Shift Engineer (Distribution Centre)

Unilever; Bebington; Hybrid; GBP 35,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading global consumer goods company is looking for a Shift Engineer for its Distribution Centre, focusing on maintaining optimal operations and safety. The role involves both preventative and reactive maintenance, ensuring a proactive approach to fault resolution. Candidates should have an NVQ Level 3 in Engineering and a multi-skilled background. This position offers competitive benefits including a salary, annual bonus, and flexible working options, fostering a culture of continuous improvement.

Benefits

Competitive salary and pension scheme

Annual bonus

Subsidised gym membership

Discounted staff shop and shares

Wellbeing programmes and development opportunities

Qualifications

• Time served Apprentice in Engineering.
• NVQ Level 3 in Engineering is essential.
• Multi-skilled background integrating mechanical, electrical, and software skills.

Responsibilities

• Deliver preventative maintenance standards at ground level and from height.
• Conduct reactive and planned maintenance on all automation assets.
• Ensure safety compliance in the working environment.

Skills

Multi-skilled background (mechanical, electrical and software)

Proactive approach to fault response and improvement

High standard of written and verbal communication

Understanding of 5S, lean manufacturing and continuous improvement plans

Time served Apprentice

Education

NVQ Level 3 in Engineering

Job description

Job Title: Shift Engineer (Distribution Centre)

Business Function: Supply Chain

Location: Port Sunlight Factories

About Unilever

Unilever is one of the world’s leading suppliers of Food, Home and Personal Care products with sales in over 190 countries and reaching 2 billion consumers a day. It has more than 400 brands, including Dove, Tresemme, Lynx, Lifebuoy, Shea Moisture, Persil, Domestos, Ben & Jerry’s, Magnum, Marmite, The Vegetarian Butcher, Graze and Pot Noodle.

Faced with the challenges of climate change and human development, we aim to move towards a world where everyone can live well within natural limits. Our purpose is to make sustainable living commonplace.

Job Purpose

The role of a Shift Engineer is to deliver customer service requirements by ensuring optimal sustained running of the Distribution Centre. This role will include:

• Deliver preventative maintenance standards to completion at ground level and working from height in the racking area.
• Conduct reactive and planned maintenance (fault investigations, inspections, component replacements) on all automation assets at ground level and at height.
• Ensure safety at height by recovering defective pallets and securing areas within crane aisles and racking structures.
• Manage tagging, encouraging all to raise them, prioritising and completing through the Engineering team.
• Reduce short‑term losses through quick resolution of machinery breakdowns.
• Drive a zero‑loss mindset through Emergency Work Orders (EWO) initiation and completion.
• Follow all safety and quality standards.
• Identify, appropriately escalated and resolve faults, challenges and inefficiencies.

Responsibilities

• Safety: Ensure company safety policy and procedures are understood, followed and challenged if unsafe.
• Role‑model and actively contribute to a safety culture, reporting hazards and dangerous situations.
• Perform regular inspections/audits for good housekeeping and area safety.
• Ensure tasks align with Risk Assessments; review, create and close gaps.
• Support contractor management processes.
• Quality: Ensure all aspects of quality meet local procedures and protect the brand.
• Setup equipment to meet quality procedures; take immediate technical actions to rectify negative impacts.
• Customer Service: Review DC performance, respond quickly to problems, prioritise technical challenges and ensure optimal throughput.
• Cost: Lead improvements to reduce non‑value‑added activity, cost, waste and energy. Operate Run‑to‑Standard activities such as 5S, tagging, maintenance planning and risk assessments.
• Training & Development: Review skills matrix, arrange and complete training activities, close skill gaps, and support upskilling of team members.
• Problem Solving: Diagnose and resolve challenges with machinery, system/automation errors and MHE issues, using Run‑to‑Standard concepts and escalation.
• Change: Identify improvement opportunities, drive best practices, participate in change initiatives and utilise project‑management tools.

Qualifications

• Time served Apprentice
• NVQ Level 3 in Engineering
• Multi‑skilled background (mechanical, electrical and software)
• Passion for automated systems and continuous learning
• Proactive approach to fault response and improvement
• Understanding of 5S, lean manufacturing and continuous improvement plans
• High standard of written and verbal communication
• Ability to work from height (site‑specific training provided)
• Desirable: FMCG background, experience in a Distribution Centre

Benefits

• Competitive salary and pension scheme
• Annual bonus
• Subsidised gym membership
• Discounted staff shop and shares
• Flexible and hybrid working environment opportunities
• Wellbeing programmes, development opportunities and an inclusive workplace culture

Diversity & Inclusion

We are committed to diversity, inclusion and equality. We provide full and fair consideration to all applicants regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity. Reasonable adjustments are available during the application and interview process.