Head of Engineering

Overview

An established and expanding food manufacturing company in South East Ireland is hiring a senior engineering leader to build and steer the engineering function in a newly created role. This position is designed for someone who can strengthen operational performance, improve asset dependability, and champion ongoing improvement across a modern production site. The role reports to senior leadership and carries full responsibility for Engineering and Maintenance, with a direct impact on the site's growth and overall results.

What You'll Do

In this role, you will define and deliver the site's engineering direction, making sure equipment performs reliably, maintenance runs effectively, and the technical capability of the operation continues to grow. You will guide the engineering team, manage major investment projects, improve manufacturing equipment performance, and put robust maintenance systems in place to support peak plant output.

• Set the tone for the Engineering and Maintenance teams by building a culture focused on safety, ownership, and continuous improvement.
• Design and execute an engineering and asset strategy that supports wider business goals.
• Improve reliability, overall equipment effectiveness, plant throughput, and production efficiency.
• Strengthen preventive and predictive maintenance processes, including CMMS enhancement and maintenance scheduling.
• Drive structured root-cause analysis to cut downtime and raise asset performance.
• Take capital projects from early concept through commissioning, ensuring safe delivery on schedule and within budget.
• Spot and progress opportunities in automation, process improvement, energy use, and manufacturing innovation.
• Work closely with Operations, Quality, Supply Chain, and Health & Safety teams to support production targets.
• Oversee engineering budgets, external contractors, and statutory compliance while upholding high technical standards.
• Build engineering capability through coaching, succession planning, and hands-on technical leadership.

What We're Looking For

The ideal candidate is a seasoned engineering leader who pairs deep technical knowledge with strong people leadership and commercial understanding.

• A degree in Engineering or a closely related technical field.
• Substantial senior leadership experience in engineering within food manufacturing, FMCG, or a highly automated production setting.
• A strong history of improving reliability, maintenance effectiveness, and operating efficiency.
• Experience leading engineering and maintenance teams in a complex manufacturing environment.
• Solid knowledge of preventive maintenance, reliability engineering, and CMMS tools.
• Proven experience delivering capital projects and broader engineering change initiatives.
• A continuous improvement approach, with exposure to Lean or Operational Excellence programmes.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and stakeholder management abilities.

Why This Role Stands Out

This is a unique chance to take charge of a newly created leadership role and influence engineering strategy, plant performance, and long-term business growth. You will be joining a successful manufacturer that is investing in its people, its assets, and its future operating capability.