Multi-skilled Reliability Engineer

Zest; Cambridge; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

Zest is seeking a Multi-skilled Reliability Engineer for an on-site role in Cambridgeshire. The position covers maintenance and improvement work on FMCG equipment, with a focus on reliability and project involvement.

You will be hands-on on the shop floor and participate in product launches and SKU changes. The role requires a multi-skilled mechanical/electrical background, a relevant engineering qualification, and recent experience in food/FMCG/pharma manufacturing.

Qualifications

• Multi-skilled engineering background required (mechanical and electrical).
• Recent experience in food, FMCG or pharma manufacturing is needed.
• Proactive, team-first approach with clear communication across levels.

Responsibilities

• Lead root cause analysis and continuous improvement on existing machines.
• Spot quick wins and implement them without waiting for large projects.
• Represent engineering on projects for new equipment, product launches and SKU changes.
• Be on the shop floor for trials, launches and customer visits.
• Link engineering with production, technical and project teams.

Skills

Mechanical engineering

Electrical engineering

Teamwork

Communication

Education

Engineering qualification

Job description

Multi-skilled Reliability Engineer

Location: Cambridgeshire (on-site)

Salary: £50,000

Hours: Monday to Friday, days, 40 hours per week

Contract: Permanent

About the role

Our client, a busy food manufacturer in Cambridgeshire, is looking for a Multi-skilled Reliability Engineer. The role covers both maintenance and projects. It would suit a multi-skilled maintenance engineer ready to move into reliability and improvement work, or a CI engineer who still enjoys hands-on engineering.

As the Reliability Engineer, you'll keep existing lines running better, and you'll help bring new machines, products and SKUs into the business. You won't spend your week behind a desk. Our client wants an engineer who is happy on the shop floor, keeps their practical skills sharp and can pick up the tools when the maintenance team needs an extra pair of hands.

What a normal week looks like

• Leading root cause analysis and continuous improvement on existing machines
• Spotting quick wins and getting them done, without waiting for a big project to justify it
• Representing engineering on projects for new equipment, product launches and SKU changes
• Being on the floor for customer trials, launches and customer visits
• Linking the engineering team with production, technical and project teams
• Covering for maintenance engineers on the shop floor when needed

The honest part

This is a busy FMCG site, and priorities can change quickly. Some days you'll be balancing a breakdown, a launch and a customer visit at the same time. As a Reliability and Improvement Engineer, you'll need to stay calm, decide what matters most and keep people updated.

What you'll need

• A multi-skilled engineering background (mechanical and electrical), for example as a Multi-skilled Maintenance Engineer
• A relevant engineering qualification
• Recent experience in food, FMCG or pharma manufacturing
• A proactive, team-first approach and clear communication with people at all levels

Nice to have

• Experience as a CI Engineer, Improvement Engineer, Reliability Engineer, Projects Engineer or in an engineering leadership role

The process is one stage. It starts with an informal two-way conversation, followed by a full tour of the site, so you can see the operation and meet the team before you decide.