interview process: 2 Stage Interview Process Working pattern: 24/7 Panama Shift Pattern
Were happy to make reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process. Just let us know how we can support you.
Weetabix is on an exciting growth journey, and many of the opportunities we are recruiting for are newly created roles.
These positions reflect our investment in people, capabilities and innovation as we continue to build for the future.
The Recipe (About the Role) As a Lead Engineer, you will provide day-to-day engineering leadership for a manufacturing shift, ensuring equipment and processes run safely, reliably, and efficiently.
Working closely with a team of multi-skilled engineers, you will coordinate planned maintenance, respond to breakdowns, and support strong shift performance.
Balancing hands-on technical expertise with people leadership, you will support skills development, uphold high engineering standards, and ensure maintenance is delivered effectively.
You will play a key role in maximising asset uptime, reducing downtime, and enabling the shift to consistently achieve production, safety, and quality targets.
- Provide day-to-day coordination and assistance to a multi-skilled engineering team, prioritising workload to align with operational needs and maximise efficiency
- Deploy engineering resource effectively, matching skills to tasks to minimise downtime, remove bottlenecks, and improve overall productivity
- Aid team development through targets setting, performance reviews, coaching and structured development planning, including apprentices
- Deliver hands-on technical assist, mitigating to breakdowns and assisting the resolution of priority issues to maintain safe and efficient operations
- Prepare and contribute to shift reporting, including engineering updates, breakdown trends and impact on manufacturing performance
- Ensure all engineering activity meets company standards and complies with Health and Safety, Food Safety, and statutory requirements
- Manage Permit to Work processes, ensuring safe control of contractors, high-risk activities and maintenance work
- Maintain accurate use of the Computerised Maintenance Management System (CMMS), ensuring high-quality data, timely job closure and effective use of maintenance history
- Provide coaching and training to engineering and production colleagues, building capability and assisting long-term team development
- Carry out additional tasks in line with the role, assisting wider business needs as required
- Work across a fast-paced manufacturing environment, prioritising engineering barriers across multiple production facilities
- Guide root cause investigations using methods such as Root Cause Analysis, Five Whys, and Failure Modes and Effects Analysis to deliver lasting corrective and preventive actions
- Assist major breakdowns and technical issues, driving rapid fault resolution and reducing downtime
- Partner with engineering and operational teams to improve reliability, performance, and continuous improvement
The Ingredients (What we need from you) Key Know How
- Engineering maintenance expertise across mechanical, electrical and control systems in complex manufacturing
- Experience developing engineering capability, including assisting teams and apprentices across maintenance and improvement activities
- Proficient in Computerised Maintenance Management Systems (CMMS), using data to improve planning and inform outcomes
- Clear insight of manufacturing operations and impact on Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), downtime, cost, quality and waste
- Works jointly with production and engineering teams to align maintenance planning, scheduling and continuous improvement
- Your Bowl of Perks (Benefits) Competitive salary & Annual Flexible benefits
We offer a competitive salary and a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your wellbeing, career, and life outside work.
- Annual bonus
- Double-matched pension scheme (up to 12% from us)
- 25 days annual leave increasing with service
- Annual Salary review
- Healthcare plan
- Discounted Weetabix products
To support our employees, we also offer
- Continued investment in your personal development
- We believe in balance, whether it's for family, rest or simply time for you. As well as your holiday entitlement, you can purchase up to 5 days of additional annual leave
- Access to 24/7 counselling service (via Grocery Aid partnership)
- The freedom of Flexible Work Opportunities
- Enhanced Maternity / Paternity / Adoption Leave
- Additional Time Off for Fertility Treatment and Neonatal Care
- Working Parents Support Group
- Fully stocked kitchens filled with our delicious products for you to enjoy
Please note: We benchmark roles based on your skills and experience, so we do not advertise fixed salary ranges.
Unfortunately, we are unable to provide sponsorship for this position; therefore, we are seeking candidates who do not require sponsorship.
We utilise our Preferred Agency Supplier Partners as and when we require additional support
#Have You Had Your Weetabix
Lead Engineer (Contract) in Kettering employer: WEETABIX LIMITED
Weetabix Limited is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment in Burton Latimer that fosters innovation and collaboration. With a strong focus on employee growth, the company provides extensive training opportunities and a comprehensive benefits package, including annual bonuses and flexible working policies, making it an ideal place for professionals seeking meaningful and rewarding careers in the FMCG sector.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Lead Engineer (Contract) in Kettering
✨Get Your Hands Dirty in the Industry
For a temporary role in manufacturing, don’t shy away from physically visiting local factories and production sites. A friendly walk-in can often lead to spontaneous interviews or valuable connections, and can really help you get a sense of the workplace vibe.
✨Tap into Seasonal Hiring Windows
Manufacturing often sees spikes in hiring during particular seasons, like summer when production ramps up. Keep an eye on local job boards and community centres, or even visit seasonal job fairs—they’re golden for snagging those temporary roles we’re after.
✨Join Industry-Specific Communities
Consider joining online forums and social media groups specific to manufacturing. Sites like Reddit or even LinkedIn groups can give you insights into open positions and allow you to connect with current employees who might give you an edge in the hiring process.
✨Apply Directly Through Our Site!
With WEETABIX LIMITED looking for temporary talent, make sure to apply directly through our website. It’s often the fastest way to get your foot in the door, so make the most of it. Plus, it shows you're proactive—always a win!
We think you need these skills to ace Lead Engineer (Contract) in Kettering
Some tips for your application 🫡
Highlight Your Practical Skills:In manufacturing and production, hands-on skills are key! Make sure your CV showcases any relevant experience with machinery, quality control, or assembly line work. If you’ve got certifications related to operating specific equipment, don’t forget to include those too!
Focus on Flexibility and Adaptability:For a temporary role, employers are looking for candidates who can hit the ground running. In your cover letter, emphasise your ability to adapt quickly and work well under pressure. Share any experiences where you've successfully adjusted to changing circumstances or tight deadlines.
Include Specific Measurements of Your Impact:Manufacturing roles often revolve around efficiency and productivity. If you’ve previously worked in similar roles, be sure to quantify your achievements. For example, mention how you improved production rates or reduced waste – numbers stand out and show you mean business!
Express Your Interest in the Industry:Temporary roles can be a great stepping stone for future opportunities! Take a moment in your application to express why you’re interested in manufacturing and production. Showing genuine enthusiasm for the field can make a real difference and may keep doors open for upcoming positions!
How to prepare for a job interview at WEETABIX LIMITED
✨Showcase Your Hands-On Experience
In the manufacturing and production world, they want to see that you can actually handle the tools and machines. Bring along any certifications you have or even pictures of projects you’ve worked on. We want to demonstrate that you're not just a theory person but someone who can jump right in.
✨Emphasise Safety Knowledge
Safety's a huge deal in manufacturing, so make sure you’re clued up about health and safety regulations. Be prepared to discuss how you've followed safety protocols in past roles. It's all about showing you can contribute to a safe working environment at WEETABIX LIMITED.
✨Flexibility is Key
Since this is a temporary role, highlight your adaptability and willingness to step into different roles as needed. Share examples of times you’ve adjusted quickly to new situations or tackled varied tasks. We want to show you're the go-to person when things get busy!
✨Ask About Team Dynamics
In any temporary role, fitting in quickly is vital. Ask about team dynamics and collaboration processes during the interview. This shows you’re not only ready to contribute but also keen to blend into WEETABIX LIMITED’s culture, making you a valuable asset.
