At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and build the engineering team while designing innovative maintenance systems.
- Company: Fast-growing dog food startup dedicated to healthier pet nutrition.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, learning budget, wellbeing support, and fun employee activities.
- Why this job: Shape the future of engineering in a mission-driven company that cares for dogs.
- Qualifications: Strong engineering background with leadership experience in production environments.
- Other info: Flexible work hours, casual dress, and opportunities for personal growth.
The predicted salary is between 55000 - 65000 ÂŁ per year.
Join Our Pack đśđ˝ď¸ From a bold idea to revolutionising dog food, Years has grown into a fastâscaling business dedicated to helping dogs live longer, healthier lives. In just 3 years, we have built a great start up business, serving thousands of happy customers, all while striving to achieve our mission. Our goal is to give dog owners a better, fresher, and healthier way to feed their pets. We provide human cut, personalised meals designed to support each dog's unique needs, delivered straight to their door - no preservatives, no compromises, just real nutrition. You can find our customers across the UK, with future ambitions to scale internationally and continue transforming how people care for their dogs.
Your Mission: As our Engineering Manager, you will build and lead the engineering function at a fastâscaling food production business - taking full ownership of reliability, maintenance strategy, and engineering standards across the site. This is a rare opportunity to step into a leadership role where you are not inheriting a legacy system - you are building it. From day one, you will shape how engineering operates: designing preventative maintenance systems, setting standards, building a team, and creating the infrastructure required to support production at scale. You will balance handsâon problem solving with strategic thinking - driving down downtime, improving equipment performance, and implementing systems that move the business from reactive firefighting to proactive, dataâled engineering. If you are someone who takes pride in building highâperforming teams, enjoys solving complex operational problems, and wants to leave a lasting mark on a growing business - this role gives you that platform.
What You Will Be Responsible For:
- Build, recruit, and lead the Engineering team - setting clear standards, structure, and daily direction
- Design and implement a preventative maintenance (PPM) and asset care programme from the ground up
- Own and improve engineering KPIs - downtime, MTTR, MTBF, and PPM adherence
- Lead reactive and proactive engineering activity to maximise equipment reliability
- Drive continuous improvement projects to reduce downtime and improve line performance
- Oversee installation, commissioning, and optimisation of new machinery and upgrades
- Ensure full compliance with health & safety and food manufacturing standards
- Manage engineering budget, contractor relationships, and supplier sourcing
- Build and maintain an organised, wellâequipped workshop and spares system
- Work closely with Production, NPD, and Operations on trials, automation, and scaleâup initiatives
- Embed a culture of accountability, safety, and engineering excellence
Requirements:
- Strong mechanical and electrical engineering background within a production or manufacturing environment
- Proven experience leading or stepping into a leadership role within engineering
- Experience building or running preventative maintenance (PPM) systems
- Solid understanding of production equipment - conveyors, mixers, weighers, chillers, packaging lines
- Exposure to automation and PLCâcontrolled systems
- Experience managing budgets, contractors, and external suppliers
- Strong understanding of health & safety within a food or regulated environment
- Flexibility - there may be some evening and weekend work required based on project requirements (agreed directly with Line Management where needed)
How You Work:
- You take ownership - you do not wait for systems, you build them
- You are handsâon when needed but think strategically about longâterm improvements
- You prioritise effectively and stay calm under pressure
- You communicate clearly across teams and bring people with you
- You set high standards and build a culture that reflects them
- You are driven by continuous improvement and measurable results
Benefits:
- ÂŁ55,000 - ÂŁ65,000 PA
- Medicash Cash Back programme
- Annual ÂŁ250.00 Learning & Development budget for courses, books or other selfâlearn activities
- Access to Spill EAP and Mental Wellbeing support
- Annual ÂŁ200.00 Wellbeing budget
- Up to 2 weeks working abroad per year (selected roles)
- Monthly recognition through our Yappa of The Month programme
- 1 Volunteer day per year - dog themed or not: it is your choice!
- Subsidised employee groups - from five a side to padel there is loads to get involved in or the chance to start up your own group
- Exclusive discounts on Years and Years treats for yourself and friends/family
- Lunch & Learn programme - from dog first aid to financial savviness we have got sessions planned to cover all kinds of topics
- Casual dress
- Your birthday off or different day if it falls on a nonâworking day
- Ability to sell any unused holiday back to Years at the end of the Holiday Year (maximum 1 working week)
Engineering Manager in Nottingham employer: Years.com - More Years Together
Contact Detail:
Years.com - More Years Together Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice đ¤Ť
We think this is how you could land Engineering Manager in Nottingham
â¨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, attend events, and connect with potential colleagues on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
â¨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its culture. Understand their mission and values, especially how they relate to dog nutrition. This will help you tailor your answers and show that you're genuinely interested in joining the pack.
â¨Tip Number 3
Practice your problem-solving skills! As an Engineering Manager, you'll need to demonstrate your ability to tackle complex operational issues. Think of examples from your past experience where you've successfully implemented solutions and be ready to share them.
â¨Tip Number 4
Donât forget to apply through our website! Itâs the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows youâre keen on being part of our mission to revolutionise dog food and improve the lives of our furry friends.
We think you need these skills to ace Engineering Manager in Nottingham
Some tips for your application đŤĄ
Show Your Passion for Dogs: When you're writing your application, let your love for dogs shine through! We want to see how our mission resonates with you and how you can contribute to making a difference in their lives.
Tailor Your Experience: Make sure to highlight your engineering background and leadership experience. Weâre looking for someone who can build and lead a team, so share specific examples of how you've done this in the past!
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application straightforward and to the point. We appreciate clarity, so avoid jargon and make it easy for us to see why youâre the perfect fit for the Engineering Manager role.
Apply Through Our Website: Donât forget to submit your application through our website! Itâs the best way for us to receive your details and ensures youâre considered for this exciting opportunity.
How to prepare for a job interview at Years.com - More Years Together
â¨Know Your Engineering Fundamentals
Brush up on your mechanical and electrical engineering principles, especially those relevant to food production. Be ready to discuss how you've applied these in past roles, particularly in building or running preventative maintenance systems.
â¨Showcase Leadership Experience
Prepare examples of how you've built and led high-performing teams. Highlight your approach to setting standards and driving a culture of accountability and safety, as this will resonate with the company's mission.
â¨Demonstrate Problem-Solving Skills
Think of specific instances where you've tackled complex operational problems. Be ready to explain your thought process and the strategic improvements you implemented to enhance equipment reliability and performance.
â¨Align with Company Values
Familiarise yourself with the company's mission to revolutionise dog food. Show genuine enthusiasm for their goals and be prepared to discuss how your values align with theirs, especially regarding continuous improvement and real nutrition.