Senior Engineering Technician- Settle Creamery (Settle, GB)

Review: Senior Engineering Technician at Arla Foods, Settle Creamery

For ambitious and skilled engineering professionals, the Senior Engineering Technician role at Arla Foods' Settle Creamery presents a compelling opportunity to contribute to a leading global dairy cooperative. This position offers a dynamic work environment, significant investment in advanced technology, and a clear commitment to employee development and support.

Key Advantages for Candidates:

• Cutting-Edge Technology and Infrastructure: The Settle Creamery is a highly invested and automated site, recently benefiting from substantial capital expenditure. This means you'll be working with state-of-the-art equipment, including advanced processing systems, robotics, and automated packaging lines. This exposure is invaluable for staying at the forefront of manufacturing technology.
• Career Growth and Development: Arla Foods places a strong emphasis on career development. The role offers comprehensive training opportunities, both internal and external, to enhance your skills. This is an excellent chance to build a long-term career within a supportive and growth-oriented organization.
• Competitive Compensation and Benefits: The package includes a competitive salary with a shift allowance, a generous 24 days of holiday, an annual pay review, and a strong employer pension contribution (matched up to 6%). The flexible benefits scheme, allowing you to purchase additional leave and access retail discounts, further enhances the overall remuneration.
• Meaningful Contribution to a Global Brand: You will be involved in producing Lactofree products, a brand experiencing significant growth and popularity. This role allows you to be part of Arla's mission to make healthy dairy nutrition accessible globally and contribute to their commitment to sustainability.
• Robust Support for Site Transition: Recognizing the site's estimated closure in late 2027, Arla Foods has proactively introduced an enhanced reward and support package. This includes a pro-rata retention payment, a generous redundancy payment (with no minimum service requirement), and options for relocation support or outplacement services. This demonstrates a strong commitment to employee well-being during this period of change.

Key Considerations for Candidates:

• Shift Work: The role operates on a rotating shift pattern (Earlies, Days & Nights / 7:00 am-4:30 pm, 5-day block / rotating 6-6, 12-hour shifts). Candidates should be comfortable with and prepared for this demanding but often rewarding schedule.
• Site Closure Timeline: While the current role is vital, candidates should be aware of the projected site closure in the second half of 2027. Arla Foods' comprehensive support package is designed to mitigate this, but it's an important factor to consider in long-term career planning.
• Technical Skillset: The position requires a strong background as a multi-skilled engineer with experience in both mechanical and electrical aspects within manufacturing, production, and process environments. Familiarity with specific equipment brands (Siemens, Krones, Tetra Pak, etc.) and systems (PLCs, SCADA, CIP) is highly desirable.

The Senior Engineering Technician role at Arla Foods Settle Creamery is more than just a job; it's an opportunity to join a forward-thinking company, work with advanced technology, and benefit from a supportive employment package. If you are a driven engineer with a passion for operational excellence and are seeking a role that offers both immediate challenges and long-term career prospects, this position is certainly worth exploring.