Equipment Engineer

Wolviston Management Services
Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, United Kingdom
2 weeks ago
Job Type
Permanent
Work Pattern
Full-time
Work Location
On-site
Seniority
Mid
Posted
15 May 2026 (2 weeks ago)

The Opportunity

Wolviston Management Services are proud to be supporting our client in the appointment of an experienced Equipment Engineer to join their advanced manufacturing operation.

This is an exciting opportunity to work within a highly technical, fast-paced environment supporting state-of-the-art compound semiconductor processing equipment. The successful candidate will play a key role in maximising equipment reliability, driving continuous improvement, and supporting the introduction of new technologies critical to ongoing business growth.

You will work closely with Engineering, Operations and Process teams to ensure high levels of machine availability, process performance and operational efficiency across a cutting-edge manufacturing facility.

The Role

As Equipment Engineer, you will be responsible for ensuring the safe, reliable and efficient performance of complex manufacturing equipment across multiple production and process areas.

You will take ownership of preventative and corrective maintenance strategies, support equipment upgrades and modifications, and contribute to continuous improvement initiatives focused on reliability, yield improvement and cost reduction.

This role requires a proactive, hands-on engineer with strong analytical skills and a passion for technology and innovation.

Key Responsibilities

Support equipment performance across all manufacturing and process areas

Develop and implement preventative maintenance schedules and procedures

Carry out root cause analysis on equipment failures and implement corrective actions

Support machine start-up, shutdown and recovery procedures

Design and coordinate equipment modifications and improvement projects

Provide technical guidance and mentoring to Equipment Technicians and Process Engineers

Manage spare parts, consumables and critical stock levels

Identify second-source suppliers to support cost reduction initiatives

Analyse equipment performance data to drive continuous improvement

Ensure equipment capability meets process and production requirements

Support the specification, procurement and acceptance testing of new capital equipment

Deliver training in line with ISO9001 standards and site procedures

Support compliance activities including COSHH assessments, risk assessments and CDM requirements

Develop and implement best practice engineering methods across operations

Liaise with external contractors and equipment vendors on upgrades and improvements

Contribute towards scrap reduction, yield improvement and operational efficiency targets

Support a dynamic manufacturing environment operating at the forefront of semiconductor technology Daily Responsibilities

Review equipment performance and downtime data to identify recurring issues

Lead fault finding and breakdown recovery activities

Mentor and support Equipment Technicians to ensure minimal downtime

Work collaboratively with Process Engineers to improve process capability and equipment performance

Contribute towards departmental KPIs focused on reliability, uptime and efficiency About You

To be successful in this role, you will have previous experience working within a manufacturing or highly automated engineering environment, ideally within a multi-disciplined engineering function with an electrical or electronic bias.

You will be a proactive and adaptable engineer who enjoys solving complex technical problems and working within a fast-moving production environment.

Experience & Qualifications

Minimum HNC qualification in an Engineering discipline

At least 5 years' experience within a manufacturing environment

Strong background within electrical, electronic or multi-disciplined engineering

Experience supporting complex automated production equipment

Proven fault-finding and problem-solving capability Technical Knowledge

Experience in some or all of the following areas would be advantageous:

Robotics

High vacuum systems

Gas control systems

Pneumatics

PLCs and control systems

Software integration and automation

Calibration

Electronics

Control & Instrumentation What We're Looking For

Strong analytical and problem-solving skills

Hands-on engineering approach

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills

Self-motivated with a strong work ethic

Ability to adapt and respond within a fast-changing environment

Committed to continuous improvement and operational excellence

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