Mechanical Engineer

Mechanical Engineer (Hydraulics Specialist)

Dukinfield, Greater Manchester

£60,000 per annum

Full Time | Permanent

47.5 Hours per Week

Time Recruitment is proud to be exclusively recruiting on behalf of a highly successful and market-leading UK manufacturing business based in Dukinfield.

Established for over 70 years, our client is recognised as an industry leader in the development and production of high-performance engineered compounds, supplying major manufacturers across the automotive and industrial sectors. Due to continued investment and growth, they are now seeking an experienced Mechanical Engineer with strong hydraulics expertise to join their Engineering team.

This is an outstanding opportunity for a hands-on engineer who enjoys solving complex technical challenges, driving equipment reliability, and contributing to continuous improvement within a highly automated manufacturing environment.

The Role

Reporting directly to the Engineering Manager, you will play a critical role in maintaining, improving, and optimising mechanical and hydraulic systems across a busy production facility.

You will be responsible for reducing downtime, increasing equipment reliability, supporting engineering projects, and ensuring critical manufacturing assets operate safely and efficiently.

This position would suit someone who is not afraid of hard work, enjoys working as part of a close-knit team, and is equally confident working independently.

Key Responsibilities

Mechanical & Hydraulic Maintenance

• Provide technical support for all mechanical and hydraulic systems throughout the site.
• Diagnose and repair complex mechanical and hydraulic faults.
• Support planned, preventative, and predictive maintenance activities.
• Undertake root cause analysis and implement permanent corrective actions.
• Monitor hydraulic performance and identify opportunities for improvement.

Equipment Maintenance Including:

• Internal/Banbury Mixers
• Open Mixing Mills
• Hydraulic Presses and Rams
• Hydraulic Power Units (HPUs)
• Hydraulic Cylinders, Pumps, Valves and Accumulators
• Material Handling Systems
• Conveyors and Mechanical Drives
• Utility and Cooling Systems

Reliability & Continuous Improvement

• Drive reliability initiatives to maximise plant uptime and OEE.
• Analyse maintenance data and breakdown trends.
• Optimise hydraulic circuits and improve system efficiency.
• Support Lean Manufacturing and Continuous Improvement projects.
• Recommend upgrades and improvements to ageing equipment.

Engineering Projects

• Lead engineering projects from concept through to commissioning.
• Specify and procure mechanical and hydraulic equipment.
• Manage contractors and external suppliers.
• Maintain engineering drawings and technical documentation.
• Support capital investment and plant improvement projects.

Health, Safety & Compliance

• Ensure all engineering activities comply with company and legislative requirements.
• Participate in risk assessments and permit-to-work systems.
• Promote a strong safety culture across the site.
• Support internal and external audits.

Training & Technical Support

• Provide technical guidance to maintenance and production teams.
• Develop maintenance procedures and engineering standards.
• Support apprentice development and knowledge sharing.
• Deliver practical training in hydraulic and mechanical fault diagnosis.

Candidate Requirements

Essential

• Degree, HND or equivalent qualification in Mechanical Engineering.
• Minimum 3 years' experience within manufacturing, industrial or process environments.
• Strong knowledge of:
  • Hydraulic systems and components
  • Hydraulic power units
  • Pumps, motors, cylinders and valves
  • Mechanical power transmission systems
  • Pneumatic systems
  • Bearings, gearboxes and rotating equipment

   

• Proven ability to diagnose and repair complex hydraulic faults.
• Experience with preventative and predictive maintenance methodologies.
• Strong IT skills including CMMS and Microsoft Office.

Desirable

• Experience within rubber, polymer, tyre, chemical, process or heavy manufacturing industries.
• Knowledge of rubber mixing equipment and Banbury mixers.
• Hydraulic qualifications or specialist training.
• Ability to interpret hydraulic schematics and engineering drawings.
• Experience with Lean Manufacturing, TPM or Six Sigma.
• Project management experience.

Key Competencies

• Advanced hydraulic fault-finding expertise.
• Strong mechanical engineering knowledge.
• Excellent problem-solving and root cause analysis skills.
• Ability to work under pressure in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• Strong communication and teamwork skills.
• Organised with excellent attention to detail.
• Commitment to safety and continuous improvement.

Performance Measures

• Reduction in hydraulic and mechanical breakdowns.
• Improved equipment uptime and reliability.
• Maintenance cost control.
• Successful delivery of engineering projects.
• OEE improvements.
• Compliance with safety and environmental standards.
• Reduction in repeat equipment failures.

Working Environment

• Manufacturing environment with exposure to moving machinery, noise, heat, and industrial processing operations.
• Requirement to work on production equipment and hydraulic systems during planned shutdowns and breakdown situations.
• PPE must be worn in designated production and maintenance areas.

What's on Offer?

• Salary of £60,000 per annum
• Permanent full-time position
• Opportunity to join a leading UK manufacturing business
• Technically challenging and varied role
• Significant investment in plant and equipment
• Long-term career development opportunities
• Supportive engineering and management team

Apply

If you are an experienced Mechanical Engineer with extensive hydraulics expertise and are looking for a new challenge in a highly automated manufacturing environment, we would like to hear from you.

Suitable candidates should contact Daniel Gale at Time Recruitment for a confidential discussion and immediate consideration.

Please submit an up-to-date CV outlining your relevant experience and qualifications.