Engineering Manager Hands-On

bright-search ltd; Weeton; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 61,000; Full time

Job summary

bright-search ltd in Weeton, Lancashire, is seeking an Engineering Manager to lead a small team of three engineers in a hands-on role within a busy food-manufacturing operation. The role covers maintenance, electrical fault-finding and reliability improvements, with five days from seven including two weekends per month.

This is a practical leadership position with scope to develop engineers and engineering standards.

Qualifications

• Strong multi‑skilled maintenance experience in an industrial setting.
• Electrical fault‑finding qualifications related to manufacturing.
• Experience supervising engineers and coaching juniors.
• Ability to work five days from seven, including weekends.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a small team of engineers (≈3).
• Plan and prioritise daily engineering and maintenance tasks.
• Coach junior engineers and develop technical capabilities.
• Provide hands-on electrical and mechanical engineering support.
• Diagnose faults and resolve breakdowns efficiently.
• Support planned preventive maintenance activities.
• Improve plant reliability and engineering standards.
• Work with production to minimise downtime.
• Maintain engineering records and manage outstanding work.

Skills

Maintenance engineering

Electrical engineering

Leadership

Coaching juniors

Education

Electrical engineering qualifications

Tools

Industrial electrical tools

Job description

Salary: £55,000 per annum — flat salary
Hours: 07:00–16:00 or 08:00–17:00
Rota: Five days from seven, including two weekends per month
Employment: Permanent, full-time

We are recruiting a hands-on Engineering Manager for an established food-manufacturing operation in Weeton, Lancashire.

This position involves managing a small engineering team of approximately three engineers while remaining actively involved in maintenance, electrical fault-finding, breakdown response and improving equipment reliability.

It could represent an excellent first Engineering Manager opportunity for an experienced Engineering Team Leader, Engineering Supervisor or Senior Multi-Skilled Engineer who has already supervised, supported or developed other engineers.

This is a practical, hands-on engineering position—not a predominantly office-based management role.

The role

You will be responsible for:

• Managing, supporting and developing a team of approximately three engineers.
• Planning and prioritising daily engineering and maintenance activities.
• Coaching junior engineers and developing their technical capabilities.
• Providing hands‑on electrical and mechanical engineering support.
• Diagnosing faults and resolving breakdowns efficiently.
• Supporting planned preventive maintenance activities.
• Improving plant reliability, equipment performance and engineering standards.
• Working closely with production teams to minimise downtime.
• Ensuring all engineering work is completed safely and in accordance with food-manufacturing and hygiene standards.
• Supporting continuous‑improvement and equipment‑development projects.
• Maintaining appropriate engineering records and managing outstanding work.
• Stepping in to support the engineering operation as and when reasonably required.

There is no formal on-call rota attached to this position.

Essential experience

Applicants must have:

• Strong multi‑skilled maintenance engineering experience.
• Recognised electrical engineering qualifications, preferably relating to manufacturing or industrial electrical engineering.
• Strong practical electrical fault‑finding ability.
• Experience within an industrial, manufacturing or production environment.
• Previous experience managing, supervising, leading or developing engineers.
• The ability to coach and support junior members of an engineering team.
• A hands‑on leadership style and willingness to work practically alongside the team.
• The flexibility to work five days from seven, including two weekends per month.

Applications are welcomed from experienced:

• Engineering Managers
• Maintenance Managers
• Engineering Team Leaders
• Engineering Supervisors
• Senior Multi‑Skilled Maintenance Engineers ready to progress into management

Experience within food, beverage, FMCG, pharmaceutical or another highly regulated manufacturing environment would be particularly advantageous. Food‑manufacturing experience is strongly preferred.

Working pattern

The position operates five days from seven, working either:

• 07:00–16:00; or
• 08:00–17:00.

The rota includes two weekends per month.

There is no formal on‑call rota, although reasonable flexibility may occasionally be required to support the operation when necessary.

Package

• £55,000 annual salary.
• Flat salary with no on‑call allowance or advertised additional earnings.
• Permanent, full‑time position.
• Responsibility for a small engineering team of approximately three people.
• Opportunity for an experienced Team Leader or Supervisor to progress into an Engineering Manager position.
• Opportunity to shape engineering standards and develop junior engineers.
• Varied, hands‑on management role within a busy food‑manufacturing environment.

Work location: In person

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