Job Description
Engineering Shift Lead
Location: Cambrian Industrial Park, Tonypandy, CF40 2XX
Salary: Circa £41,00 DOE
Contract: Full-time, permanent
Hours/Shift Patterns: Monday to Friday (6am to 2pm or 2pm to 10pm on a rotating shift)
Department: Engineering
The Role
We are seeking an experienced Engineering Shift Lead to take ownership of engineering performance during your shift.
This is a hands-on leadership role, combining technical expertise with people management, safety leadership and continuous improvement.
You will lead, coach and develop a shift-based engineering team while remaining actively involved in maintenance, breakdown response, fabrication and improvement work. You'll play a key role in improving equipment reliability, reducing downtime and building a high-performance, safety-first culture.
What you'll be responsible for
People Leadership & Culture
Leading start-of-shift briefs, end-of-shift reviews and effective cross-shift handovers
Setting clear expectations and holding the team to agreed standards
Coaching, developing and recognising engineers on shift
Managing performance, conduct and absence issues fairly and in line with company policy
Creating a culture of accountability, teamwork and continuous improvement
Hands-on maintenance & breakdown response
Diagnosing and repairing mechanical, pneumatic and hydraulic faults
Supporting electrical fault-finding where competent
Carrying out fabrication, machining and component repair work
Ensuring fast, safe and effective breakdown resolution to minimise downtime
Preventive Maintenance
Delivering scheduled preventive maintenance to defined standards
Working from maintenance schedules and production plans
Maintaining accurate maintenance records for compliance and analysis
Safety, Compliance & Housekeeping
Championing safe systems of work and leading point-of-work risk assessments
Working closely with the H&S Manager to drive safety compliance
Investigating accidents and near misses and ensuring corrective actions are completed
Maintaining BRC accreditation, 5S standards and excellent housekeeping
Continuous Improvement & Projects
Identifying and implementing equipment and process improvements
Supporting automation and cost-reduction initiatives
Applying Lean tools, RCA and 5 Whys methodology
Driving improvements in OEE, reliability and downtime reduction
Facilitating small Kaizen activities and sharing best practice across shifts
Communication & Decision Making
Providing clear shift performance updates to the Head of Engineering
Maintaining accurate breakdown, repair and PM records
Liaising with internal teams and external suppliers
Allocating labour and approving reasonable overtime within agreed parameters
Stopping work where safety or quality is at risk and escalating appropriately
Deputising for the Head of Engineering within agreed authority
What success looks like
Strong shift-level safety performance and audit results
Reduced downtime and improved equipment reliability
Planned maintenance completed on schedule
Engaged, well-coached engineering team
Improved OEE and measurable CI cost savings
High levels of near-miss reporting and closed corrective actions
What we're looking for
Essential
Strong mechanical engineering background with hands-on experience
Proven ability to diagnose and repair mechanical, pneumatic and hydraulic systems
Experience with fabrication, machining and hand-fitting components
Leadership experience within a maintenance or engineering environment
Knowledge of RCA and 5 Whys problem-solving techniques
Good understanding of HSE requirements and compliance standards
Confident people leader who sets standards and holds others accountable
Flexible and able to work rotating shifts
Desirable
Basic electrical fault-finding capability
Experience with Lean / Continuous Improvement tools
Manufacturing environment experience
IOSH Managing Safely or equivalent H&S qualification
Track record of improving OEE and equipment performance
Why Join Us
A leadership role that keeps you hands-on and technically challenged
Real influence over engineering performance and site reliability
Opportunity to develop people, systems and processes
Supportive leadership structure and clear decision-making authority
If you're an experienced engineer ready to lead from the front balancing people, performance and technical excellence we'd love to hear from you.
Apply now to join our Engineering leadership team.
No agencies please.
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