R&D Mechanical Reliability Lead

PepsiCo; Ireland; On-site; EUR 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

PepsiCo R&D in Little Island, Cork seeks an experienced Mechanical Maintenance Supervisor to lead maintenance across labs, pilot plant, and utilities, driving uptime and reliability. You will manage external service engineers and ensure preventive and predictive maintenance while supporting R&D and operations to enable innovation.

The role offers exposure to advanced life sciences and manufacturing technologies with strong opportunities for professional development and upskilling.

Qualifications

• FETAC Level 6 qualification or equivalent.
• 10–15 years’ experience in industrial, R&D, laboratory, or pilot‑plant environments.
• Strong background as a Mechanical Fitter / Maintenance Technician with supervisory capability.
• Experience working within a preventative maintenance programme.
• Ability to interpret technical manuals, schematics, and engineering drawings.
• Flexibility to support occasional off‑hours maintenance.

Responsibilities

• Lead maintenance across R&D labs, pilot plant, utilities, and facility systems.
• Diagnose, troubleshoot, and repair mechanical faults across a wide range of equipment.
• Respond rapidly to breakdowns to minimise downtime and maintain operational continuity.
• Perform routine maintenance on pumps, compressors, HVAC systems, motors, valves, utilities, and pilot scale machinery.
• Conduct inspections, identify root causes, and implement corrective actions.
• Coordinate reliability activities with maintenance teams to ensure timely execution.

Skills

Mechanical maintenance

Supervisory experience

Troubleshooting

Preventive maintenance

Education

FETAC Level 6

Tools

Transform CMMS

Job description

PepsiCo R&D in Little Island, Cork seeks an experienced Mechanical Maintenance Supervisor to lead maintenance across labs, pilot plant, and utilities, driving uptime and reliability. You will manage external service engineers and ensure preventive and predictive maintenance while supporting R&D and operations to enable innovation.

The role offers exposure to advanced life sciences and manufacturing technologies with strong opportunities for professional development and upskilling.