Engineering Technician
Date: 25 May 2026
Location: Islay, AGB, GB
Company: Suntory Global Spirits
What makes this a great opportunity?
- This position is responsible for supporting the current Bowmore and Laphroaig distillery teams to ensure the distilleries operate at extremely high levels of efficiency & safety.
- The candidate will work to ensure equipment is maintained to the highest standard through detailed Planned Preventative Maintenance & also have the skills to quickly react to unplanned electrical/mechanical breakdown situations.
- The candidate will fully support all technical aspects of project work & will be proactive in identifying & implementing team & individual improvements to plant efficiency or safety.
Role Responsibilities
- Be the main point of contact for all engineering work at Bowmore distillery/Laphroaig distillery, feeding back to Distilleries engineering manager.
- High focus on Lean Manufacturing through OBSW including EHS, Visual Management, Autonomous Maintenance, 5S & Focused Improvement.
- High level of planning and engagement in Planned Preventative Maintenance with inspections carried out to a high degree of detail and on time. Recording findings & ensuring potential equipment failures are identified & rectified.
- Operate a rigid Permit to Work system ensuring all contractors supply job specific Risk Assessments & Method Statements (RAMS) taking into consideration any high-risk activities.
- Fully engage in Hazard Awareness reporting & action where appropriate ensuring identified hazards are eliminated/mitigated.
- Carry out maintenance & repair under Lockout Tagout (LOTO) system of safe working & updating LOTO records.
- Implementation of autonomous maintenance programme through operator training.
- Analysis of poor/declining performance & implementation of effective & sustainable solutions. This information is gained from attendance at Daily Operation Review meetings, MDT (Multi discipline team) meetings and ITF (Implementation Task Force) meetings.
- Use of SAP for ordering & receipting of spares. Highly competent in all aspects of small, focused improvement projects.
- Assist in the implementation of shutdown and project plans with Distillery management and their teams.
- Update asset records and sign off PPM tasks on the Frontline maintenance system.
- Be the site owner for safety critical inspections ensuring these inspections are carried out in a timely manner and recording on Frontline and reporting back to safety critical fortnightly meeting.
- Participate in a programme of continuous training and assessment to maintain and develop skills in your own area.
- Participate in process-based improvement projects, giving an electrical/mechanical input and driving a culture of continuous improvement.
- Ensuring compliance with relevant health, safety & environmental legislation and safe systems of work.
- Maintaining all documentation in relation to ATEX equipment, COSHH register, Risk Assessments & Confined Space Register.
- Administrative responsibilities to include EHS, standard operating procedures, risk assessments and method statements.
Qualifications
- Time served recognized electrical/mechanical apprenticeship.
- Knowledge of various distillery equipment, both electrical & mechanical.
- Knowledge of industrial controls, PLC’s and instrumentation.
- Experience with three phase and single-phase motors.
- Previous experience of working on SCADA.
- MEWP license.
- Hazardous area installations (CompEx Qualification).
- Knowledge of Environmental, health & safety regulations and current electrical regulations.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
- IT literate, Microsoft, and Frontline maintenance experience if possible. Proficiently budget, plan, monitor, and execute small projects.
- Knowledge and experience of HAZOP’s and be able to participate in HAZOPs with various projects.
- Prepare bid specification, evaluate bids, and confirm the issue of purchase orders for various contractors.
- Adheres to and promotes environmental health and safety as one of the organization’s business priorities.
- The ability to work collaboratively whilst retaining the capability to form and articulate independent views and opinions.
KEY RELATIONSHIPS:
Internal
- Site and Department Managers
- Attend ITF, MDT and Tier meetings as required.
- Finance, Procurement and EHS departments.
- Support to Global requirements, i.e., Global Standards.
External
- Equipment supplier agencies
- Component suppliers
- Engineering/electrical support
- Equipment service Electricians