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Dale Farm Cooperative is a UK dairy farmer co-operative owned by over 1200 dairy farmers who supply us with fresh milk. Dale Farm has operations throughout the UK and Ireland producing and distributing a wide range of dairy products which it sells across the UK and Ireland as well as exporting to over 45 countries worldwide.
At Dale Farm virtually every career discipline is represented in our workforce, from production, engineering and distribution, to sales & marketing and food technology/quality assurance, to Finance, HR and IT through to general management. Our standards are high and when we recruit we are looking for those with energy and drive, who are keen for responsibility and motivated to succeed with a record of achievement and with the potential to develop as the company grows.
Culture
Our culture is based on setting best in class standards, working to-wards and delivering on committed objectives, striving for constant improvement and involving everyone in the company. We strive to develop our people and harness everyone's contribution to deliver a winning team.
Equal opportunities
The company is an Equal Opportunities employer and is committed to a safe, inclusive and relationship based workspace.
Benefits
In return, we offer a high degree of responsibility, plenty of challenge, good opportunities for learning and personal development and rewarding benefit packages, all within a fast moving and results oriented environment.
About the role
As the laboratory engineer you will be an integral part of the group central labs and take primary responsibility for maintaining and optimising the performance of laboratory instruments & ensuring that all equipment is working within specification through planned maintenance. Working closely with the laboratory technicians you will ensure that equipment is properly set up and maintained, monitoring performance and carrying out fault diagnosis and running adjustments / repairs as necessary. Maintaining adequate stock levels of laboratory consumables and critical equipment spares. You will also provide support for the installation and commissioning of new laboratory equipment.
Key responsibilities
Duties will include
- Ensuring that the instruments operate effectively to comply with all relevant:
- Certification/accreditation standards.
- Laboratory procedures and group policies.
- Manufacturer specifications and parameters.
- Maintenance of electrical circuits and components and/or mechanical equipment – such as conveyors, peristaltic tubes, homogenisers, filters, bulbs, pumps, incubators, water baths etc.
- Reacting to equipment breakdown, troubleshoot faulty equipment, and repair or provide replacements to allow testing to continue.
- Ensure that all equipment for testing is present, correct and in good safe working order.
- Completing daily / weekly / monthly electronic and software diagnostic checks on instruments.
- Calibrate equipment in accordance with site work instructions to ensure that measurements taken are accurate.
- Organise maintenance schedules for laboratory equipment & liaise with external service providers to ensure all equipment are serviced within the timeframes required.
- Ensure a high standard of housekeeping & hygiene are continuously maintained in the laboratory in line with GLP and environmental standards.
- Recording observations and interpreting findings from instrument diagnostic checks.
- Complete and maintain records / paperwork associated with equipment calibrations, breakdown / maintenance and stock control.
- Arranging and storing chemical substances and fluids according to the safety instructions.
- Ordering and maintaining an appropriate level of stock and critical spares for instruments and laboratory consumables.
- Assist with staff training on new equipment and systems.
- Liaise with both internal and external service suppliers.
- Part of the Health & Safety team for the group laboratories.
- Other reasonable duties as required.
Performance KPIs
- Equipment / lab downtime figures.
- Maintenance / calibration schedules.
- Accreditation rating
- Budget & cost control / reduction.
What you'll need
Essential criteria
- Applicants should hold a recognised electrical engineering apprenticeship, training or educational programme and be capable of carrying out electrical and mechanical fault diagnosis and repairs.
- Applicants should possess previous experience in an engineering role and be able to demonstrate relevant experience.
- Enthusiastic and passionate about a career in engineering with a good electrical or mechanical aptitude.
- Strong communication skills verbal, written and computerised.
- Highly organised and be able to work independently as well as working in a team.
Desirable criteria
- Knowledge in analytical analysis.
- Understanding of a laboratory environment
Skills
- Administration / organisation skills
- Interpersonal / communication skills
- Logical problem solver
