Manufacturing Engineer – Night Shift
Location: Colchester
Salary: £45,000-£48,000 per annum (inclusive of night shift premium)
Overtime: Paid at a fixed rate of £22.70 per hour
Hours: 45 hours per week, working 9:30 PM-6:30 AM
About the Role
A well‑established food manufacturing business is looking for a hands‑on Manufacturing Engineer to support and improve night shift operations. You’ll help keep production lines running efficiently, reduce downtime, and maintain high standards of food safety and quality.
This is a fast‑paced, shop‑floor‑based role where you’ll work closely with operators and team leaders, taking ownership of machinery performance and shift operations during the night shift. A UK driving licence and access to a vehicle are essential due to the site location.
If you are a hands‑on engineer who enjoys solving problems, taking ownership and working as part of a close‑knit team, we would like to hear from you.
Benefits
- 33 days annual leave, 3 days reserved for Christmas shutdown
- Enhanced sick pay after one year of service
- Night shift health & wellbeing support
- Staff discount on products
- Employee discount platform
- Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) and HR support
- Free onsite parking
- PPE provided
- Family‑owned business with a strong culture and clear values
- Varied role with responsibility and autonomy
- Call‑out and overtime opportunities available
Key Responsibilities
- Respond quickly and effectively to equipment breakdowns, diagnosing and resolving electrical and mechanical faults.
- Carry out planned preventative maintenance activities.
- Support production teams in achieving shift performance targets.
- Maintain and improve equipment reliability.
- Assist with continuous improvement projects and equipment upgrades.
- Ensure engineering work is completed safely and in line with food manufacturing standards.
- Maintain accurate maintenance records and shift handovers.
- Act as the primary engineering contact during the night shift.
- Work closely with the Manufacturing Shift Manager to ensure the factory operates safely, efficiently and delivers the production plan.
Requirements
- Food/FMCG Industry Experience highly desirable: Minimum 2-3 years of engineering experience within food manufacturing, high-speed packaging, or Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG).
- Hands‑on Mechanical & Electrical Skills: Good understanding of both electrical and mechanical systems with confident troubleshooting PLC‑controlled systems, automated conveyors, and pneumatic machinery on the factory floor.
- Root Cause Analysis: Proven ability to quickly diagnose mechanical failures and implement long‑term preventive actions.
- SME Mindset: Highly adaptable, self‑motivated, and comfortable wearing multiple hats in a fast‑paced, smaller business environment.
- Local Commute: Ability to reliably commute to the factory site in Essex.
Desirable
- Apprentice trained or recognised engineering qualification, electrically biased with mechanical maintenance capability, Formal training in HACCP principles or food hygiene.
- Experience in configuring dispersion tables, radial feeders, and pool/weigh hoppers for maximum throughput.
- Experience in diagnosing and fixing jaw‑seal issues, back‑seal alignment, and gas‑flush settings on modern bagmakers (e.g., Ishida Inspira or Atlas series).
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