Lead Engineering Technician (3 years Fixed term contract)

Merck; Milton Keynes; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

Merck in Milton Keynes seeks a Lead Engineering Technician to supervise and coordinate day-to-day maintenance across the site and logistics operations. You will lead a team, prioritise PPM and breakdown work, and provide hands-on fault-finding and repairs aligned with GMP and EHS policies.

You will mentor technicians, manage work orders, and collaborate with Production, Quality and Engineering Management to improve reliability and efficiency while fostering continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• Recognised engineering apprenticeship or equivalent experience.
• Strong mechanical and/or electrical maintenance background within a manufacturing environment.
• Experience providing technical leadership or supervising maintenance activities.
• Desirable: GMP deviations, CAPAs and engineering investigations.

Responsibilities

• Supervise and support engineering technicians, providing technical guidance and coordinating daily workloads.
• Prioritise planned preventative maintenance (PPM), reactive maintenance and breakdown activities to minimise operational disruption.
• Provide hands-on technical support with fault finding, troubleshooting and equipment repairs.
• Ensure engineering activities are completed safely and in accordance with GMP, EHS and site procedures.
• Support engineering investigations, root cause analysis (RCA), deviations and CAPAs.
• Oversee maintenance documentation and ensure work orders are completed accurately and within required timescales.
• Coordinate external contractors and specialist maintenance activities.
• Work closely with Production, Quality and Engineering Management to support manufacturing requirements.
• Identify opportunities to improve equipment reliability, maintenance efficiency and team performance.
• Mentor and develop engineering technicians, promoting technical competency and continuous improvement.

Skills

CAPA Management

CMMS

Electrical Maintenance

Engineering Principle

Equipment Inspection

HVAC Systems

Interpret Electrical Drawings

Maintenance Management

Manufacturing

Mechanical Maintenance

Organizational Effectiveness

Pharmaceutical Manufacturing

Preventive Maintenance

PLC Engineering

Safety Compliance

Technical Support

Education

Engineering apprenticeship

HNC/HND or equivalent qualification in engineering

Tools

SAP

Job description

Job Description

The Lead Engineering Technician will be responsible for supervising and coordinating day-to-day engineering maintenance activities across the Milton Keynes manufacturing site and Logistics operations.

The role requires strong technical expertise, leadership skills and a proactive approach to maintaining equipment reliability, GMP compliance and operational efficiency.

Key Responsibilities

• Supervise and support engineering technicians, providing technical guidance and coordinating daily workloads.
• Prioritise planned preventative maintenance (PPM), reactive maintenance and breakdown activities to minimise operational disruption.
• Provide hands-on technical support with fault finding, troubleshooting and equipment repairs.
• Ensure engineering activities are completed safely and in accordance with GMP, EHS and site procedures.
• Support engineering investigations, root cause analysis (RCA), deviations and corrective and preventive actions (CAPAs).
• Oversee maintenance documentation and ensure work orders are completed accurately and within required timescales.
• Coordinate external contractors and specialist maintenance activities.
• Work closely with Production, Quality and Engineering Management to support manufacturing requirements.
• Identify opportunities to improve equipment reliability, maintenance efficiency and team performance.
• Mentor and develop engineering technicians, promoting technical competency and continuous improvement.

Qualifications and Experience

Essential Qualifications

• Recognised engineering apprenticeship, qualification or equivalent experience.
• Strong mechanical and/or electrical maintenance background within a manufacturing environment.
• Experience providing technical leadership or supervising maintenance activities.
• Excellent fault-finding, problem-solving and organisational skills.
• Good communication skills and the ability to prioritise competing demands.

Desirable Qualifications

• Experience within a pharmaceutical or GMP-regulated manufacturing environment.
• HNC/HND or equivalent qualification in an engineering discipline.
• Knowledge of HVAC, BMS, utilities, refrigeration and automated manufacturing equipment.
• Experience using SAP or similar maintenance management systems.
• Familiarity with GMP deviations, CAPAs and engineering investigations.

Required Skills

• CAPA Management
• Computerised Maintenance Management Systems (CMMS)
• Electrical Maintenance
• Engineering Principle
• Equipment Inspection
• HVAC Systems
• Interpret Electrical Drawings
• Maintenance Management
• Manufacturing
• Mechanical Maintenance
• Organizational Effectiveness
• Pharmaceutical Manufacturing
• Preventive Maintenance
• Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) Engineering
• Safety Compliance
• Technical Support

Employee Status

Project Temps (Fixed Term)

Relocation

No relocation

VISA Sponsorship

No

Travel Requirements

No Travel Required

Flexible Work Arrangements

Not Applicable

Shift

Not Indicated

Valid Driving License

No

Hazardous Material(s)

N/A

Job Posting End Date

11/7/2026

*A job posting is effective until 11:59:59PM on the day BEFORE the listed job posting end date. Please ensure you apply to a job posting no later than the day BEFORE the job posting end date.