At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead engineering teams, solve plant issues, and ensure safety and quality standards.
- Company: Weetabix, a diverse and inclusive workplace committed to innovation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, annual bonus, flexible work, and personal development opportunities.
- Other info: Enjoy a fully stocked kitchen and supportive work culture.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in food manufacturing while leading a dynamic team.
- Qualifications: Mechanical/Electrical engineering qualification and previous line management experience required.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
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)
- 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
- 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
- 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#HaveYouHadYourWeetabixJBRP1_UKTJ
Lead Engineer in Northampton 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 in Northampton
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to current employees at Weetabix on LinkedIn or other platforms. Ask them about their experiences and any tips they might have for the interview process. It’s all about making connections!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for that face-to-face interview by brushing up on your technical skills and knowledge about the food manufacturing industry. Be ready to discuss how you can contribute to the team and tackle engineering challenges.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your leadership skills! Think of examples where you've successfully led a team or project. Weetabix values strong leaders, so make sure to highlight your experience in managing and mentoring others.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining the Weetabix family.
We think you need these skills to ace Lead Engineer in Northampton
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to the Lead Engineer role. Highlight your relevant experience in mechanical and electrical engineering, especially in food manufacturing environments. We want to see how your skills align with our needs!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're passionate about the role and how you can contribute to our diverse team at Weetabix. Let us know what makes you unique and how you can help shape our future.
Showcase Your Leadership Skills:Since we're looking for someone with line management experience, be sure to highlight your leadership skills. Share examples of how you've successfully led teams, prioritised tasks, and achieved KPIs in previous roles.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply through our careers page! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets to us directly. Plus, you’ll find all the info you need about life at Weetabix and our commitment to diversity.
How to prepare for a job interview at WEETABIX LIMITED
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your mechanical and electrical engineering knowledge, especially if you have a specific qualification like an HNC or an apprenticeship. Be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with the role, particularly in food manufacturing environments.
✨Show Your Leadership Skills
As a Lead Engineer, you'll need to demonstrate your line management experience. Prepare examples of how you've successfully led teams, prioritised tasks, and resolved engineering issues in previous roles. Highlight your coaching and mentoring abilities too!
✨Safety First
Familiarise yourself with health and safety standards relevant to the food industry. Be prepared to discuss how you've ensured compliance in past positions and how you would maintain safety and quality standards at Weetabix.
✨Be Ready for Problem-Solving
Expect questions that assess your problem-solving skills. Think of specific instances where you've tackled engineering challenges, especially in a fast-paced environment. Show how you can coach others in these techniques as well!
