Head of Engineering

The People Co.; Rotterdam, Den Haag; On-site; EUR 65,000 - 79,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation package

Dutch Expat Tax Scheme

8% holiday allowance

Management performance bonus up to 10%

Highly Skilled Migrant visa Spons

Job summary

The People Co. in Rotterdam seeks an experienced Head of Engineering to lead the site's engineering and maintenance, driving equipment availability, reliability and performance.

You will shape preventative and predictive maintenance, oversee electrical and instrumentation systems, and manage CAPEX projects in collaboration with corporate teams. This role offers a competitive gross salary of around €72,000 per year, an 8% holiday allowance, a performance bonus of up to 10%, relocation support,

Qualifications

• Engineering degree from a recognised institution.
• Proven leadership in engineering or maintenance at an FMCG/food facility.
• Strong E&I background with hands-on PLC/SCADA experience.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership to the engineering team and maintain high performance.
• Develop preventative and predictive maintenance strategies.
• Drive asset reliability, MTBF, MTTR and OEE improvements.
• Oversee electrical/instrumentation maintenance including LV, MCCs, panels.
• Manage PLC, HMI and SCADA systems with Siemens/Allen Bradley or similar platforms.
• Drive RCA/ CAPA and continuous improvement initiatives in the engineering function.
• Manage budgets, maintenance expenditure, spare parts inventory and stores; integrate with SAP.
• Oversee engineering contractors, suppliers, purchase orders and invoices; ensure value for money.
• Ensure compliance with health & safety, quality and electrical legislation (NEN 1010, NEN 3140).
• Maintain engineering documentation, work permits, equipment histories, SOPs and calibration records.
• Drive energy monitoring and asset utilisation improvements.
• Lead CAPEX and engineering projects with corporate teams within time and budget.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Problem-solving

Team management

Education

Engineering degree

Tools

Siemens PLC

Allen-Bradley PLC

HMI systems

SCADA systems

SAP

MES

IIoT

Job description

Our client, an established and internationally recognised food manufacturing business based in Rotterdam, is seeking an experienced Head of Engineering to take responsibility for the engineering and maintenance function at site level. This is a key leadership position, offering the opportunity to drive engineering performance, improve equipment reliability, develop maintenance systems and support significant investment in automation and technology.

The successful candidate will play an integral role in ensuring maximum equipment availability, operational efficiency and the successful delivery of engineering projects across the facility.

Job Role

Reporting to the Operations Director, the Head of Engineering will provide overall leadership of the site's engineering and maintenance operations, ensuring all equipment, machinery and utilities are maintained to the highest standards.

You will lead the engineering team, develop and implement preventative and predictive maintenance strategies, and drive improvements across equipment reliability, asset utilisation and operational performance.

The role will have a strong Electrical & Instrumentation (E&I) focus, alongside responsibility for automation, PLC/SCADA systems, engineering stores, contractor management, energy efficiency and capital projects. You will also work closely with corporate engineering teams to support the planning and execution of key projects and future technology investments.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership, technical guidance and direction to the engineering team, developing individual capabilities and maintaining high standards of performance.
• Develop and implement preventative, predictive and breakdown maintenance strategies to maximise equipment availability, minimise downtime and improve reliability.
• Monitor key engineering performance indicators including MTBF, MTBR and OEE, driving continuous improvement and reducing recurring equipment failures.
• Oversee electrical and instrumentation maintenance, including LV distribution, MCCs, control panels, motors, drives, sensors and industrial instrumentation.
• Manage PLC, HMI and SCADA systems, including troubleshooting, fault finding and programme changes, ideally across Siemens, Allen Bradley or similar platforms.
• Drive Root Cause Analysis (RCA), corrective and preventive actions (CAPA), and continuous improvement initiatives across the engineering function.
• Manage engineering budgets, maintenance expenditure, spare parts inventory and engineering stores, ensuring effective cost control and integration with SAP.
• Oversee engineering contractors, suppliers, purchase orders and invoices, building strong working relationships and ensuring value for money.
• Ensure full compliance with health & safety, quality and electrical legislation, including relevant Dutch standards such as NEN 1010 and NEN 3140.
• Manage engineering documentation, work permit systems, equipment histories, SOPs, preventative maintenance schedules, technical drawings and calibration records.
• Drive energy monitoring, reduction initiatives and effective asset utilisation across the facility.
• Lead CAPEX and engineering projects in coordination with corporate teams, ensuring projects are delivered on time, within budget and to the required technical and operational standards.
• Support the development of automation, data-driven maintenance and predictive technologies, helping shape the future engineering strategy of the business.

Personal Profile

• Degree-qualified in Engineering, ideally from a well-regarded engineering institution.
• Proven experience within an engineering or maintenance leadership role in FMCG, food manufacturing or a similar industrial environment.
• Strong Electrical & Instrumentation (E&I) engineering background, with hands‑on technical knowledge.
• Demonstrable experience with PLC, HMI and SCADA systems, ideally Siemens, Allen Bradley or similar.
• Good understanding of industrial automation, VFDs, servo drives, motors and instrumentation systems.
• Experience developing preventative and predictive maintenance programmes and improving equipment reliability.
• Strong understanding of engineering performance metrics including MTBF, MTBR and OEE.
• Experience managing engineering teams, budgets, contractors and capital expenditure projects.
• Knowledge of SAP, MES, IIoT and data-driven maintenance would be advantageous.
• Exposure to AI‑based maintenance tools or technologies would be a strong advantage.
• Strong leadership, communication and problem‑solving skills.

This is an excellent opportunity for an ambitious engineering professional to join an established international food manufacturing business and play a significant role in developing its engineering capabilities, automation systems and future investment strategy.

Salary & Benefits

• Gross basic salary of approximately €72,000 per annum.
• 8% holiday allowance and additional commuting allowance.
• Management performance bonus scheme of up to 10%.
• Relocation package available in line with company policy.
• Potential eligibility for the Dutch Expat Tax Scheme, subject to individual circumstances and applicable requirements.

• Highly Skilled Migrant visa sponsorship may be available for eligible candidates.

Location: Rotterdam, Netherlands

Ref Code: W013325