M&E technician - Lockerbie (Lockerbie, GB)

This review provides an in-depth look at a promising Multi-Skilled Engineer opportunity at Arla's Lockerbie site, designed to help potential candidates understand the scope and advantages of this role, and how it can contribute to their career progression.

The Opportunity: Shaping the Future of Dairy at Arla Lockerbie

Arla's Lockerbie site is a significant operation within the global dairy industry, boasting substantial investment and a rich history, including an opening by HRH Queen Elizabeth herself. This Multi-Skilled Engineer role presents a fantastic chance to join a state-of-the-art facility, working with sophisticated equipment and contributing to Arla's continuous growth. If you're a proactive engineer looking for a role where you can be both a problem-solver during breakdowns and a key player in planned maintenance and continuous improvement initiatives, this is an opportunity not to be missed.

The role operates on a challenging yet structured shift pattern of 6-6, 12-hour shifts, covering both days and nights. This requires adaptability and a commitment to maintaining the continuous operation of a vital production facility.

Key Advantages for Candidates:

• Competitive Compensation & Benefits: Arla offers a competitive salary package that includes a base salary plus a shift allowance. Beyond the salary, employees benefit from 24 days of annual leave, an annual pay review, and a generous employer pension contribution matched up to 6% (resulting in a 12% total contributory pension). Furthermore, you'll have peace of mind with 4x annual salary life assurance cover.
• Flexible Working & Rewards: The role includes a flexible benefits scheme, allowing you to purchase up to 5 additional days of annual leave. The reward gateway scheme provides access to a wide range of discounts with various retailers through a dedicated benefits platform, enhancing your overall compensation package.
• Robust Career Development: Arla is deeply committed to employee growth. This role offers strong career development opportunities, supported by comprehensive internal and external training programs. This ensures you can continuously enhance your skills and knowledge within a dynamic industry.
• Impactful Work in a Leading Organisation: You'll be working at one of Arla's largest dairies, contributing to the processing of milk from approximately 75,000 cows daily. The scale of operations is impressive, with the amount of whey concentrate produced annually sufficient to fill 4 Olympic-sized swimming pools. This role offers a chance to be part of a company that is a global leader in dairy, a farmer-owned cooperative with a strong commitment to sustainability and innovation.
• Exposure to Advanced Technology: The equipment you'll be working with is at the forefront of dairy processing. This includes a wide array of machinery such as milk pasteurisation units, homogenisers, separators, fillers, cartoners, bottle labellers, cappers, packers, blow moulding machines, weighers, flow wrappers, shrink wrappers, palletisers, de-palletisers, and conveyor lines. You'll also gain experience with advanced technologies like Kuka robots, vision systems, rejection systems, and various OEM equipment from leading manufacturers including Siemens, Krones, Tetra Pak, and more.

Key Considerations for Your Career Path:

• Shift Work Adaptability: The 12-hour day and night shift pattern is a significant aspect of this role. Candidates should be comfortable and adaptable to working these rotating shifts, which are essential for maintaining round-the-clock production.
• Proactive Problem-Solving: The job description emphasizes "saving the day" during breakdowns. This highlights the need for engineers who are not only technically proficient but also possess excellent troubleshooting skills, the ability to think critically under pressure, and a proactive approach to identifying and resolving issues.
• Commitment to Continuous Improvement (CI): Beyond reactive maintenance, this role involves participation in CI and project work. Candidates with an interest in process optimization, efficiency improvements, and contributing to innovation will find this aspect particularly rewarding and beneficial for their career development.
• Technical Skillset Alignment: The ideal candidate will have strong mechanical and electrical engineering experience within manufacturing, production, and process environments. Experience with fast-moving machinery, pumps, valves, inverter drives, sensors, relays, PLCs (ideally Siemens), site services (steam, chilled water, compressors), and CIP systems will be highly advantageous. Proficiency with SAP, Microsoft Office, SCADA, Trend systems, and HMIs is also expected.
• Educational & Experiential Background: While formal qualifications such as NVQ Level 3, HNC, or apprentice training are preferred, proven experience in a fast-paced manufacturing environment is also highly valued. The emphasis is on practical, hands-on experience and a demonstrable track record of success as a Multi-Skilled Engineer.

Arla's commitment to its employees, the environment, and the quality of its products makes this a compelling opportunity for ambitious engineers. If you're looking to contribute to a company that values sustainability, innovation, and personal growth, while working with cutting-edge technology in a vital industry, this role at Arla Lockerbie could be the perfect next step in your career journey.