Maintenance Engineer

Searley Owen; Northampton; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A manufacturing company in Northampton is seeking a Maintenance Lead to supervise a multi-skilled maintenance team. The role involves ensuring all production equipment is maintained for optimal efficiency and includes performing both reactive and preventive maintenance. Candidates should have a technical background in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering, alongside strong PLC fault-finding skills. The position offers a hands-on approach in a busy environment with opportunities for continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• Time-served in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering.
• Proven maintenance experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Strong knowledge of PLC systems.

Responsibilities

• Supervise maintenance activities across multiple areas.
• Perform preventive maintenance on production machinery.
• Lead investigations and root cause analysis.

Skills

PLC fault finding

Electrical systems

Mechanical systems

Lean/Continuous Improvement

Education

HNC/HND in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering

Tools

CMMS/PPM systems

Job description

We are looking for a skilled and forward thinking Maintenance Lead to support a small multi-skilled maintenance team responsible for ensuring all production equipment, plant, and site facilities are maintained to maximise uptime and efficiency. This is a hands-on supervisory role in a busy manufacturing environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Supervise day-to-day maintenance activities across mechanical, electrical, and facilities areas.
• Carry out reactive and preventative maintenance (PPM) on production machinery, assembly lines, and test equipment.
• Fault-find and repair electrical and mechanical systems, including PLC-controlled machinery, motors, drives, pneumatics, and hydraulics.
• Support installation and commissioning of new plant and equipment.
• Lead breakdown investigations and root cause analysis to prevent recurrence.
• Manage and update the maintenance planning system and ensure accurate record keeping.
• Ensure availability of critical spares and manage stock levels.
• Drive continuous improvement in reliability and efficiency across the site.
• Ensure compliance with all Health, Safety, and Environmental standards.
• Provide technical guidance and mentoring to maintenance engineers and apprentices.
• Liaise with production, engineering, and external contractors to minimise downtime and improve equipment performance.

Skills & Experience Required

• Time-served, HNC/HND, or equivalent in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering (multi-skilled preferred).
• Proven maintenance background within manufacturing or engineering.
• Strong working knowledge of PLC fault finding (Siemens ideally).
• Experience with pneumatics, hydraulics, and conveyors.
• Understanding of CMMS/PPM systems.
• Supervisory or leadership experience.
• Excellent communication and organisational skills.
• Knowledge of Lean / Continuous Improvement is advantageous.
• Flexible approach with the ability to support production needs.