Maintenance Specialist – Bakery Equipment

About the role

The Maintenance Specialist provides technical expertise and leadership to keep critical bakery equipment running reliably in a high‑speed production environment. The role focuses on minimizing unplanned downtime, ensuring food‑safety compliance, and supporting optimal output.

Key responsibilities

• Diagnose and resolve complex mechanical, electrical and automation breakdowns on bakery lines.
• Program, troubleshoot, backup and version‑control PLC systems (Siemens, Mitsubishi, etc.).
• Configure, install and service VFD/VSD units across production equipment.
• Develop, modify and maintain HMI applications to enhance operator efficiency.
• Support batch management systems, recipes and process parameters for consistent product quality.
• Lead root‑cause analysis for recurring failures and implement permanent corrective actions.
• Design and optimise preventive and predictive maintenance strategies.
• Coach Millwrights and Artisans on technical standards and advanced troubleshooting.
• Ensure compliance with food‑safety standards (AIB, HACCP), MESS, GMR, PER and OHS regulations.
• Participate in major shutdown planning, CAPEX projects and reliability improvement initiatives targeting OEE and cost reduction.

Required profile

• Grade 12/N3 in electro‑mechanical engineering or equivalent (S4/T4/BTECH).
• Qualified Millwright or Controls & Instrumentation Technician.
• 3–5 years post‑trade experience in manufacturing or FMCG.
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings.
• Valid driver’s licence and own transport (advantageous).
• Willingness to work shifts, weekends and standby duties.
• Computer literacy; experience with SAP or similar maintenance systems is a plus.

Required skills

• PLC programming (Siemens, Mitsubishi)
• VFD/VSD configuration and troubleshooting
• HMI development and maintenance
• Batch management system support
• Root‑cause analysis
• Preventive and predictive maintenance planning
• Food‑safety compliance (AIB, HACCP)
• OEE improvement initiatives
• Equipment audits, condition monitoring and failure‑mode analysis
• SAP (maintenance module) familiarity