Company Overview:
Biocel is an established Irish chemical manufacturer producing cleaning, sanitising, and related chemicals for the dairy and agri-food industry. We operate to ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and FSSC 22000 v6 standards. We are seeking an experienced Maintenance Engineer to lead and develop the maintenance function, drive equipment reliability, and manage capital and improvement projects across the site.
Role Summary: Maintenance Engineer
The Maintenance Engineer holds overall engineering responsibility for the site, encompassing the management of planned preventive maintenance (PPM), reactive maintenance, equipment setup, process improvement, and capital projects. The role provides technical leadership to the Maintenance Technician(s) and works closely with Production, Quality, and EHS to ensure equipment reliability, regulatory compliance, and continuous improvement of manufacturing capability.
Key Responsibilities:
- Own and manage the site planned preventive maintenance (PPM) programme; develop, review, and update maintenance schedules to maximise equipment reliability and minimise unplanned downtime.
- Provide technical oversight and day-to-day supervision of Maintenance Technician(s); allocate work, review quality of maintenance activities, and support skills development within the team.
- Lead the setup, installation, and commissioning of new and replacement equipment; produce and review equipment files, maintenance procedures, and operator training materials.
- Manage and develop the maintenance management system (CMMS); ensure all PPM records, equipment histories, calibration schedules, and spare parts data are accurate and maintained.
- Lead engineering change management (ECM) for equipment modifications, new process introductions, and plant layout changes; ensure all changes are risk-assessed, documented, and validated before implementation.
- Manage the site calibration programme for production, quality control, and environmental monitoring equipment; ensure traceability to national standards and compliance with FSSC 22000 and ISO requirements.
- Identify, develop, and deliver continuous improvement and cost reduction projects targeting OEE, energy efficiency, waste reduction, and process capability.
- Lead contractor management for specialist maintenance and engineering works; prepare scopes of work, supervise on-site contractors, and ensure compliance with site PTW and EHS requirements.
- Manage the site engineering budget; track expenditure on maintenance, spare parts, and capital projects; provide forecasting and reporting to the Technical Director.
- Ensure site utilities (compressed air, HVAC, effluent, electrical distribution) are maintained in a compliant and efficient condition; manage statutory inspections (pressure systems, lifting equipment, electrical) and associated documentation.
- Support the EHS function in conducting engineering-related risk assessments, machinery safety assessments (CE / PSSR / DSEAR where applicable), and incident investigations.
- Act as the engineering point of contact for ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and FSSC 22000 audits; ensure maintenance and engineering documentation is consistently audit-ready.
Qualifications and Experience:
- Third-level qualification (Level 7/8) in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Process Engineering, or a related discipline.
- Minimum 4–6 years’ engineering experience in a manufacturing or process plant environment, with at least 2 years in a lead or senior maintenance role; chemical, food, or pharmaceutical industry experience strongly preferred.
- Demonstrated experience managing PPM programmes, CMMS systems, and engineering change management processes.
- Strong technical competence across mechanical, electrical, pneumatic, and process systems; PLC/SCADA fault-finding experience is an advantage.
- Experience with equipment setup, commissioning, and validation in a regulated manufacturing environment (GMP, HACCP, or equivalent).
- Knowledge of relevant statutory and regulatory requirements including PSSR, DSEAR, ATEX, machinery directive, and Irish/EU EHS legislation applicable to chemical manufacturing.
- Project management capability; experience delivering capital and improvement projects on time and within budget.
- Familiarity with ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and/or FSSC 22000 or equivalent standards and their engineering-related requirements (calibration, change control, maintenance records).
- Strong problem-solving and analytical skills; experience with reliability tools (RCA, FMEA, RCM) is desirable.
- Excellent communication skills with the ability to brief both technical and non-technical stakeholders; full clean driving licence.
What We Offer:
- Permanent, full-time position with a stable, growing Irish chemical manufacturer
- Competitive remuneration package commensurate with experience
- Comprehensive induction and ongoing training within a certified quality management system environment
- Supportive team environment with scope for career development
If you would like to apply, please send your CV to hr@biocel.ie
For a full list of job opportunities at Biocel, please visit our Careers page
You can find out more about Biocel on our About Page.
We are committed to implementing equal opportunities in all our employment policy practices and procedures. Please read our full policies on our Quality & Compliance page.
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