Reliability Engineer

Bekaert; Wallsend; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

Bekaert is seeking a Mechanical Engineer in Wallsend to ensure compliance with company policies while leading maintenance operations. You will develop and maintain a job planned works library, support continuous improvement initiatives, and coach staff to meet company KPIs.

The ideal candidate will have a strong background in Mechanical Engineering, proven supervisory experience, and knowledge of health and safety standards. Join us in advancing sustainable practices in a dynamic work environment.

Qualifications

• Educated to HNC level or equivalent in Mechanical Engineering.
• Strong supervisory experience and leadership skills.
• Good understanding of HSE and quality policies and their practical application.

Responsibilities

• Work with management team to ensure compliance with operating standards.
• Lead and coach team in root-cause findings and continuous improvements.
• Monitor process performance and ensure team compliance with KPIs.

Skills

Mechanical Engineering knowledge

Continuous improvement tools and techniques

Good understanding of HSE and quality policies

Strong interpersonal skills

Intermediate proficiency in Microsoft Office

Proven supervisory experience

Experience in a manufacturing environment

Education

HNC level or equivalent in Mechanical Engineering

Job description

At Bekaert, we believe it’s our responsibility to contribute to finding new solutions for the future. With 140 + years of heritage, innovation, and a future‑focused mindset, we strive to create value for our customers and society through innovative and sustainable practices. Our focus extends to markets such as new mobility, low‑carbon construction, and green energy.

Purpose of the Role

Work with the departmental management team to ensure all company and legislative operating standards and policies are adhered to, evaluate the efficiency of all activities in the Maintenance department and sites assets, and adjust accordingly. Endeavour to achieve the company’s KPIs and work to both the company’s and legislative operating standards and policies. Develop and maintain a site job planned works library and action plans. Lead and coach FMEA to drive our root‑cause findings culture and ensure all learning events are implemented and communicated accordingly.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Work consistently within the remit of all company policies and procedures (health and safety, quality, HR & environmental) & manage members of the shift and day maintenance team in doing the same.
• Ensure full compliance by all shift and day team members to the company’s quality/environment standards (ISO 14001, etc.) and any legislation applicable to our operations (HSE, waste, COSHH, etc.).
• Consistently demonstrate a positive leadership example to others while maintaining a professional and personable approach with an open‑door policy.
• Monitor and develop the performance of processes within the work area and ensure all shift and day team members are operating in full compliance with agreed KPIs (H&S, quality, delivery, cost, etc.).
• Support the maintenance foreman in the development of all personnel within the maintenance department, including identifying and organising training requirements and auditing training records.
• Actively promote, support and engage in continuous improvement projects and ensure the sustainability of these activities through the promotion of best operational practices.
• Ongoing promotion of best practice H&S by co‑ordinating audits, SOP reviews, quality and accident/incident investigation.
• Administer and audit site permit system to ensure we are working safely and in accordance with site regulations.
• Facilitate optimisation of waiting on maintenance (WOM) time of planned and unplanned activities.
• Ensure all planned maintenance activities are current, suitable and sufficient. Plan shutdowns and prioritise jobs and workload – this includes both the maintenance team and contractors.
• Build and maintain a job plan library for high‑frequency jobs in Agility PM (to ensure safe and efficient execution of all maintenance jobs).
• Update job plans to incorporate necessary changes and/or improvements.
• Aggregate similar jobs into periodic blocks to maximise efficiency and use of available resources.
• Analyze maintenance data.
• Lead root‑cause failure analysis meetings.
• Coordinate the implementation of defined actions.
• Coordinate equipment FMEA analyses.
• Facilitate implementation of defined FMEA actions.
• Define and implement an optimised maintenance plan per equipment type.
• Maintenance plans include lubrication, preventive, predictive and failure‑finding tasks.
• Support the maintenance foreman in coaching the maintenance team to maintain RCA, ensuring this forms part of our day‑to‑day working ethos.
• Actively provide reliability input to the design and projects engineer to promote best practices and deliver best in class, utilising the equipment modification request (EMR) procedure.
• Provide troubleshooting support to operating units on equipment reliability, including emergency work reviews.
• Support spare parts stores provider to optimise spare parts stocks (define which parts to keep on stock, determine which are strategic and critical).
• Follow‑up on spare/process parts trials delivered by alternative suppliers, ensuring quality and design meet requirements.
• Create purchase orders for necessary materials, spare parts, components, tools or external services.
• From time to time may be required to work at other Bridon sites.

Skills & Competencies

• Educated to HNC level or equivalent in Mechanical Engineering.
• Experience with continuous improvement tools, techniques and methodologies.
• Good understanding of HSE and quality policies and their practical application.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate and influence at all levels inside and outside the organisation.
• Intermediate proficiency in Microsoft Office.
• Proven supervisory experience, demonstrating personal success in leadership.
• Collaborative working across different departments.
• Experience in a manufacturing environment.

At Bekaert, we celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive work environment. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, colour, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.