Reliability & Projects Engineer

Reliability & Projects Engineer

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Reliability and Projects Engineer

Shift: Monday to Friday - 08.00 to 17.00

Location: Lincoln Fresh, Lincoln, LN4 1NJ

Salary:   Up to £55,000 per annum D.O.E.

Branston is one of the UK's leading potato suppliers, providing potatoes to major retailers from our sites in Lincoln, Somerset, and Scotland. At Lincoln Fresh we run a busy production operation seven days a week, and our engineering team keeps it moving.

The Opportunity

This is a new role. We created it because we are changing how engineering works at Lincoln Fresh, and we need someone to drive the reliability side of that change. For a long time the focus here was on fixing things when they broke. We are moving away from that. We want to understand why failures happen and stop them from happening again. We also want to deliver engineering improvement projects properly, with someone on the ground who knows the site and can keep the work connected to operational reality. This role will sit at the intersection of data, maintenance strategy, and project delivery, and it reports directly to the Engineering Manager.

What the role involves

On the reliability side, you will be working with fault data from the shift teams to find the patterns that drive repeat failures. You will investigate root causes, put corrective actions in place, and track them through to completion. You will work with the shift engineers to make sure the CMMS records are good enough to support that analysis, and you will report reliability trends and improvement progress to the Engineering Manager.

On the projects side, the role works in two modes depending on scale. For smaller improvement projects you will own them end to end: scoping, contractor management, cost tracking, and close-out. For larger capital projects where an external project manager is brought in, you will be the site engineering lead. That means providing the operational context the external PM does not have, reviewing drawings and method statements for accuracy against site conditions, and making sure nothing important gets missed between the project plan and the factory floor.

What we are looking for

We are looking for someone with a background in reliability, maintenance improvement, or engineering projects in a food manufacturing or similar process environment. You will need to be comfortable working with data and translating what it tells you into practical action, as well as managing projects and contractors without losing sight of the detail.

Essential:

•Experience in a reliability, maintenance improvement, or engineering projects role within food manufacturing or a comparable process environment.

•Proven ability to carry out structured root cause analysis and turn findings into lasting corrective actions.

•Experience managing engineering projects end to end, including contractor supervision and cost control.

•Good working knowledge of mechanical and/or electrical systems in a production environment.

•Able to work with operational data and explain the findings clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences.

•Working knowledge of PPM systems and CMMS platforms.

•HNC/HND or higher in a relevant engineering discipline, or equivalent demonstrable experience.

Desirable:

•Experience with OEE measurement and structured improvement methodology.

•Knowledge of condition monitoring techniques such as vibration analysis, thermography, or ultrasonic testing.

•Familiarity with BRC Food Safety Standard or a similar audit framework.

•A project management qualification such as PRINCE2 or APM, or equivalent structured approach.

What we offer

•Discretionary bonus scheme

•Enhanced employer pension contributions

•Life assuranceand critical illness cover.

•Overtime opportunities, if required

•Access to retail and lifestyle discounts through our benefits scheme.