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Role: Food Production Engineer
Reports to: Head of Engineering
To provide technical expertise, maintenance support, and engineering solutions that ensure reliable, efficient, and compliant operation of food production equipment and processes. The Food Production Engineer plays a key role in minimising downtime, improving plant performance, supporting continuous improvement, and maintaining food safety standards.
Equipment Maintenance & Reliability
- Perform planned preventative maintenance (PPM) and reactive breakdown repairs on production machinery.
- Troubleshoot mechanical, electrical, pneumatic, and automation issues.
- Support root-cause analysis and implement corrective and preventative actions (CAPA).
- Maintain engineering logs, maintenance records, and downtime data.
Production Support
- Work closely with production teams to ensure smooth operation of machinery.
- Provide rapid engineering response to breakdowns to minimise lost time.
- Optimise machine settings to improve efficiency, throughput, and product quality.
Continuous Improvement
- Identify opportunities to enhance reliability, reduce waste, and improve energy efficiency.
- Assist in the design, testing, and installation of new equipment or upgrades.
- Contribute to Lean/CI projects (5S, Kaizen, OEE improvement).
Food Safety, Compliance & Hygiene
- Ensure all work complies with food safety and hygiene standards (BRCGS, HACCP, GMP).
- Follow lock-out/tag-out (LOTO), permit-to-work, and other safety procedures.
- Support engineering compliance for audits, inspections, and regulatory requirements.
Projects & Technical Work
- Assist with engineering projects including equipment commissioning, line modifications, and process enhancements.
- Collaborate with suppliers, contractors, and external engineers.
- Participate in factory acceptance testing and installation checks.
Documentation & Reporting
- Maintain accurate maintenance reports, job cards, and inventory records.
- Report recurrent faults or engineering risks to the Engineering Manager.
- Ensure spare parts availability is monitored and managed.
Qualifications & Experience
Essential
- Time-served engineering qualification (mechanical, electrical, mechatronics, or multi-skilled).
- Experience working in a fast-paced food or FMCG production environment.
- Strong troubleshooting skills across mechanical and electrical systems.
- Knowledge of PLC-controlled machinery and automated systems.
- Ability to read engineering drawings and technical documentation.
Desirable
- HNC/HND or degree in Engineering or related field.
- Experience in packaging, processing, refrigeration, or utilities (steam, compressed air, effluent).
- Knowledge of Lean tools and continuous improvement methodology.
- Experience with CMMS (Computerised Maintenance Management Systems).
- 18th Edition electrical qualification (where applicable).
