Line Engineering Lead

PepsiCo; Coventry; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Critical illness cover

Gym member discounts

Enhanced parental leave

Electric car schemes

Job summary

PepsiCo UK is recruiting a Line Engineering Lead at our Coventry site to drive operational excellence, reliability, and team performance. This days-based role leads shift-based engineering teams, delivering against KPIs including OEE, downtime reduction, and maintenance costs.

The role requires strong problem-solving, hands-on leadership, and a capability to influence across engineering and operations, aligned to our Coventry Engineering Roadmap 2026 and engineering standards.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in FMCG/manufacturing environments.
• Engineering background with NVQ Level 3 / HNC / HND.
• 3+ years’ experience leading engineering teams and delivering KPI results.

Responsibilities

• Own line engineering performance and KPI delivery (OEE, downtime, waste, maintenance cost).
• Provide visible leadership to shift technicians and drive accountability.
• Oversee maintenance planning, scheduling, and breakdown elimination.
• Drive continuous improvement and loss elimination initiatives with data-driven plans.
• Coach team members in maintenance practices and ensure knowledge transfer.

Skills

FMCG experience

Engineering background NVQ/ HNC/ HND

Leadership 3+ years

KPI delivery

Accountability for standards

Coaching & development

Cross-functional influence

IWS / PM / AM systems

Problem-solving mindset

Hands-on leadership

Production line ownership

WPI Level 4

Education

NVQ Level 3 / HNC / HND

Tools

SAP

Job description

Overview

At PepsiCo UK, we’re proud to make some of the nation’s favourite snacks and drinks—like Walkers, Quaker, Doritos, Pipers, and Monster Munch. With sites across the UK, including our Quaker mill in Cupar and Doritos factory in Coventry, we’re also home to one of the world’s largest crisp factories in Leicester.

About the Role

We are currently recruiting for a Line Engineering Lead to drive operational excellence, equipment reliability, and team performance at our Coventry site.

This is a days-based role (Monday–Friday), with responsibility for leading and influencing shift-based engineering teams, ensuring delivery against the site’s key KPIs including OEE, downtime reduction, cost, and capability development.

This role is critical to embedding a culture of ownership, accountability, and results-driven performance, aligned to the Coventry Engineering Roadmap 2026 and PepsiCo’s engineering standards.

Role Purpose

The Line Engineering Lead is accountable for the technical performance and reliability of assigned production lines and areas.

They will:

• Drive area ownership within engineering
• Lead execution of maintenance strategy and loss elimination
• Develop team capability
• Ensure delivery of measurable results against site KPIs

This is a performance leadership role requiring strong direction, timely decision‑making, problem resolution, and accountability across the line team.

Responsibilities

1. Line Ownership & Results Delivery

• Take full ownership of line engineering performance, including:
  • OEE
  • Downtime
  • Waste
  • Maintenance cost
• Drive delivery of site KPIs through the engineering team
• Hold the line team accountable for standards and performance

2. Leadership & Team Performance

• Provide strong, visible leadership to shift technicians
• Set clear expectations and drive accountability for results
• Coach and develop technicians to improve fault finding, problem solving and equipment ownership
• Build a culture of proactive rather than reactive engineering.

3. Maintenance Strategy & Execution

• Own and deliver maintenance planning and scheduling, as well as breakdown elimination activities.
• Ensure all work is planned and prioritised, executed efficiently and effectively
• Drive increase in planned vs reactive maintenance
• Ensure SAP work orders are reviewed and progressed in line with agreed maintenance processes.

4. Loss Elimination & Continuous Improvement

• Lead identification and elimination of:
  • Chronic losses
  • Repeat failures
• Use data and line performance to build focused improvement plans
• Champion and lead Continuous Improvement (CI) activities aligned to site priorities
• Drive root cause problem solving (RCA) with the team

5. Capability & Systems Development

• Coach teams in Progressive and Autonomous Maintenance
• Ensure effective implementation of Integrated Work Systems (IWS) standards
• Identify skill gaps and actively develop team capability
• Ensure knowledge transfer and technical standards are embedded

6. Work Management & Standards

• Ensure all maintenance tasks are: clearly defined, standardised, cost-effective
• Lead equipment modifications and ensure compliance with change management processes
• Maintain high standards in: work execution, documentation, equipment care

Accountabilities (Measured Through KPIs)

• Reduction in breakdowns and repeat failures
• Improved OEE and equipment reliability
• Increased planned maintenance vs reactive maintenance
• Maintenance cost control
• Improved technician capability and engagement
• Sustainable elimination of key line losses

Qualifications

What We’re Looking For

• Proven experience in an FMCG or manufacturing environment
• Engineering experience, ideally with a time-served engineering background and NVQ Level 3 / HNC / HND qualification.
• Strong leadership capability with 3+ years’ experience leading engineering teams.
• Demonstrated ability to deliver results against KPIs
• Confident in holding teams accountable and setting clear standards
• Strong coaching and people development skills
• Ability to influence across engineering teams, operations / line leads, support functions
• Experience with Integrated Work Systems (IWS), Progressive Maintenance, and Autonomous Maintenance systems.
• Strong problem-solving and loss elimination mindset
• Flexible, hands‑on approach with the ability to support delivery of line performance improvements.
• Experience owning equipment or a production line is highly desirable
• WPI Level 4 (desirable)

Key Behaviours for Success

• Strong ownership mindset with accountability for results
• Proactive and driven – acts before issues escalates
• Resilient and focused on delivery
• Data‑driven decision-making
• Strong collaboration with operations
• High standards and attention to detail

Why Join Us?

We offer a competitive salary, and a wide range of benefits—from critical illness cover and discounted gym memberships to enhanced parental leave and electric car schemes. Our commitment to wellbeing and career growth makes us a Top Employer for 14 years running.

Equal Opportunities

We’re an equal opportunity employer, committed to the Equality Act 2010. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and will provide any necessary adjustments to support you through the recruitment process.