Lead Reliability Engineer

Location:

Hereford

Schedule:

Monday - Friday 08:00-16:30 (flexibility required to support 24/7 operations)

Salary: £41,000-£44,000

Employment Type:

Full Time | Permanent

Source Co is an established and highly automated food manufacturing site in Hereford, seeking a Lead Reliability Engineer to play a key leadership role within its Engineering function. This is an exciting opportunity to join a large‑scale, fast‑paced manufacturing environment that continues to invest heavily in automation, asset performance, and continuous improvement. The successful candidate will lead reliability strategy across the site, driving improvements in equipment performance, reducing downtime, and strengthening long‑term asset care.

• Lead and manage a small Reliability Team
• Develop and implement proactive maintenance strategies (predictive & condition‑based)
• Drive improvements in OEE, MTBF, and MTTR
• Analyse downtime and performance data to eliminate root causes
• Support and shape the site’s long‑term reliability roadmap
• Champion continuous improvement and asset lifecycle management
• Coordinate planned maintenance and engineering activities
• Lead cross‑functional reliability reviews
• Oversee asset documentation including PM schedules, calibrations, and compliance
• Manage contractor and OEM relationships
• Support capital projects, ensuring reliability is built into design

This is a highly visible role requiring strong collaboration across Engineering, Operations, Planning, and technical teams.

• HND (or above) in Mechanical, Electrical, or related Engineering discipline
• Proven experience in reliability, maintenance, or engineering leadership within FMCG or manufacturing
• Strong understanding of CMMS, asset management, and performance metrics (OEE, MTBF, MTTR)
• Demonstrable leadership and coaching ability
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills
• Confident communicator with the ability to influence across departments

• Experience with in large‑scale manufacturing environments
• Knowledge of RCM, FMEA, or TPM
• NEBOSH or IOSH qualification
• CAD experience
• Contractor management experience

• Competitive salary (£41,000-£44,000)
• 6% pension contribution
• 31 days holiday
• Life assurance
• Private medical cover
• Subsidised canteen
• Free on‑site parking
• Retail and wellbeing discounts

This is an opportunity to join a forward‑thinking manufacturing site where reliability and engineering excellence are at the forefront of operational success. You’ll be empowered to lead change, influence strategy, and make a measurable impact on site performance. If you’re ready to take ownership of reliability and step into a leadership‑driven engineering role, we’d love to hear from you.