Senior Maintenance Engineer

Placr Recruitment; Horsham; On-site; GBP 48,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

Placr Recruitment is seeking a Senior Maintenance Engineer for a well-established manufacturing business in West Sussex. The role focuses on hands-on maintenance with involvement in automation, robotics and capital improvement projects.

You’ll diagnose breakdowns, fault-find across mechanical/electrical systems, and mentor other engineers while driving continuous improvement in a modern facility.

Qualifications

• Significant experience working within a manufacturing maintenance environment.
• Experience maintaining and fault-finding CNC machinery.
• Strong multi-skilled engineering knowledge across mechanical and electrical systems.
• Good knowledge of hydraulics and pneumatics.
• Proven fault-finding and diagnostic ability.
• Ability to work independently on complex maintenance issues.
• Experience mentoring, supporting or leading other engineers.
• Strong health and safety awareness.
• A practical, hands-on approach with excellent attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Diagnosing and resolving breakdowns across a range of manufacturing machinery and site equipment.
• Carrying out electrical and mechanical fault finding.
• Maintaining and repairing CNC machinery, including mills and lathes.
• Working with hydraulic and pneumatic systems.
• Completing planned and preventative maintenance.
• Performing root cause analysis to identify and prevent recurring faults.
• Maintaining accurate maintenance and CMMS records.
• Identifying ageing equipment and recommending improvements or upgrades.
• Supporting the modification and retrofitting of existing machinery.
• Assisting with the integration of robotic and automated manufacturing systems.
• Working alongside project engineers and equipment suppliers during installation and commissioning.
• Contributing to capital investment and continuous improvement projects.
• Designing or modifying tooling, jigs and equipment where required.
• Mentoring and supporting other Maintenance Engineers.
• Providing senior departmental support in the Maintenance Manager's absence.
• Ensuring all work is completed in accordance with health and safety requirements.

Skills

Maintenance experience

CNC maintenance

Mechanical systems

Electrical systems

Fault finding

Hydraulics

Pneumatics

Automation robotics

Mentoring/leading

Education

HNC/HND

NVQ Level 3 / apprenticeship

Tools

Fanuc

Siemens PLC

HMI configuration

CMMS

Job description

Senior Maintenance Engineer

Small Dole, West Sussex
Full-Time | Permanent
Salary: Competitive / Dependent on Experience

Placr Recruitment is recruiting for an experienced Senior Maintenance Engineer to join a well-established manufacturing business in West Sussex.

This is an excellent opportunity for a highly skilled, hands‑on engineer who wants more than a traditional maintenance position. Alongside keeping complex manufacturing equipment operating effectively, you will play a key role in the site's continued development, including automation, robotics and capital improvement projects.

The position would suit an experienced multi-skilled Maintenance Engineer with strong mechanical and electrical fault‑finding skills, ideally gained within a CNC or precision manufacturing environment.

The Role

Working as a senior member of the maintenance team, your responsibilities will include:

• Diagnosing and resolving breakdowns across a range of manufacturing machinery and site equipment
• Carrying out electrical and mechanical fault finding
• Maintaining and repairing CNC machinery, including mills and lathes
• Working with hydraulic and pneumatic systems
• Completing planned and preventative maintenance
• Performing root cause analysis to identify and prevent recurring faults
• Maintaining accurate maintenance and CMMS records
• Identifying ageing equipment and recommending improvements or upgrades
• Supporting the modification and retrofitting of existing machinery
• Assisting with the integration of robotic and automated manufacturing systems
• Working alongside project engineers and equipment suppliers during installation and commissioning
• Contributing to capital investment and continuous improvement projects
• Designing or modifying tooling, jigs and equipment where required
• Mentoring and supporting other Maintenance Engineers
• Providing senior departmental support in the Maintenance Manager's absence
• Ensuring all work is completed in accordance with health and safety requirements

About You

We are looking for someone with:

• Significant experience working within a manufacturing maintenance environment
• Experience maintaining and fault‑finding CNC machinery
• Strong multi-skilled engineering knowledge across mechanical and electrical systems
• Good knowledge of hydraulics and pneumatics
• Proven fault‑finding and diagnostic ability
• The ability to work independently on complex maintenance issues
• Experience mentoring, supporting or leading other engineers
• Strong health and safety awareness
• A practical, hands‑on approach with excellent attention to detail

Desirable Experience

Any of the following would be particularly advantageous:

• Recognised engineering qualification such as HNC/HND, NVQ Level 3 or a relevant apprenticeship
• Industrial automation or robotics experience
• Fanuc or Staubli robotic systems
• Siemens PLC programming or HMI configuration
• Haas CNC mechanical maintenance knowledge
• CMMS experience
• Automation or capital project commissioning
• Mechanical fabrication and machinery improvement experience
• Profibus training
• 18th Edition electrical qualification

Why Apply?

This isn't simply a role focused on responding to breakdowns. You'll have the opportunity to influence how the factory develops, improve existing machinery and contribute to the introduction of new automation and robotic technology.

It's an excellent opportunity for an experienced Maintenance Engineer looking to take on greater technical responsibility while remaining hands‑on within a modern manufacturing environment.