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Manpower UK Limited; Cambridgeshire and Peterborough; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

Unilever is seeking an interim Prototyping and Maintenance Engineer for its Colworth Science Park site. The role focuses on delivering prototype equipment for new ice cream product manufacturing and on daily maintenance of a busy pilot plant producing prototype ice creams.

You will work within a multi-skilled team to fabricate parts, assemble components, and troubleshoot processes, with 70% prototyping and 30% maintenance, reporting to the engineering group in a fast-paced FMCG environment.

Qualifications

• Time served apprentice with mechanical engineering and prototyping experience.
• Experience machining, fabrication and assembly, welding, pneumatic and hydraulic systems, basic mechanical and electrical maintenance, fault finding.

Responsibilities

• Manufacture prototype mechanical components, sub-systems, nozzles and jigs using CNC tools and welding equipment to food-grade standards.
• Verify parts with precision measuring instruments against drawings/specifications.
• Collaborate with designers and process engineers to deliver practical engineering solutions.
• Lead fabrication and assembly of mechanical parts for new processes and support pilot plant maintenance.
• Provide mentorship to apprentices and support safety documentation and PUWER records.

Skills

Machining

Fabrication

Welding

CNC programming

Drawings interpretation

Prototyping

Maintenance

Pneumatic & hydraulic

Troubleshooting

Education

Time served apprentice

Tools

CNC machine tools

TIG welding equipment

Spot welding equipment

Grinding/finishing tools

Job description

Manpower are currently seeking an interim Prototyping and Maintenance Engineer, to work with our global FMCG client, renowned for brands such as Magnum, Ben & Jerry's, Cornetto and Wall's, and become an integral part of their fast-paced FMCG environment.

The position is based at our client's Research & Development facility, at Colworth Science Park, in Sharnbrook, Bedfordshire (MK44), accessible by car or shuttle bus from Bedford train station.

It also houses our client's global centre of excellence in safety and sustainability sciences.

This is a full-time temporary role to run for 6 months with possibility of extension, requiring 37.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday. Compensation for this role is competitive, paying up to £50,000 per annum, pro rata, depending upon experience.

The ice cream processing team at is looking for a temporary Prototyping and Maintenance Engineer to join the global innovation centre of the world's largest ice cream company. This exciting role sits within an established team of multi-skilled engineers and focuses on delivering prototype equipment and machinery for new ice cream product manufacturing through skilled machining and fabrication. The role also supports the day-to-day maintenance of a busy pilot plant producing prototype ice creams. It offers an excellent opportunity for a recently qualified apprentice to build new skills and knowledge, or for an experienced engineer seeking a new challenge in the innovative world of ice cream.

The Prototyping and Maintenance Engineer will lead the fabrication and assembly of mechanical parts and components to support the implementation of new process technologies. This will involve close collaboration with designers, process development engineers, project teams and key external partners, including machinery, component, process technology and control system suppliers. The role also supports planned and reactive maintenance, as well as troubleshooting activities, within a highly utilised Pilot Plant. The role will encompass approximately 70% prototyping and 30% maintenance,

Main Accountabilities

• Manufacture prototype mechanical components, sub-systems, nozzles and jigs using modern engineering machinery, manual and CNC machine tools, and TIG/spot welding equipment, working with stainless steel, food-grade aluminum and plastics.
• Use precision measuring instruments to verify parts are manufactured accurately against drawings and specifications.
• Collaborate with designers, control engineers and process engineers to create practical engineering solutions.
• Work independently to deliver one-off prototypes, assemblies and machined parts to food-grade standards.
• Support and mentor current and future engineering apprentices.
• Support Pilot Plant infrastructure and processing equipment through planned and reactive maintenance, including pumps, homogenisers, mixers, heat exchangers, filling, forming and packing lines, and associated process ancillaries.
• Maintain machine safety documentation, including standard operating procedures, risk assessments and PUWER records, alongside accurate maintenance records in line with local legislation.
• Support housekeeping and safety standards in the Advanced Prototype Engineering Centre in collaboration with the SHEQ team.

Experience

• Time served apprentice, with strong industry experience of mechanical engineering and prototyping
• Mechanical engineering capability, including: machining, fabrication and assembly, welding, pneumatic and hydraulic systems basic mechanical and electrical maintenance, fault finding and troubleshooting
• Strong ability to interpret mechanical drawings.
• Knowledge of manufacturing and rapid prototyping methods.
• Demonstrated experience in mechanical fabrication, prototyping and maintenance.
• CNC programming experience required.
• TIG welding experience preferred.
• Consumer goods industry experience, ideally within food or dairy.

Colworth Science Park working environment:

• 9 miles from Bedford
• 18 miles from M1
• Modern working environment in a beautiful, listed building