Lead Engineer

ATA Recruitment; Loughborough; On-site; GBP 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

A respected engineering firm in Loughborough is seeking a Lead Maintenance Engineer to ensure the reliability of critical production equipment. This role involves leading maintenance operations, implementing best practices, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement. Candidates should have a solid engineering qualification and extensive hands-on experience in fault-finding and mechanical systems. The position offers weekdays only, allowing for a good work-life balance.

Benefits

Pension scheme

Employee share bonus potential

Private healthcare

Life assurance

Employee discount

Qualifications

• Solid engineering qualification is required.
• Extensive hands-on experience in fault-finding is necessary.
• Mechanical capability across various systems is important.

Responsibilities

• Ensure the reliability of production and site service equipment.
• Lead and manage mechanical works and maintenance tasks.
• Review and author Planned Preventive Maintenance schedules.

Skills

Fault-finding

Mechanical capability

Strong communication skills

Planning and coaching skills

Attention to compliance

Education

Level 3 City & Guilds or NVQ

Job description

Lead Maintenance Engineer – £50,000+ DOE – Loughborough, Leics (LE12)
Monday to Friday Days Only – Pension Scheme (matched contributions) + Employee Share Bonus Potential + Private Healthcare + Life Assurance + Employee Discount

About the client

ATA are representing a long-established, employee-owned business with over 90 years of heritage, currently operating from multiple sites with more than 500 staff. Since transitioning to an Employee Ownership Trust in 2022, this organisation has maintained strong family values, deep investment in technology, and an inclusive culture that places employees at the heart of its success

What you’ll be doing
As a lead maintenance engineer, you are responsible for ensuring the reliability and optimisation of critical production and site service equipment. Operating in a technically challenging and safety-focused environment, this hands‑on role involves both reactive response and improvement-led oversight.

You will:

• Deliver electrical fault‑finding, diagnostics and maintenance across AC/DC systems and safe isolations.
• Lead and manage mechanical works including conveyor drives, belts, bearings, processing and hazardous utilities.
• Review and author Planned Preventive Maintenance schedules following equipment upgrades and installations.
• Analyse downtime and maintenance trends to recommend root‑cause corrective actions.
• Coordinate weekend work, shift cover and engineer scheduling across multiple sites.
• Lead KPI meetings using CMMS data to coach engineers and raise performance standards.
• Oversee stock management for specialist spares and tooling with third‑party suppliers.

This lead maintenance engineer role combines in‑depth technical delivery with operational leadership, ideal for someone who sees improvement opportunity behind every breakdown and drives best‑practice standards throughout the team.

What the client is looking for
To excel as a lead maintenance engineer, you’ll have:

• A solid engineering qualification (Level 3 City & Guilds, NVQ or equivalent).
• Extensive hands-on experience in fault‑finding, schematic working and safe isolation procedures.
• Mechanical capability across belts, conveyors, drive systems, switchgear and sensors.
• Prior experience in leading project work and engineering improvements.
• Strong communication, planning, and coaching skills.
• A proactive mindset with attention to compliance, safety and continuous improvement.

The right candidate, whether transitioning into a lead maintenance engineer position or already in a similar leadership role, will enjoy autonomy, variety and long‑term career growth in a stable, values-centric environment.

Why you should apply

• Join a business with a deep employee-owned culture and strong heritage.
• Work in a technically rich, well-resourced environment with investment in automation.
• Lead and develop a team, influence standards and deliver real improvements.
• Weekdays only — no shifts or weekend disruption to family life.

If you believe you're the right lead maintenance engineer for this opportunity, please apply today or contact [e-mail] or call Faisal on 07788 365 715.

ATA is committed to creating a diverse workforce and is an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of age, disability, gender, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation