Shift Maintenance Engineer (Electrical Bias)

Job Description:

• Shift Pattern: 3-Shift Rotation (06:00–14:15 / 14:00–22:15 / 22:00–06:15)
• Reporting To: Engineering Shift Supervisor / Engineering Manager

Company Overview

Our Client is a market-leading British manufacturer specializing in high-quality building and construction products. Operating from our modern, heavily invested, and highly automated production facility in Derbyshire, we utilize cutting-edge technology—including high-tonnage plastic injection moulding, vacuum forming, automated extrusion lines, and robotic assembly cells.

Purpose of the Role

As a Shift Maintenance Engineer, you will play a critical role in ensuring the maximum uptime, reliability, and efficiency of our plant machinery. You will combine rapid breakdown response with rigorous planned maintenance to keep our fast-paced production facility running safely. This role is heavily weighted toward electrical fault-finding but requires solid mechanical competency to support a true multi-skilled engineering culture.

Key Responsibilities

1. Breakdown Response & Fault Diagnostics

• Provide rapid, high-quality electrical and mechanical breakdown support across all production lines and site services.
• Use electrical schematics, drawings, and diagnostic tools to isolate and resolve complex control circuit faults.
• Interrogate and fault-find on PLC systems (e.g., Siemens, Allen-Bradley) and automated robotic cells to minimize line stoppages.

2. Planned Maintenance & Asset Care

• Execute scheduled Planned Preventative Maintenance (PPM) routines to a high standard, focusing on machinery longevity.
• Conduct predictive maintenance checks, identifying and reporting potential equipment wear or component failures before they cause downtime.
• Overhaul and refurbish critical plant parts, including hydraulic power packs, pneumatic systems, and mechanical drives.

3. Systems & Continuous Improvement (CI)

• Systematically log all engineering activities, parts used, and breakdown root causes within the site Computerised Maintenance Management System (CMMS).
• Lead and participate in Root Cause Analysis (RCA) investigations to engineer out recurring issues and improve machine reliability.
• Support CI initiatives, machine upgrades, and the installation/commissioning of new automated assets.

4. Health, Safety & Environment (HSE)

• Perform all duties in strict compliance with site HSE policies, including Risk Assessments, Method Statements, and Lock-Out Tag-Out (LOTO) protocols.
• Maintain an exceptionally clean and safe working environment, adhering to 5S manufacturing standards.

Person Specification

Essential Requirements (Qualifications & Experience)

• Time-served / Apprenticeship-trained: Must hold a recognized apprenticeship in engineering, backed by relevant qualifications (e.g., NVQ Level 3, City & Guilds, or BTEC in Electrical/Mechanical Engineering).
• Manufacturing Experience: A minimum of 3 years of post-apprenticeship experience working within a fast-paced manufacturing or production environment.
• Electrical Bias: Strong, demonstrable experience in electrical fault-finding (3-phase systems, AC/DC drives, inverter parameters, and control panels).
• Proven Track Record: Ability to clearly demonstrate extensive breakdown response and PPM ownership within your career history.

Desirable Attributes (Advantageous)

• Plastics Sector Experience: Prior experience maintaining injection moulding machinery (e.g., Engel, KraussMaffei) or vacuum forming equipment.
• Automation & Robotics: Experience working with 6-axis robots (e.g., ABB, Fanuc, Kuka) or linear sprue pickers.
• Wiring Regulations: Holder of the 18th Edition IET Wiring Regulations (BS 7671).

Key Competencies

• Problem Solver: Analytical mindset with a methodical approach to diagnosing technical failures under time pressure.
• Adaptable: Comfortable working in a highly dynamic, fast-moving production environment.
• Team Player: Strong communication skills with the ability to work collaboratively alongside shift operators and fellow engineers.
• Proactive: Self-motivated to identify asset improvements rather than just waiting for breakdowns to occur.