Maintenance Operations Engineer

INNOVA SEARCH; Birkenhead; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading chemical manufacturing business is looking for a Maintenance Operations Engineer in Birkenhead. The role involves providing hands-on support, managing urgent engineering tasks, and ensuring compliance with maintenance standards. Ideal candidates should have a degree in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering, solid maintenance experience, and a collaborative spirit. This position offers a chance to work in a state-of-the-art facility focused on innovation and sustainability.

Qualifications

• Degree qualified in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering or equivalent.
• Experience on a GMP manufacturing site is beneficial.
• Hands-on maintenance experience with capital machinery.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate urgent tasks with engineering planners.
• Identify gaps in the maintenance system.
• Develop and update job plans for equipment.
• Maintain and revise maintenance SOPs.
• Report maintenance metrics to teams.
• Manage minor equipment replacements.
• Participate in FMEA studies.
• Investigate maintenance failures.
• Collaborate with other teams for equipment improvements.
• Support and coach maintenance personnel.

Skills

Mechanical skills

Electrical skills

Problem-solving

Collaboration

Education

Degree in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering

Job description

Overview

Innova Search is supporting a leading chemical manufacturing business with the appointment of a Maintenance Operations Engineer. The client has a culture of collaboration, innovation, and sustainability, with a state-of-the-art manufacturing and R&D facility in the UK. The role will provide hands-on engineering support to address daily issues affecting manufacturing, quality, or EHS, and will be the primary engineering point of contact for onsite production areas.

The successful candidate will serve as the user representative for major capital projects within the manufacturing areas supported and will bridge Maintenance Engineering with the Process Team to ensure all equipment is safely maintained, compliant, and kept in a qualified state where necessary.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate with engineering planners and supervisors to integrate urgent tasks into the schedule, ensuring adequate staffing.
• Identify and address gaps in the maintenance system (e.g., spare parts, preventive maintenance), escalating issues when necessary.
• Develop and update job plans for equipment within your area of expertise or when duties/equipment change.
• Maintain and revise equipment-specific maintenance SOPs for your area of responsibility.
• Report key maintenance metrics and KPIs to the Process Team, Maintenance huddles, and other relevant meetings.
• Manage minor equipment replacements or like-for-like changes in line with site change management procedures.
• Serve as the user representative for capital projects involving the replacement of individual equipment items.
• Participate in FMEA studies, contributing technical knowledge of equipment and facilities.
• Investigate non-critical equipment or maintenance failures, documenting findings in the event management system.
• Collaborate with Reliability, TechOps, Operations, and Quality teams to identify equipment improvement and optimisation opportunities.
• Act as the subject matter expert during internal and external audits.
• Provide on-site support and coaching to maintenance and operations personnel within your area.
• Understand and uphold key process safety and environmental protections related to manufacturing equipment.
• Offer site-wide support as needed, depending on skill set.

Experience

• Mechanical or Electrical Engineering discipline degree qualified/apprenticeship trained, or equivalent.
• Multi-skilled (mechanical & electrical) background preferred.
• Experience of working on a GMP manufacturing site.
• Solid understanding of mechanical and electrical principles/regulations.
• Proven experience of hands-on maintenance and servicing of capital machinery.