Mechanical Engineer (Short‑Term Contract)

Location: Featherstone, West Yorkshire

Rate: £25 per hour

Duration: 6–12 weeks (potential extension / possible permanent opportunity)

Our client, a well‑established plastics manufacturing company supplying precision packaging to the food and pharmaceutical industries, is seeking a skilled Mechanical Engineer to support a short‑term but business‑critical project. This is an excellent opportunity for a hands‑on engineer who enjoys tackling real mechanical challenges, improving production reliability, and getting machinery back to peak performance.

Working on‑site in Featherstone, you’ll play a key role in maintaining essential production equipment and leading the rebuild of a thermoforming machine — a project central to increasing output and supporting major customers in highly regulated sectors.

What you’ll be doing

• General maintenance across a range of production machinery used in plastics processing
• Mechanical fault‑finding and repairs to minimise downtime and keep lines running smoothly
• Thermoformer rebuild — strip‑down, inspection, refurbishment and reassembly of a key machine
• Working closely with production teams to ensure equipment is safe, reliable and compliant with food and pharmaceutical standards
• Supporting continuous improvement by identifying issues, proposing fixes and enhancing machine performance
• Providing practical engineering expertise during a period of increased operational demand

What we’re looking for

• Strong mechanical engineering background, ideally within manufacturing, plastics, packaging or FMCG
• Confident working with pneumatics, hydraulics, drives, bearings and conveyors
• Experience with thermoforming machinery is highly desirable
• A proactive, hands‑on problem solver who can work independently and deliver results at pace
• Someone reliable, safety‑focused and comfortable joining a project mid‑stream
• Availability to start quickly and commit to the full project duration

Why this role stands out

• Competitive £25 per hour rate
• A clear, defined project with real impact on production capability
• Potential opportunity to extend beyond contract period
• Work with a respected manufacturer supplying essential packaging to critical sectors
• A chance to showcase your engineering expertise and leave a lasting improvement