Lead Engineer

Orange Monkey Recruitment; United Kingdom; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading recruitment agency is seeking a Lead Engineer (Electrical) to oversee maintenance and reliability enhancements at a manufacturing site in Sheffield. You will lead a team, drive continuous improvement, and tackle electrical and mechanical challenges while influencing a culture of safety and high standards. The role offers a competitive salary between £45,000-£55,000, alongside a bonus scheme and strong development opportunities in a transforming environment.

Benefits

Healthcare

Pension

33 days holiday incl. banks

Ongoing development

Qualifications

• Strong electrical background with an engineering qualification or recognized apprenticeship.
• Experience within an industrial or heavy manufacturing environment.
• Confident fault-finding skills across electrical, mechanical, hydraulic and pneumatic systems.
• Comfortable balancing leadership (around 70%) with hands-on work (around 30%).
• Someone who takes ownership, communicates well and brings a solutions-first mindset.
• Experience with CMMS, PPM and continuous improvement processes.

Responsibilities

• Leading day-to-day maintenance activities with a strong focus on planned maintenance.
• Supporting reactive breakdown work when needed.
• Managing and developing two Day Electrical Technicians.
• Driving standards in safety and housekeeping.
• Leading continuous improvement activities such as RCA and problem-solving reviews.

Skills

Electrical background

Fault-finding skills

Leadership

Continuous improvement mindset

Education

Engineering qualification or recognized apprenticeship

Tools

CMMS (Agility)

Job description

Lead Engineer (Electrical)

Salary: £45,000-£55,000 depending on experience

Hours: Monday-Friday, 37.5 hours (approx.​ 07:30 start, flexible)

Location: Sheffield

Benefits: Healthcare, pension, 33 days holiday incl. banks, ongoing development

Want a role where you shape the reliability and future of a growing manufacturing site? This Lead Engineer position is a mix of hands‑on engineering and leading a small electrical team. With major site investment already underway — including two new furnaces commissioned this year — this is your chance to drive reliability, strengthen the PM regime, and help push a key site through a full transformation phase.

You’ll have ownership, influence, and the freedom to make things better. And you’ll be the go‑to electrical expert on a site that needs someone practical, proactive and positive.

What You’ll Be Doing – Lead Engineer (Electrical)

• Leading day‑to‑day maintenance activities with a strong focus on planned maintenance and improving plant reliability.
• Supporting reactive breakdown work when needed — diagnosing faults and getting equipment back online quickly.
• Managing and developing two Day Electrical Technicians, plus supporting the wider team of day and shift engineers.
• Building, developing and delivering an effective PM regime through the new CMMS (Agility).
• Taking ownership of shutdown plans and maintenance during planned outages.
• Driving standards in safety, housekeeping, part control and 6S.
• Working across critical kit including VIM, VAR, ESR, heat‑treatment furnaces and other heavy manufacturing plant.
• Leading continuous improvement activities such as RCA and problem‑solving reviews.
• Identifying, specifying and ordering parts while ensuring correct stock management.
• Making sound engineering decisions on priorities, plant condition, and risk.
• Supporting OEM engineers and managing contractors.
• Ensuring departmental KPIs are achieved and reliability continues to improve.

What We’re Looking For – The Ideal Lead Engineer (Electrical)

• Strong electrical background with an engineering qualification or recognised apprenticeship.
• Experience within an industrial or heavy manufacturing environment.
• Confident fault‑finding skills across electrical, mechanical, hydraulic and pneumatic systems.
• Comfortable balancing leadership (around 70%) with hands‑on work (around 30%).
• Someone who takes ownership, communicates well and brings a solutions‑first mindset.
• Experience with CMMS, PPM and continuous improvement processes.
• A steady, reliable engineer who can influence, engage and raise standards.
• Flexible attitude — during shutdowns you’ll be fully involved, but outside of that the role allows good give‑and‑took.

Why Join?

• A site in transformation with major investment — your work will directly shape the future state.
• A leadership role with autonomy, influence and visibility.
• Strong team culture and supportive management.
• Bonus scheme and a stable weekday shift with TOIL instead of forced overtime.

If you want a role where your decisions genuinely matter, this is it.

Apply today to find out more.