Planning Engineer

Location: PooleContract: Permanent, Full TimeHours: Monday – Friday, 8:00am – 5:00pmSalary: £42,000 per annum + Benefits

Wagstaff Recruitment & Careers Coaching is recruiting on behalf of a high-volume food manufacturing business for an experienced and proactive Planning Engineer. This is a key role in a fast-paced site, focused on engineering reliability, safety, and continuous improvement.

The Opportunity for a Planning Engineer

This is a pivotal opportunity to join a forward-thinking engineering team. As Planning Engineer, you will be responsible for managing planned maintenance, supporting project delivery, and driving data-led decisions to maximise site efficiency and uptime.

Key Responsibilities

Maintenance Planning & CMMS Management

• Plan and manage scheduled maintenance activities.
• Prioritise engineering work requests in line with operational needs.
• Own and develop the site’s CMMS system to streamline workflow.

Asset Care & Reliability

• Support the implementation of the Asset Care strategy.
• Use RCM methodologies to reduce downtime and enhance reliability.
• Identify opportunities to increase long-term equipment performance.

Health, Safety & Environment (SHE)

• Champion SHE compliance and culture across the engineering function.
• Ensure risk assessments are carried out and reviewed regularly.
• Challenge unsafe behaviours and practices.

Resource & Financial Management

• Forecast resource, parts, and material needs for maintenance plans.
• Track and report engineering spend including downtime impact.
• Ensure manuals, tools, and diagnostics are available for all engineers.

Continuous Improvement & Projects

• Lead CI initiatives across engineering, plant, and process operations.
• Manage stakeholder communication and expectations effectively.
• Evaluate maintenance designs and support improvements through cost-benefit analysis.

Data Capture & Analysis

• Record and analyse downtime, costs, and failure rates.
• Identify recurring issues and support corrective actions using FMEA and RCA techniques.

Qualifications Required

• Degree or equivalent in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering (BSc, HND, HNC).
• Alternatively, time-served apprenticeship with relevant experience.

Desired Experience & Skills

• At least 2 years in a food manufacturing or similar fast-paced environment.
• Strong communicator able to engage technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office and CMMS systems.
• Working knowledge of RCM, FMEA, and root cause analysis.
• Proactive approach to engineering improvement.

Company Benefits

• Online benefits platform with retail discounts
• Personalised learning via LMS and development programmes
• Two paid volunteering days per year
• Access to 24/7 support via Grocery Aid (financial, practical, emotional)
• Physical and mental wellbeing tools
• Financial wellbeing services including mortgage and budget planning tools
• Holiday discounts and team events

Application Information

Upload your CV to apply or for an initial confidential chat, please contact Ruth at Wagstaff Recruitment & Careers Coaching. We’ll share more about the company and guide you through the opportunity.

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