Maintenance Engineer - Level 1

Avara Foods Ltd.; Brackley; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 40,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Shift pay £8030 p.a.

31 days holiday

Pension contribution 3%

Canteen on site

Cycle to work

Staff discounts

GP/mental health support

Job summary

Avara Foods Ltd. is seeking a Maintenance Engineer for our Brackley facility. You will work in a fast-paced FMCG factory, ensuring equipment reliability, quality output and compliance with safety standards.

The role operates on a 4 on 4 off days/nights shift pattern, 07:00–19:00 and 19:00–07:00, with opportunities for skill development and career progression. We welcome engineers who are keen to grow, have hands-on problem solving, and can operate within a team to minimise downtime and improve

Qualifications

• Entry level technical apprenticeship pathway in a FMCG factory.
• Ability to operate in a fast-paced, noisy, refrigerated environment.
• Basic understanding of preventive maintenance and breakdown response.

Responsibilities

• Maintain machinery to optimise output and quality.
• Respond quickly to breakdowns and identify root causes.
• Follow health, safety and hygiene guidelines in the factory.
• Raise stock/non-stock requests and support engineering shifts.

Skills

Machine minder

Technical operator

Interpersonal skills

Teamwork

Numerical reasoning

Education

Technical apprenticeship eligibility

Job description

Who are we, and what do we do? You may not have heard of us, but there’s a good chance you’ve enjoyed our products. Avara Foods is one of the UK’s leading food businesses, supplying chicken and turkey to the country’s major supermarkets and well-known restaurants.

About The Role

We own and manage our entire supply chain, from farms to factory and all the way to the customer door - meaning we have careers that cover a whole range of functions. We have major processing sites across England and an agricultural network of over 350 farms, spanning from North Yorkshire to the South Coast and Wales.

Are you passionate about Engineering? Looking for a new challenge? Do you have experience or qualifications in Engineering? As an inclusive, forward‑thinking business, we take pride in our approach to investing in our people across Avara Foods and are looking for a highly competent and motivated Maintenance Engineer to join our Engineering Team, based at our Brackley site.

The role is Factory based, so you’ll be working in a fast‑paced, dynamic FMCG factory environment which is noisy and refrigerated in some areas, manufacturing short shelf-life products where hygiene standards are critical. As a Maintenance Engineer you’ll be working 4 on 4 off rotating days and nights. 07:00 - 19:00 & 19:00 - 07:00.

What will you be doing as a Maintenance Engineer at Avara?

As a Maintenance Engineer, you will: Optimise machinery output and product quality, and minimise plant downtime through effective preventative maintenance, efficient breakdown response in specific area of the factory whilst maintaining a safe and healthy environment and promoting good engineering practice.

Key responsibilities

• Ensure the Engineering maintenance carried out in line with the schedule and effective and efficient corrective action is taken.
• Quick and effective response to breakdowns in designated area, where possible identifying root cause and suggesting possible improvements to prevent further breakdowns occurring.
• Communicate unscheduled breakdowns to the Engineering Shift Manager / Principal Engineer and work with the operations department to minimise plant disruption.
• Follow good engineering standards and good hygiene practice for the department.
• Ensure all activities are carried out within company and legislative health and safety guidelines, highlighting possible areas of improvement to the Engineering Shift Manager / Principal Engineer.
• Timely reporting of any Health and Safety, Animal Welfare and Environmental Issues
• Follow the communicated escalation route for unscheduled plant downtime and minimize downtime by following a good engineering practice.
• Demonstrate basic problem‑solving techniques to identify root cause of issues.
• Raise Stock and Non‑stock request forms.

Essential

What you’ll need to be successful:

• Machine minder or technical operator experience.
• Keen to develop or progress in a career in engineering.
• Numerical and reasoning ability to meet entry level requirements for a technical apprenticeship (Functional skills L2 in Literacy and Numeracy as well as a pass score in Technical Abilities Test)
• Practical ability in order to operate within a FMCG factory.
• Self‑motivated attitude with the ability to multi‑task and thrive in a timeline‑driven environment.
• Interpersonal communication skills.
• Ability to work individually or as part of a team.

Desirable

• Engineering experience
• Knowledge of adjustments required for machinery.
• Knowledge of likely breakdowns and causes for machinery.
• Understanding of usual running conditions and capability to identify changes and irregularities which may affect performance immediately or at some time in the future.
• Able to complete inspection, measurement, cleaning and routine parts replacement maintenance.

The Benefits Of Working For Avara Foods

As a Maintenance Engineer, you will enjoy a secure, supportive and progressive working environment, where your contribution and achievements will be recognised and rewarded.

We Offer Comprehensive Training As Well As Continuous Development As You Build Your Long‑term Career With Us. You Can Also Look Forward To Benefits That Amongst Other Things, Include The Following:

• £32455.28 per annum
• Shift Allowance £8030 per annum
• 31 days holiday allowance
• Secure contract with long term career development opportunities
• Straight forward pension contribution of 3%
• Subsidised staff canteen serving hot food
• Staff shop / staff sales at hugely discounted prices
• Cycle to work scheme
• Discounted local gym membership
• Salaried Advance Finance
• Salary Sacrifice Car Scheme
• Access to our Employee Benefit Scheme, which includes unlimited remote GP appointments and unlimited mental health sessions, physiotherapy sessions, medical second opinion consultation, and other discounts and perks, such as savings & discounts on weekly costs.

After you’ve applied, you’ll be contacted in due course by a Resourcing Officer to discuss your application and CV further. There’ll also be a chance for you to ask us any questions you may have about the role.

We are committed to being an equal opportunities employer.

INDHP #TheAvaraWay