Electrical Reliability & Asset Management (SME)

DS Smith; Kemsley; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Pension Scheme

Life Assurance

Income Protection

25 days holiday plus 8 Bank Holidays

Employee Discounts Programme

Cycle to Work Scheme

Job summary

DS Smith is seeking a Subject Matter Expert (SME) in Electrical Reliability & Asset Management to enhance our operations across the UK and Europe. This pivotal role focuses on leading electrical engineering activities and ensuring compliance with industry standards while improving reliability and efficiency.

The ideal candidate will possess significant hands-on experience in mechanical engineering, strong analytical skills, and the capability to train and mentor others. Competitive salary and benefits, including a pension scheme and employee discounts, are offered.

Qualifications

• Significant hands-on mechanical engineering experience in an industrial or manufacturing environment.
• In-depth understanding of power distribution, motors and drives, control systems, and safety circuits.
• Willingness to travel regularly across DS Smith sites in the UK and Europe.

Responsibilities

• Lead all electrical engineering activities across DS Smith Paper mills.
• Develop and implement best practices, standards, and specifications for mechanical systems.
• Support site teams with troubleshooting and technical problem-solving.
• Train and mentor engineering team members across multiple sites.

Skills

Hands-on mechanical engineering experience

In-depth understanding of power distribution

Excellent diagnostic and analytical skills

Strong communication skills

Education

Degree in Engineering or equivalent experience

Job description

Electrical Reliability & Asset Management (SME)

Location: UK or Europe (with travel across DS Smith Paper Mills).

We’re looking for a Subject Matter Expert (SME) in Electrical Engineering to join our central engineering function. This is a pivotal technical role where you’ll lead on all electrical engineering activities across our paper mills in the UK and Europe. You’ll be at the heart of our drive to continuously improve reliability, efficiency, and technical standards across our operations. This is not a management position—this is a role for a highly skilled technical expert with deep mechanical engineering knowledge and a passion for solving complex engineering challenges.

Key Responsibilities:

• Act as the technical lead for electrical engineering across all DS Smith Paper mills.
• Develop and implement best practices, standards, and specifications for mechanical systems and equipment.
• Support site teams with troubleshooting, root cause analysis, and technical problem-solving.
• Train and mentor engineering team members across multiple sites to build capability and drive knowledge transfer.
• Collaborate with cross-divisional teams on capital projects, equipment upgrades, and strategic engineering initiatives.
• Evaluate and introduce innovative mechanical solutions to improve safety, reliability, and performance.
• Ensure compliance with relevant industry standards, health & safety regulations, and internal policies.

About You:

• Degree-qualified in Engineering (or equivalent experience).
• Significant hands‑on mechanical engineering experience in an industrial or manufacturing environment—ideally within heavy industry, paper, packaging, or process sectors.
• In‑depth understanding of power distribution, motors and drives, control systems and safety circuits.
• Excellent diagnostic and analytical skills, with a track record of delivering technical solutions in complex environments.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to explain technical concepts clearly to non‑specialists.
• Confident in training and mentoring others; able to build strong working relationships at all levels.
• Willing and able to travel regularly across DS Smith sites in the UK and Europe; ability to provide assistance 24/7.

Benefits:

• Competitive salary
• Pension Scheme
• Life Assurance
• Income Protection
• 25 days holiday plus 8 Bank Holidays
• Employee Discounts Programme
• Cycle to Work Scheme

We welcome all candidates to apply, even those not meeting all criteria.