Packaging Reliability Lead - Autonomous Operations

The South African Breweries; Wigan; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

The South African Breweries in Wigan, United Kingdom, is seeking an experienced Maintenance Engineer to lead reliability improvements for key machine groups within our FMCG operations. You will work with zone technical experts and brewery personnel to optimise maintenance costs and drive autonomous operations.

Responsibilities include coaching artisans, implementing data-driven preventive and predictive maintenance plans, and delivering projects on time and within budget, while maintaining

Qualifications

• Minimum Diploma or higher in mechanical/electrical field.
• Experience in FMCG or similar high‑volume environment.
• Evidence of leadership and project delivery capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Maintain a safe, healthy and risk-free environment for the machine group.
• Ensure equipment is safe, compliant and can meet quality requirements.
• Coach artisans and operators to achieve high uptime and safety goals.
• Understand VPO pillars and world class operations journey.
• Lead Autonomous Operations implementation with hands-on steps.
• Restore equipment to near-new condition and control deterioration.
• Provide a stable platform to address deterioration with preventive/predictive maintenance.
• Use data-driven methods to improve reliability with preventive/predictive plans.
• Optimise maintenance costs and spare parts to meet budget targets.
• Develop and assess technical skills interventions for performance gaps.
• Improve equipment performance through skilled personnel development.
• Codify knowledge through SOPs and SWIs.
• Participate in problem solving to identify root causes and preventive measures.
• Manage machine group projects to improve reliability, quality and cost.
• Deliver projects on time, within budget and to spec.
• Ensure ZBB maintenance budget compliance for the group.
• Collaborate with ZTEs, vendors and reverse engineers to meet KPIs.

Skills

Leadership

Analytical thinking

Problem solving

Attention to detail

Interpersonal skills

Planning & organising

Innovation & negotiation

Resilience

Education

National Diploma (Mechanical/Electrical)

Bachelor’s Degree (Mechanical/Electrical)

Belt qualification (advantageous)

Additional business qualification (advantageous)

Job description

The South African Breweries in Wigan, United Kingdom, is seeking an experienced Maintenance Engineer to lead reliability improvements for key machine groups within our FMCG operations. You will work with zone technical experts and brewery personnel to optimise maintenance costs and drive autonomous operations.

Responsibilities include coaching artisans, implementing data-driven preventive and predictive maintenance plans, and delivering projects on time and within budget, while maintaining