Engineering Team Leader

Synergi Search & Select; Northampton; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 56,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

4 on 4 off shift pattern

Company bonus scheme

Enhanced pension contribution

Generous holiday entitlement

Life assurance

Access to 24/7 GP services

Monthly product allowance

Discounts on high street and on-site

Job summary

Synergi Search & Select has partnered with a world‑class manufacturer to recruit an Engineering Team Leader for a fast‑paced, highly automated plant in the UK. The role blends hands‑on maintenance with people leadership to maximise equipment reliability and minimise downtime.

You will lead a small team of 3–4 engineers on a 4 on 4 off days and nights shift, allocate workloads, perform mechanical/electrical maintenance and drive preventive maintenance.

Qualifications

• Experience leading engineering or maintenance teams in manufacturing environments.
• Hands-on capability to perform maintenance while leading the team.
• Experience implementing preventative and autonomous maintenance strategies.
• Strong knowledge of health, safety and engineering compliance.
• Proven ability to improve uptime and reliability via TPM/Kaizen.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a shift of 3–4 engineers on days and nights.
• Allocate workload and coordinate maintenance across the shift.
• Carry out hands-on mechanical/electrical maintenance alongside the team.
• Drive preventative and autonomous maintenance to improve reliability.
• Reduce downtime and improve KPIs such as MTBF and labour utilisation.
• Ensure compliance with HSE, food safety, hygiene and LOTO standards.
• Work with production to align maintenance priorities and minimise disruption.
• Manage budgets, spares, tools and third‑party contractors.

Skills

Team leadership

Hands-on maintenance

Mechanical & electrical

Maintenance planning

HSE compliance

Budget & contractors

Shift management

Problem solving

Education

HND/degree in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering

Indentured apprenticeship option

Tools

CMMS

CAPEX

Job description

Our client is one of the world's largest leading manufacturers, they have a presence in all the leading supermarkets in the UK and are expanding.

Job Role & Key Responsibilities:

We are looking for an experienced Engineering Team Leader to lead a small team of engineers within a fast-paced, highly automated manufacturing environment. This is a hands‑on leadership role, combining team management and maintenance delivery to maximise equipment reliability, minimise downtime and maintain high engineering standards. Working on a 4 on 4 off days and nights shift pattern, you will lead 3–4 engineers while remaining actively involved in maintenance activities and continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead, support and develop a team of 3–4 engineers on shift.

• Allocate workload and coordinate maintenance activities across the shift.

• Carry out hands‑on mechanical and/or electrical maintenance alongside the team.

• Drive preventative and autonomous maintenance programmes to improve reliability.

• Reduce unplanned downtime and improve key engineering performance measures.

• Ensure compliance with HSE, food safety, hygiene and LOTO standards.

• Work closely with production teams to align maintenance priorities and minimise disruption.

• Manage manpower, tools, spare parts, contractors and maintenance resources effectively.

• Monitor and improve area KPIs including downtime, MTBF, labour utilisation and maintenance compliance.

• Support continuous improvement initiatives using techniques such as RCA, 5S, Kaizen and condition‑based maintenance.

• Manage budgets, stock levels and third‑party contractors where required.

The Ideal Candidate will have:

• HND or degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Industrial or a related Engineering discipline, or an indentured apprenticeship with relevant experience.

• Proven experience leading engineering or maintenance teams within a production/manufacturing environment.

• Strong hands‑on engineering capability and a willingness to remain technically involved.

• Experience allocating work, managing performance and developing engineering teams.

• Good knowledge of mechanical, electrical, process plant and/or utilities systems.

• Experience implementing preventative and autonomous maintenance strategies.

• Strong understanding of health, safety and engineering compliance.

• Excellent communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively with production teams.

• Experience managing spare parts, budgets and external contractors.

• The flexibility and credibility to work a 4 on 4 off days and nights shift pattern.

Desirable Skills:

• Dual‑skilled mechanical and electrical experience.

• Experience within brewing, beverage, FMCG, food manufacturing, packaging or other process‑led environments.

• Knowledge of TPM, reliability engineering and CMMS systems.

• Experience with CAPEX or engineering project delivery.

• Experience developing apprentices and technicians.

• NEBOSH, IOSH, food safety or other relevant qualifications.

• Chartered or Incorporated Engineer status.

• Experience with utilities such as boilers, compressed air or refrigeration systems.

Benefits Include:

• 4 on 4 off shift pattern – days and nights

• Company bonus scheme

• Enhanced employer pension contribution

• Generous holiday entitlement, including bank holidays

• Life assurance

• Access to 24/7 GP services

• Monthly product allowance

• High street and on‑site discounts