Shift Technician

Shift Technician

IJmuiden, The Netherlands | Shift-based | Food Manufacturing

Keep the plant running. Solve problems. Make an impact.

Our client is an international food manufacturing business with a major production site in IJmuiden.

We are looking for an experienced Shift Technician to join the Maintenance & Engineering team. This is a hands-on role focused on keeping production running safely and efficiently through effective fault-finding, breakdown response, preventative maintenance and continuous improvement.

Working as part of a shift-based engineering team, you’ll be at the heart of the operation, responding to breakdowns, identifying faults and carrying out repairs across production equipment and utility systems.

The role covers mechanical, electrical and some instrumentation & control/automation activity, making it particularly suited to a technically strong engineer who enjoys variety and problem-solving.

The Role

Reporting to the Team Lead Maintenance, you’ll be responsible for corrective and preventative maintenance across the factory.

The primary focus is on troubleshooting and breakdown resolution, ensuring equipment is returned to service safely and efficiently and that plant uptime is maximised.

You’ll work closely with Production, Maintenance Planners, Technical Specialists and external contractors, escalating more complex issues where required.

This is a role where your ability to diagnose problems quickly, make sound decisions and deliver quality repairs will have a direct impact on production performance.

What You'll Be Doing

Breakdown & Fault Finding

Diagnose faults using a range of measurement and diagnostic instruments.

Determine the nature, extent and urgency of equipment failures.

Carry out corrective repairs across mechanical and electrical systems, with some I&C/automation involvement.

Dismantle and repair equipment using appropriate hand tools and workshop machinery.

Manufacture or modify replacement parts where required, including fitting, sheet metal work and machining activities.

Test equipment following repairs and verify that it is operating correctly.

Carry out emergency repairs in consultation with management.

Support Production during equipment start-up following maintenance interventions.

Escalate complex failures to Technical Specialists or external technical support when required.

Communicate significant findings to the Maintenance Planner and Technical Specialists.

Preventative & Planned Maintenance

Alongside breakdown response, you’ll be responsible for preventative maintenance within your designated area of the factory.

This will include:

Carrying out scheduled inspections and planned maintenance.

Inspecting equipment for wear, leakage, defects and potential safety issues.

Identifying potential failures before they impact production.

Carrying out corrective work where issues can be resolved immediately.

Recording inspection findings and reporting the nature and severity of issues.

Completing planned maintenance activities accurately and on time.

The objective is not simply to fix equipment when it breaks, but to help prevent repeat failures and improve overall equipment reliability.

Projects & Technical Support

You’ll also have the opportunity to support larger engineering activities across the site.

This will include:

Assisting Technical Specialists with larger or more complex repairs.

Supporting external contractors and technical specialists during maintenance activities.

Assisting suppliers during the installation and commissioning of new equipment and facilities.

Providing practical technical input during equipment modifications and improvements.

Supporting Production teams with technical guidance during maintenance and troubleshooting activities.

Continuous Improvement

Engineering is not just about reacting to breakdowns.

You’ll be encouraged to identify opportunities to improve equipment reliability and maintenance performance, including making recommendations around:

• Maintenance frequencies.
• Preventative maintenance activities.
• Equipment overhauls.
• Engineering modifications.
• Recurring breakdowns and reliability issues.
• Improvements to maintenance methods and procedures.

Your technical knowledge and experience will be important in helping the site move from reactive maintenance towards more reliable and preventative engineering practices.

Documentation & Systems

Good engineering documentation is essential, so you’ll be expected to:

• Record time spent on maintenance activities.
• Record materials and parts used.
• Maintain accurate maintenance records.
• Ensure changes to preventative maintenance schedules are documented.
• Update relevant drawings, instructions and technical documentation where required.
• Clearly communicate significant findings and maintenance issues to the wider engineering team.

Health, Safety & Food Manufacturing Standards

Working within a food manufacturing environment, safety and compliance are fundamental.

You’ll be expected to:

• Work in accordance with Health & Safety, Environmental, GMP and HACCP requirements.
• Follow site procedures and safe systems of work.
• Report hazards, incidents, deviations and abnormal situations promptly.
• Challenge unsafe practices where necessary.
• Ensure maintenance activities do not compromise food safety or production standards.
• Maintain and continually develop your technical knowledge and skills.

What We're Looking For

We’re looking for a technically capable Maintenance / Shift Technician who is comfortable working in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

You'll ideally have:

• Previous experience in a maintenance engineering or technician role within manufacturing.
• Strong mechanical and/or electrical maintenance experience.
• Experience diagnosing and resolving production equipment breakdowns.
• Experience carrying out planned and preventative maintenance.
• Some exposure to instrumentation, controls or automation would be advantageous.
• The ability to use diagnostic and measurement equipment effectively.
• Good practical workshop skills.
• A methodical approach to fault finding and problem solving.
• The ability to prioritise breakdowns according to production and safety requirements.
• Good communication skills and the confidence to work with Production and other engineering colleagues.
• A proactive approach to identifying reliability and maintenance improvements.
• The ability to work safely and effectively as part of a shift-based engineering team.

What You'll Be Like

The successful candidate will be someone who enjoys being hands-on.

You won't be someone who simply resets a machine and moves on. You'll want to understand why it failed, how to fix it properly and how to prevent the same problem happening again.

You'll be comfortable working under pressure when production is down, but equally focused on preventative maintenance and longer-term reliability when the plant is running normally.

You’ll also need to be comfortable working independently while knowing when an issue requires escalation or additional technical support.

The Environment

This is a manufacturing environment where the role can be physically demanding.

You should be comfortable with:

Working around production machinery and equipment.

Moving materials and equipment during maintenance activities.

Working in awkward or restricted-access positions.

Exposure to varying temperatures and manufacturing environments.

Working around noise and production activity.

Responding to urgent breakdown situations where there can be significant pressure to restore production.

Working safely around moving and energised equipment.

Following strict procedures when working with cleaning agents and other chemicals.

The Opportunity

This is an excellent opportunity for a Shift Technician / Maintenance Engineer who wants to join an established engineering operation and play a key role in maintaining and improving a busy food manufacturing site.

If you're a strong fault-finder, enjoy working hands-on and want a role where your engineering decisions have a direct impact on plant uptime, reliability and production performance, we'd like to hear from you.