Engineering Manager

Rullion Ltd; England; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading recruitment company in the UK is searching for an Interim Engineering Manager for a 6-month contract in Cheshire. The role involves providing engineering leadership and compliance at a high-tier COMAH gas storage facility. The ideal candidate will be a Chartered Engineer with extensive management experience in both gas and energy sectors, especially with COMAH regulations. This on-site position demands excellent leadership and communication skills, as well as a strong background in functional safety and engineering governance.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years' engineering management experience in gas or energy sectors.
• Proven experience in high-tier COMAH environments.
• Strong knowledge of functional safety and engineering governance.

Responsibilities

• Support effective handover of engineering responsibilities.
• Provide day-to-day engineering leadership.
• Act as technical lead for COMAH compliance.

Skills

Leadership

Engineering risk management

Stakeholder communication

Education

Chartered Engineer with a degree in Mechanical, Chemical, or Electrical Engineering

Job description

Interim Engineering Manager (Contract - 6 Months)

Location: On-site, Cheshire (5 days per week)

Business Unit: Energy Gas Storage

Reporting to: Plant Manager

About the Role

My client is seeking an experienced Interim Engineering Manager to provide strong engineering leadership at a high-tier COMAH gas storage facility during a planned six-month transition period.

This role is critical in maintaining technical integrity, regulatory compliance, and asset performance, while supporting a structured and well-documented handover from the outgoing Engineering Manager. You will act as the on-site engineering authority, ensuring continuity of standards, safety governance, and risk management throughout the transition.

Key Responsibilities

Engineering Leadership & Transition

• Support a controlled and effective handover of engineering responsibilities, systems, and regulatory commitments.
• Provide continuity of engineering leadership, ensuring no degradation of safety, compliance, or asset integrity.
• Review and manage key engineering risks, open actions, and regulatory obligations with clear ownership and plans.

Asset Integrity & Technical Authority

• Provide day-to-day engineering leadership, promoting safe working and compliance with site standards.
• Drive defect elimination activities using ALARP principles.
• Act as on-site technical authority for caverns, wellheads, subsurface systems, and surface facilities.

COMAH, Process Safety & Governance

• Act as technical lead for COMAH compliance, including management of the COMAH Safety Report.
• Lead technical engagement with the HSE during inspections, audits, and intervention visits.
• Ensure effective application of Management of Change (MoC) and functional safety processes.
• Oversee technical safety reviews, ensuring decisions are robust, traceable, and compliant.

Standards, Assurance & Performance

• Maintain engineering, process safety, industrial safety, and environmental procedures.
• Identify gaps or risks in engineering governance and recommend pragmatic improvements.
• Ensure engineering records and safety-critical documentation remain current and compliant.
• Monitor asset performance, safety, and compliance KPIs, escalating risks as required.

Collaboration & Communication

• Work closely with Maintenance and Operations teams to align priorities.
• Communicate clearly with internal stakeholders and regulators, providing confidence in engineering control.

About You

Essential Qualifications & Experience

• Chartered Engineer with a degree in Mechanical, Chemical, or Electrical Engineering (BEng / MEng / MSc).
• Member of a relevant professional institution (e.g. IET, IChemE, IMechE).
• Minimum 5 years' engineering management experience in sectors such as gas or energy.
• Proven experience in high-tier COMAH environments, including regulator engagement.
• Strong knowledge of functional safety, engineering governance, and MoC processes.
• Demonstrated ability to manage engineering risk, asset integrity, and defect elimination.
• Excellent leadership, organisational, and stakeholder communication skills.

Desirable

• NEBOSH or IOSH qualification.
• Quality assurance experience.
• Ability to coordinate cross-functional teams.

Additional Information

There is potential for involvement in a secondary project, including a Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES) project, subject to timing and availability.

If you are an experienced Engineering Manager with strong COMAH and process safety expertise, and you're available for an on-site interim role, we'd like to hear from you.

Equal Opportunities

Rullion celebrates and supports diversity and is committed to ensuring equal opportunities for both employees and applicants.