We are seeking a Lead Maintenance Engineer to join the engineering leadership team at a well-established and highly successful food manufacturing site in Tipton. This is a fantastic opportunity to take ownership of maintenance operations, lead a team of engineers, and play a key role in driving reliability, performance, and continuous improvement across a fast-paced production environment.
Working closely with the Technical Engineering Manager, you will be responsible for delivering engineering excellence across planned and reactive maintenance activities while developing a proactive maintenance culture that supports operational success.
What's on Offer?
£65,000 annual salary
Monday to Friday rotating shifts
5:00am – 2:00pm
1:00pm – 10:00pm
9:00pm – 6:00am
Join a respected and growing food manufacturing business
Significant leadership and decision-making responsibility
Opportunity to influence maintenance strategy and site reliability
Long-term career development and progression opportunities
Stable ambient production environment
The RoleAs Lead Maintenance Engineer, you will take full ownership of engineering activities during your shift, ensuring maintenance resources are effectively deployed to maximise equipment reliability and production performance.
Key ResponsibilitiesEngineering Leadership & Shift Management
Lead and coordinate engineering activities from shift handover to handover
Allocate engineering resources across planned and reactive maintenance tasks
Act as the primary engineering contact for production teams
Monitor plant performance and prioritise maintenance response activities
Manage shift attendance and escalate staffing concerns when required
Ensure compliance with Permit to Work procedures and engineering safety standards
Complete detailed shift reports and handovers through the CMMS system
Serve as the first escalation point for maintenance issues
Reliability & Root Cause Analysis
Lead investigations into repeat equipment failures and major breakdowns
Utilise structured RCA techniques including 5 Whys and Fishbone Analysis
Deliver RCA reports within required timeframes
Identify recurring issues and implement long-term corrective actions
Drive continuous improvement initiatives to improve plant reliability
Share lessons learned and engineering best practice across teams
Planned Preventative Maintenance
Manage and prioritise all PPM activities through CMMS
Ensure maintenance schedules are completed on time and to a high standard
Audit maintenance quality and verify work completion
Support the transition from reactive to proactive maintenance practices
Work collaboratively with production teams to minimise downtime
CMMS & Spare Parts Management
Maintain accurate maintenance records and work order completion
Manage spare parts usage through CMMS processes
Identify critical stock shortages and support inventory optimisation
Promote strong CMMS discipline across the engineering team
Contractor & Compliance Management
Coordinate and oversee all contractor activities on site
Conduct contractor inductions and issue permits
Ensure contractor compliance with site safety standards
Monitor work quality and performance
Maintain accurate contractor records for audit purposes
About YouTo be successful in this role, you will have:
Minimum 5 years' engineering experience within food manufacturing
Previous experience as a Lead Engineer, Engineering Supervisor, Shift Engineering Manager, Senior Maintenance Engineer or similar leadership role
Strong mechanical and/or electrical engineering background
Proven experience leading engineering teams within a manufacturing environment
Excellent fault-finding and problem-solving skills
Strong understanding of Root Cause Analysis methodologies
Experience using CMMS systems to manage maintenance activities
Knowledge of Permit to Work systems and engineering safety standards
Excellent communication and team leadership skills
Passion for continuous improvement, reliability and engineering excellence
Apply NowIf you're an ambitious engineering leader looking to make a real impact within a successful food manufacturing business, we'd love to hear from you.
Apply today to discuss this exciting Lead Maintenance Engineer opportunity in confidence
Salary description
£65000.00 - £65000.00 per year