Factory Mechanical Maintenance Engineer

Job Title: Factory Mechanical Maintenance Engineer (Food Manufacturing)

Department: Maintenance

Reports To: Maintenance Manager

Job Purpose

To ensure the safe, reliable, and efficient operation of all food processing, packaging, and utility equipment through effective preventive, predictive, and corrective maintenance practices. The Mechanical Maintenance Engineer will support food safety, product quality, regulatory compliance, and continuous improvement initiatives while minimising production downtime.

Key Responsibilities

• Maintenance & Reliability
• Develop and implement preventive and predictive maintenance programs for food processing and packaging equipment.
• Diagnose and rectify mechanical faults on production lines, utilities, and support equipment.
• Perform root cause analysis of equipment failures and implement sustainable corrective actions.
• Monitor equipment performance and reliability, identifying opportunities for improvement.
• Ensure timely response to breakdowns and minimise production interruptions.
• Maintain detailed maintenance records through the Computerised Maintenance Management System (CMMS)Fiix

Food Safety & Quality Compliance

• Ensure all maintenance activities comply with food safety standards and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP).
• Maintain equipment to prevent product contamination risks.
• Ensure repairs and modifications are completed using approved food-grade materials and lubricants where required.
• Support HACCP and customer audit requirements.
• Participate in food safety inspections, audits, and risk assessments.
• Ensure hygienic design principles are considered during equipment installation and modification.
• Production Support
• Collaborate closely with Operations and Quality teams to maximise production efficiency and product quality.
• Support line changeovers and production start-ups.
• Assist with troubleshooting recurring process and equipment issues.
• Identify and implement improvements to increase equipment effectiveness and reduce waste.
• Utilities & Plant Services

Maintain factory utility systems including:

• Conveying systems
• Steam boilers
• Refrigeration systems
• Compressed air systems
• Water treatment systems
• Pumps and pipework
• HVAC systems
• Monitor utility efficiency and recommend energy-saving initiatives.
• Health, Safety & Environmental Compliance
• Ensure all maintenance activities comply with company safety policies and statutory regulations.
• Conduct risk assessments, permit-to-work activities, and lockout/tagout (LOTO) procedures.
• Promote a strong safety culture within the engineering team.
• Support environmental and sustainability initiatives, including energy and water reduction projects.
• Qualifications
• Experience

Essential Trade Qualifications

Option 1: Mechanical Fitter Apprenticeship (Most Common)

Qualified Mechanical Fitter

• Craft Certificate / Advanced Craft Certificate
• National Apprenticeship in Mechanical Automation & Maintenance Fitting (Ireland)
• Equivalent City & Guilds, NVQ Level 3, or apprenticeship qualification (UK)
• Option 2: Maintenance Fitter
• Time-served maintenance fitter qualification
• Experience in manufacturing or food production environments
• Experience with food processing and packaging equipment.

Proven experience in preventive and predictive maintenance systems

• Desirable
• Training in HACCP, GMP, Food Safety, or Food Manufacturing Operations.
• CMRP (Certified Maintenance & Reliability Professional) or equivalent.
• Lean Manufacturing, TPM, or Six Sigma certification.
• Additional Desirable
• Experience with:
• Conveyors
• Pumps
• Mixers and blenders
• Filling and packaging equipment
• Refrigeration plants
• Automated production lines
• Technical Skills
• Strong mechanical fault-finding and problem-solving abilities.

Knowledge of

• Bearings, gearboxes, motors, and drive systems
• Pneumatic and hydraulic systems
• Stainless steel fabrication and hygienic pipework systems
• Food-grade lubrication requirements
• Mechanical seals and pumps
• Condition monitoring techniques (vibration analysis, thermography, ultrasound)
• Ability to interpret engineering drawings and technical manuals.
• Familiarity with CMMS systems and maintenance KPIs.
• Personal Competencies
• Strong analytical and troubleshooting skills.
• Excellent communication and teamwork abilities.
• Ability to work effectively under pressure in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• Strong planning and organisational skills.
• Commitment to food safety, quality, and continuous improvement.
• High level of attention to detail and compliance.
• Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
• Production line uptime and equipment availability.
• Preventive maintenance completion rate.
• Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF).
• Mean Time To Repair (MTTR).
• OEE improvement
• Reduction in unplanned downtime.
• Maintenance budget adherence.
• Audit compliance and food safety performance.
• Energy and utility efficiency improvements.
• Spare parts inventory management.
• Working Conditions
• Food manufacturing environment requiring compliance with GMP and hygiene standards.
• Use of PPE including hairnets, protective clothing, safety footwear, and hearing protection.
• May require shift work, weekend cover, and participation in an on-call rota.
• Ideal Candidate Profile
• A proactive Mechanical Maintenance Engineer with strong experience in food manufacturing who can balance equipment reliability, food safety compliance, and continuous improvement to support efficient, high-quality production operations.

Benefits

Company pension

On-site parking

Work Location: In person