Reporting To: Production Manager
Location: Gusbourne Estate, with work across two sites in Kent: Secondary production (Amsbury) and primary production (Appledore)

EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS

• Previous experience in a technical or supervisory production role (beverage or FMCG desirable).
• Experience with disgorging, labelling, or similar production equipment (wine industry experience is a plus).
• Forklift experience and valid licence (essential).
• Good working knowledge of Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Outlook).
• Familiarity with Vintrace or Netsuite (advantageous).

SKILLS AND ATTRIBUTES

• Strong mechanical and problem-solving skills.
• Detail-oriented and organised.
• Team player with excellent communication skills.
• Proactive and solutions-focused mindset.
• Able to work independently and take ownership.
• Adaptable in a fast-paced and evolving environment.
• Committed to safety, quality, and continuous improvement.

ROLE PURPOSE

The Production Engineer plays a crucial hands-on role at our Amsbury site, supporting the technical operation of all production machinery, including disgorging, riddling, labelling, and packing lines. While primarily based at Amsbury, the role may also require occasional travel to our winery in Appledore to provide additional support as needed.
This role is ideal for someone with strong mechanical aptitude, a proactive mindset, and a passion for continuous improvement. You’ll be responsible for optimising equipment performance, resolving first-line faults, maintaining production documentation, and supporting ongoing improvements to output, quality, and safety.
Alongside our Production Supervisor, you’ll also mentor Production Operatives, deputise for the Production Manager when needed, and work closely with external contractors for machinery maintenance.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Operate, set up, and monitor production machinery across key activities, including labelling and disgorging, ensuring all tasks are carried out in line with health and safety protocols.
• Take a proactive role in promoting and enforcing a strong health and safety culture across the production environment, ensuring full compliance with legal standards and internal procedures.
• Perform maintenance and first-line fault resolution to reduce downtime.
• Ensure equipment runs efficiently and safely, supporting daily production schedules.
• Liaise with external engineers for maintenance and servicing.
• Analyse performance data to support quality and safety improvements.
• Mentor and support Production Operatives, championing safe working practices and ongoing safety awareness.
• Work directly on the production line to meet operational demands.
• Deputise for the Production Manager when required.
• Maintain accurate records of maintenance, production activity, and performance.
• Promote a safe and hygienic working environment, contributing to risk assessments and safety audits.
• Support cost-effective operations by working within tight budgets and identifying opportunities for efficiency gains.