Engineering Manager

Zotefoams plc is a world leader in cellular material technology, with facilities in Croydon, UK; Walton, Kentucky and Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA; Brzeg, Poland; and Jiangsu Province, China (T-FIT).

We produce lightweight foams for a wide range of markets including sports and leisure, aviation, automotive, and healthcare. Zotefoams also owns and licenses patented technology and supplies advanced insulation systems.

The Company is on a strong growth trajectory, with significant revenue and profitability increases in recent years and ambitious plans for the future.

About the Role:

The Engineering Manager is responsible for leading all engineering activities at the site, including maintenance, capital projects, and process engineering. The role ensures safe, reliable, and efficient operation of plant equipment while driving continuous improvement, asset reliability, and process capability.

This position plays a critical leadership role in delivering operational performance, supporting production, and enabling long-term strategic growth through effective engineering practices.

Role Responsibilities:

1. Maintenance & Asset Reliability

• Lead the site maintenance function to ensure high equipment availability and reliability.

• Develop and implement a preventative and predictive maintenance strategy, transitioning from reactive to proactive maintenance.

• Own the CMMS system, ensuring accurate planning, scheduling, and execution of maintenance activities.

• Monitor KPIs such as uptime, MTBF, MTTR, and maintenance cost.

• Ensure compliance with all safety, environmental, and regulatory requirements (OSHA, EPA).

• Drive root cause analysis and implement sustainable corrective actions.

2. Capital Projects & Engineering Delivery

• Lead and deliver site capital projects from concept through execution and close-out.

• Develop project scopes, budgets, timelines, and resource plans.

• Ensure projects are delivered on time, within budget, and to specification.

• Manage external contractors, consultants, and vendors.

• Ensure adherence to engineering standards, change management processes, and site governance.

• Support business growth through capacity expansion and infrastructure improvements.

3. Process Engineering & Continuous Improvement

• Lead process engineering activities to improve quality, yield, and efficiency.

• Drive continuous improvement initiatives (Lean, Six Sigma, or similar methodologies).

• Identify and implement opportunities to reduce waste, energy usage, and operational costs.

• Support new product introduction and process scale-up.

• Ensure process standardization and documentation are maintained and continuously improved.

4. Leadership & Team Development

• Lead, coach, and develop a multi-disciplinary engineering team (maintenance, process, and project engineers).

• Build capability within the team through training, mentoring, and succession planning.

• Set clear objectives aligned with site and business goals.

• Foster a high-performance culture aligned with company values of Courage, Impact, and Respect.

• Promote strong collaboration between engineering, operations, quality, and EHS.

5. Safety & Compliance

• Champion a zero-harm safety culture across all engineering activities.

• Ensure all work complies with OSHA standards, site safety procedures, and company policies.

• Lead safety reviews, risk assessments, and incident investigations.

• Ensure safe design, installation, and operation of equipment and systems.

6. Strategy & Operational Excellence

• Develop and execute the site engineering strategy aligned with business objectives.

• Support production in delivering targets for OEE, throughput, and cost efficiency.

• Lead reliability improvement and operational excellence programs.

• Introduce new technologies, digital tools, and automation where appropriate.

• Act as a key member of the site leadership team.

What you'll need:

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering (mechanical, electrical, chemical, or related field)

• Master’s degree or professional certification (e.g., PE, PMP) preferred

• 8–10+ years of engineering experience in a manufacturing or industrial environment

• Proven leadership experience managing maintenance and engineering teams

• Strong track record in capital project delivery and maintenance transformation

• Experience with reliability-centered maintenance and continuous improvement methodologies

• Familiarity with US regulatory requirements (OSHA, EPA)

What we're looking for?

• Strong leadership and people development skills

• Strategic thinking with hands-on execution capability

• Project management and organizational skills

• Analytical problem-solving and decision-making

• Excellent communication and stakeholder management

• Financial awareness and budget control

Why Join Us?

At Zotefoams, we believe in fostering a supportive and innovative environment where everybody can thrive. By joining us, you will be part of a dynamic team that values collaboration, continuous improvement, and opportunities for professional growth and development.

Our Values

Courage - The courage to take bold action to ensure that we succeed in tackling our challenges and opportunities.

Impact – Dedicated to making a significant and positive impact in everything we do.

Respect - Cultivate a respectful and inclusive environment where everyone is valued and collaboration is encouraged.

Zotefoams is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees