Maintenance Engineer – 18-month FTC

KHR - Recruitment Specialists; Maidstone; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Enhanced company pension

Holiday allowance

Onsite gym

Onsite canteen

Job summary

KHR is partnering with a leading international manufacturing organisation to recruit an experienced Maintenance Engineer (Mechanical – bias) on an 18‑month fixed‑term contract. Based on the outskirts of Maidstone, you will drive maintenance strategies and improve asset reliability across a complex production environment.

You will lead preventive/predictive maintenance, root cause investigations and reliability improvements, collaborating with Engineering and Operations to maximise plant

Qualifications

• HNC in Mechanical Engineering or related discipline.
• Experience in a Reliability/maintenance engineering role in manufacturing.
• Knowledge of predictive and preventive maintenance techniques.
• Experience leading RCFA or FMEA activities.
• Familiarity with vibration/oil analysis or thermal imaging is a plus.
• Experience using SAP PM or a CMMS system.
• Strong analytical, organisational and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop, review and optimise preventative and predictive maintenance programmes.
• Lead root cause investigations and ensure corrective actions are completed.
• Step in for the plant Mechanical Engineer when required.
• Coordinate condition monitoring activities such as vibration, oil analysis and thermal imaging.
• Ensure accurate maintenance schedules, spares, and Bills of Materials.
• Carry out equipment criticality assessments and develop maintenance strategies.
• Deliver reliability improvement projects to boost plant performance, safety and efficiency.
• Analyse equipment data using SAP PM to identify trends and improvements.
• Maintain engineering standards, documentation and maintenance procedures.
• Support MoC activities, risk assessments and safe systems of work.

Skills

Reliability engineering

RCFA

FMEA

Predictive maintenance

Condition monitoring

Vibration analysis

Oil analysis

Thermal imaging

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

HNC in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

SAP PM

CMMS

Job description

Maintenance Engineer (Mechanical – bias) – 18‑month Fixed‑Term Contract (Full‑time)

Hours: Monday to Friday, 08:00 – 16:30

Location: Outskirts of Maidstone

KHR is partnering with a leading international manufacturing organisation to recruit an experienced Maintenance Engineer to join their Engineering team on an 18‑month fixed‑term contract. This is an excellent opportunity for a proactive engineering professional to play a pivotal role in improving asset reliability, developing maintenance strategies, mechanical maintenance, and driving continuous improvement across a complex manufacturing environment.

The Maintenance Engineer (Mechanical – bias) will work closely with both Engineering and Operations teams, enhancing equipment performance through preventative/predictive maintenance, leading root cause investigations, and implementing reliability improvements that maximise plant availability, efficiency, and safety.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, review, and optimise preventative and predictive maintenance programmes to improve equipment reliability.
• Lead root cause investigations into recurring equipment failures, ensuring corrective actions are implemented and tracked to completion.
• Step in for the plant Mechanical Engineer when needed.
• Coordinate condition monitoring activities, including vibration analysis, oil analysis, thermal imaging, and lubrication programmes.
• Work collaboratively with maintenance planning teams to ensure maintenance schedules, spare parts, and Bills of Materials are accurate and effective.
• Carry out equipment criticality assessments and use findings to develop appropriate maintenance strategies.
• Identify and deliver engineering improvement projects that enhance reliability, safety, and operational performance.
• Analyse equipment performance data using SAP PM and other maintenance systems to identify trends and opportunities for improvement.
• Maintain engineering standards, technical documentation, and maintenance procedures in line with company and ISO requirements.
• Support Management of Change (MoC) activities, engineering risk assessments, and safe systems of work.
• Provide technical support during planned shutdowns and assist with resolving complex equipment issues.
• Participate in the engineering on‑call rota to support critical plant requirements.

Qualifications

• HNC in Mechanical Engineering or a related engineering discipline.
• Proven experience in a Reliability Engineer or similar engineering role within a manufacturing or process environment.
• Strong knowledge of preventative and predictive maintenance techniques.
• Experience leading Root Cause Failure Analysis (RCFA), FMEA, or other structured problem‑solving methodologies.
• Familiarity with condition monitoring techniques, including vibration analysis, lubrication management, oil analysis, or thermal imaging.
• Experience using SAP PM or another Computerised Maintenance Management System (CMMS).
• Strong analytical, organisational, and communication skills, with the ability to influence cross‑functional teams.
• Good understanding of engineering standards, risk assessments, and health and safety legislation.

Benefits

On top of a competitive base salary, you will receive an enhanced company pension, holiday allowance, and other benefits, including full access to onsite facilities (gym and canteen).