Engineering Lead

PE Global (UK); Chirk; On-site; GBP 54,000 - 67,000; Full time

Job summary

PE Global are currently recruiting for an Engineering Lead for a contract role with a leading multinational food manufacturing client based in Chirk, Wrexham.

Initial 6 months contract with potential for extension or turning into a perm opportunity later. The role oversees all engineering operations, driving lean manufacturing and transforming maintenance from a reactive model to a preventative/predictive programme, leading a multidisciplinary team at a traditional heavy engineering site.

Qualifications

• Extensive leadership experience in manufacturing or maintenance.
• Experience implementing lean techniques (5S, Kaizen, TPM).
• Experience with CMMS, preferably SAP.
• Ability to lead 24/7 operations and improve reliability and safety.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop an engineering/maintenance team across mechanical, electrical and instrumentation disciplines.
• Set clear performance objectives and drive continuous improvement.
• Manage resource planning, shift coverage and skills development.
• Act as senior technical authority on-site for complex engineering challenges.
• Champion lean principles across engineering and maintenance activities.
• Lead implementation of lean tools (5S, Kaizen, VSM, SMED, TPM, RCA).
• Identify and eliminate waste to reduce downtime and costs.
• Establish and track KPIs aligned with lean objectives.
• Facilitate cross-functional workshops and training sessions.
• Develop strategic roadmap to move to preventative/predictive maintenance.
• Continue SAP CMMS implementation to schedule and track activities.
• Develop condition-based monitoring techniques to predict failures.

Skills

Leadership

Lean manufacturing

Maintenance leadership

Team coaching

Problem solving

Education

Degree in Engineering

Lean Six Sigma Green Belt

Tools

SAP

CMMS

Job description

PE Global are currently recruiting for an Engineering Lead for a contract role with a leading multinational food manufacturing client based in Chirk, Wrexham.

Initial 6 months contract with potential for extension or turning into a perm opportunity later.

Pay rate is £39.10 per hour – £48.87 per hour PAYE (depending on experience)

We are seeking an experienced and driven Engineering Lead to oversee all engineering operations within our manufacturing process plant. This is a pivotal leadership role responsible for driving operational excellence, implementing lean manufacturing techniques, and transforming maintenance strategy from a reactive model to a robust preventative and predictive maintenance programme. The successful candidate will lead a multidisciplinary engineering team and play a central role in improving plant reliability, efficiency, and safety.

The Chirk site is a very traditional heavy engineering site, so experience in this environment is necessary.

Job Responsibilities

• Lead, coach, and develop a team of engineers, technicians, and maintenance professionals across mechanical, electrical, and instrumentation disciplines.
• Set clear performance objectives, conduct regular reviews, and foster a culture of continuous improvement and accountability.
• Manage resource planning, shift coverage, and skills development to ensure optimal team capability.
• Act as the senior technical authority on-site, providing guidance on complex engineering challenges.
• Champion the adoption and embedding of lean manufacturing principles across all engineering and maintenance activities.
• Lead the implementation of lean tools and methodologies including 5S, Kaizen, Value Stream Mapping, SMED, TPM (Total Productive Maintenance), and Root Cause Analysis (RCA).
• Identify and eliminate waste in engineering processes, reducing downtime, material costs, and inefficiencies.
• Establish and track KPIs aligned with lean objectives.
• Facilitate cross-functional workshops and training sessions.
• Develop and execute the strategic roadmap to transition the plant from reactive maintenance model to a structured preventative and predictive maintenance programme.
• Continue to implement a Computerised Maintenance Management System (SAP) to schedule, track, and optimise all maintenance activities.
• Develop condition-based monitoring techniques (e.g., vibration analysis, thermography, oil analysis) to predict equipment failures before they occur.
• Establish preventative maintenance schedules.
• Target a measurable reduction in unplanned downtime (e.g., 30–50% reduction within the first 18 months).
• Own the plant’s asset management strategy, ensuring long‑term reliability and lifecycle cost optimisation.
• Lead failure investigations and root cause analyses for significant breakdowns, implementing corrective and preventive actions.

Requirements

• A high level of experience in an engineering or maintenance leadership role within a manufacturing or process plant environment. Food industry experience is advantageous but not essential
• Proven track record of implementing lean manufacturing techniques (e.g., TPM, 5S, Kaizen, Value Stream Mapping).
• Demonstrated experience in transitioning maintenance strategies from reactive to preventative/predictive models.
• Strong knowledge of CMMS platforms (ideally., SAP).
• Experience managing multidisciplinary engineering teams in a 24/7 operational environment.
• Solid understanding of health and safety legislation and regulatory compliance in a manufacturing setting.

Desirable

• Degree (or equivalent) in related Engineering field
• Lean Six Sigma certification (Green Belt or Black Belt).
• Experience with predictive maintenance technologies (vibration analysis, thermography, ultrasonic testing).
• Familiarity with Industry 4.0 concepts, including IoT-enabled monitoring and data‑driven decision‑making.

***Please note our client cannot assist with any visa sponsorship and candidates must have the correct visa to live and work in UK***