Engineering Team Lead

The Sterling Choice; Cambridgeshire and Peterborough; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

The Sterling Choice is seeking an Engineering Team Leader to manage the night shift at a busy food manufacturing site. You’ll lead a team of engineers, prioritise breakdowns, coordinate maintenance and guarantee safe, reliable line uptime.

This role offers real autonomy and the chance to make a visible impact every night, driving performance improvements and supporting production to hit targets as the day shift arrives.

Qualifications

• Experience leading an engineering team in food manufacturing or FMCG.
• Strong multi-skilled engineering background with electrical and mechanical knowledge.
• Proactive leader who performs under pressure and develops others.
• Commitment to continuous improvement and safety.

Responsibilities

• Lead, coach and develop night shift engineers.
• Prioritise breakdowns and coordinate planned maintenance safely.
• Drive reliability and continuous improvement across the site.
• Minimise downtime and support production to peak performance.
• Act as engineering decision-maker on shift, collaborating with operations.

Skills

Leadership

Team management

Electrical knowledge

Mechanical knowledge

Continuous improvement

Decision making

Job description

Looking for a leadership role where you can make a real impact without the daytime chaos?

We're looking for an Engineering Team Leader to take charge of the night shift at a busy, fast-paced food manufacturing site. This isn't just about fixing machines, it's about leading a team, driving performance, and making sure production is ready to hit the ground running every morning.

People hear ‘night shift’ and immediately focus on the negatives. But those who work nights know better.

• Less noise, fewer interruptions – More time to focus on what really matters.
• Real autonomy – You'll be trusted to make decisions, lead your team, and keep the factory performing.
• Make your mark – Nights are where strong leaders thrive. You'll be the reason production is ready to go when the day shift arrives.

What you'll be doing:

• Leading, coaching and developing a team of engineers throughout the night shift.
• Prioritising breakdowns, coordinating planned maintenance, and ensuring work is completed safely and efficiently.
• Driving engineering standards, improving reliability, and identifying opportunities for continuous improvement.
• Supporting production by minimising downtime and ensuring the site is running at peak performance.
• Acting as the engineering decision-maker on shift, working closely with operations to keep the factory moving.

What we're looking for:

• Previous experience leading an engineering team within food manufacturing or another fast-paced FMCG environment.
• A strong multi-skilled engineering background with electrical and mechanical knowledge.
• Someone who leads from the front, remains calm under pressure, and enjoys getting the best out of people.
• A proactive mindset with a passion for continuous improvement and delivering results.

What's in it for you?

• Genuine opportunities to progress your career within a growing business.
• Ongoing investment in training and personal development.
• The autonomy to lead your own shift and make a visible impact every single night.