Multi-Skilled Reliability Engineer

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

Job summary

Zest in Cambridgeshire (on-site) is seeking a Multi-skilled Reliability Engineer to cover maintenance and reliability improvement projects in a fast-paced FMCG environment. The role suits engineers moving into reliability or CI from hands-on maintenance backgrounds.

You will lead root cause analyses, push quick wins, and represent engineering on projects for new equipment, launches and SKU changes, while staying close to production and customer trials.

Qualifications

• A multi-skilled engineering background (mechanical and electrical).
• 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.

Responsibilities

• 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

Skills

Mechanical & Electrical background

Clear communication

Team collaboration

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.

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