Mechanical Engineer

Job Description - Mechanical Engineer (Hydraulics)

Location: Greater Manchester
Salary: £60,000 per annum
Contract Type: Permanent
Hours: 47.5 hours per week
Working Hours: Monday to Friday, 07:00 - 17:00
Break: 30 minutes per day
Reporting To: Engineering Manager

About the Company

Our client is a leading manufacturer operating within a highly automated process manufacturing environment. Supplying a range of industrial sectors, the business is committed to innovation, quality, operational excellence, and continuous improvement. Due to continued growth, they are looking to appoint a Mechanical Engineer into a newly created position within their Engineering team.

The Role

We are seeking an experienced Mechanical Engineer with strong hydraulics expertise to support the maintenance, reliability, and continuous improvement of mechanical and hydraulic systems within a busy manufacturing environment.

The successful candidate will be responsible for ensuring the safe and efficient operation of critical production equipment and associated plant utilities. This is a hands-on role requiring strong diagnostic abilities, excellent fault-finding skills, and a proactive approach to equipment reliability and continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities

Mechanical & Hydraulic Maintenance

• Provide technical support for mechanical and hydraulic systems across the site.
• Diagnose and rectify mechanical and hydraulic faults to minimise downtime.
• Maintain and troubleshoot production equipment, hydraulic power units, cylinders, pumps, valves, accumulators, material handling systems, and site utilities.
• Monitor hydraulic system performance and implement reliability improvements.
• Conduct root cause analysis of equipment failures and implement corrective actions.
• Support preventative and predictive maintenance programmes.

Reliability & Continuous Improvement

• Drive equipment reliability initiatives to improve plant availability and operational performance.
• Identify opportunities to optimise hydraulic systems and improve efficiency.
• Analyse maintenance and downtime data to identify improvement opportunities.
• Support Lean Manufacturing and Continuous Improvement projects.
• Recommend upgrades and improvements to ageing equipment.

Engineering Projects

• Lead and support engineering projects from concept through to installation and commissioning.
• Specify and procure mechanical and hydraulic equipment.
• Coordinate contractors and suppliers during project execution.
• Review and update engineering drawings, schematics, and technical documentation.
• Support plant modifications and capital investment projects.

Health, Safety & Compliance

• Ensure all engineering activities comply with health and safety legislation and company standards.
• Participate in risk assessments, permit-to-work systems, and safe systems of work.
• Support internal and external audits.
• Promote a positive safety culture throughout the site.

Technical Support

• Provide technical guidance and support to maintenance and production teams.
• Develop maintenance procedures and engineering standards.
• Assist in training and developing engineers, technicians, and apprentices.

Skills & Experience Required

Essential

• Degree, HND, or equivalent qualification in Mechanical Engineering.
• Minimum three years' experience within manufacturing, heavy industrial, or process environments.
• Strong knowledge of:
• Hydraulic systems and components
• Hydraulic power units
• Pumps, motors, cylinders and valves
• Mechanical power transmission systems
• Pneumatic systems
• Bearings, conveyors, gearboxes and rotating equipment
• Proven fault-finding and repair experience on complex hydraulic systems.
• Knowledge of preventative and predictive maintenance methodologies.
• Experience using CMMS systems and Microsoft Office.

Desirable

• Experience within rubber, polymer, tyre, chemical, or process manufacturing environments.
• Experience working with mixing, compounding, or heavy process equipment.
• Hydraulic qualifications or specialist hydraulic training.
• Ability to interpret hydraulic schematics and engineering drawings.
• Lean Manufacturing, TPM, Six Sigma, or Continuous Improvement experience.
• Previous project management involvement.

Key Competencies

• Advanced hydraulic troubleshooting and diagnostic skills.
• Strong mechanical engineering knowledge.
• Excellent problem-solving and root cause analysis capabilities.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• Strong communication and teamwork skills.
• High attention to detail and strong organisational abilities.
• Commitment to safety, reliability, and continuous improvement.

Package & Benefits

• Competitive salary of£60,000 per annum
• Permanent position
• Monday to Friday working pattern (07:00 - 17:00)
• No shift work
• 26 days annual leave plus Bank Holidays
• Company pension scheme (3% Employee Contribution / 9% Employer Contribution)
• On-site parking
• Opportunity to join a growing engineering function in a newly created role
• Long-term career development opportunities within an established manufacturing environment

Adecco acts as an employment agency for permanent recruitment and an employment business for the supply of temporary workers. The Adecco Group UK & Ireland is an Equal Opportunities Employer.

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