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)
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
Apply now to join our Engineering leadership team.
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