Mechanical Craft Engineer

Mechanical Craft Engineer

Date Posted: 2026-09-29T00:00:00

Location: Sittingbourne, Kent, GB, ME10 4

Application Deadline: 2026-12-28T19:01:22.557

Mechanical Craft Engineer

remote type: Site Based

locations: Kemsley

time type: Full time

posted on: Posted Today

job requisition id: R-13653

Mechanical Maintenance Engineer

Kemsley Paper Mill (Sittingbourne)

Weekly Hours: 32.89

Salary: £49,453.48 GBP Annual + monthly consolidated is £8,727.10 Annual

About the Role

We are looking for a skilled and proactive Mechanical Maintenance Engineer to join the Engineering team at our Kemsley Paper Mill. This is an exciting opportunity to work within one of the largest and most advanced paper mills in the UK, supporting the reliability and performance of high-speed manufacturing and processing equipment.

Working on a continental 4 on / 4 off shift rota, you will play a key role in ensuring plant availability, minimising downtime, and delivering safe, efficient maintenance across the site.

Key Responsibilities

• Carry out planned preventative maintenance (PPM) activities across site machinery and equipment
• Respond quickly and effectively to mechanical breakdowns
• Diagnose faults and implement long-term engineering solutions
• Support continuous improvement and reliability initiatives
• Work collaboratively with production and engineering teams to maximise plant performance
• Ensure all work is completed safely and in line with company procedures and standards
• Accurately complete maintenance documentation and shift reports
• Contribute to shutdowns, overhauls, and project work where required

What We're Looking For

• Time-served Mechanical Engineer or recognised Engineering Apprenticeship
• NVQ Level 3 / City & Guilds in Mechanical Engineering or equivalent
• Experience within a heavy manufacturing, industrial, FMCG, paper, steel, recycling, or process environment
• Strong fault-finding and problem-solving skills
• Experience working with: Bearings, pumps, conveyors, gearboxes, hydraulics, pneumatics, and rotating equipment
• Ability to work independently and as part of a shift engineering team
• A strong commitment to health & safety standards

What We Can Offer You

• Competitive salary
• Qualifying Sick Pay scheme
• Pension scheme & Life insurance
• Share Save scheme
• Income Protection
• 25 days holiday plus Bank Holidays
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Virtual GP, Occupational Health & free Flu vaccine
• Cycle to Work and shopping discounts

About Us

We are DS Smith, together with International Paper, a global leader in sustainable packaging solutions and other fibre-based products. We believe a better, more sustainable tomorrow is possible with the right people, who challenge and support one another to enact positive change. We employ more than 65,000 colleagues in North America and Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), who are experts in innovation, manufacturing, design, sales, sustainability, supply chain, and much more.

Together with our customers, we make the world safer and more productive, one sustainable packaging solution at a time. Become part of a world-leading organisation and do your best work with us!

Our people come from diverse backgrounds, bringing different perspectives, ideas, and experiences to generate unique solutions focused on present and future sustainability challenges. We welcome all candidates to apply, even those not meeting all criteria.

#LI-SP #DSENG

We are DS Smith, together with International Paper, a global leader in sustainable packaging solutions and other fibre-based products. We believe a better, more sustainable tomorrow is possible with the right people, who challenge and support one another to enact positive change. We employ more than 60,000 colleagues in North America and Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), who are experts in innovation, manufacturing, design, sales, sustainability, supply chain, and much more.

Together with our customers, we make the world safer and more productive, one sustainable packaging solution at a time. Become part of a world-leading organisation and do your best work with us!

As the journey continues of bringing together the strengths of both organisations, during your candidate experience you may engage with our colleagues from International Paper! You could visit an International Paper or DS Smith site or office.

• Respond quickly and effectively to mechanical breakdowns Diagnose faults and implement long-term engineering solutions Support continuous improvement and reliability initiatives Work collaboratively with production and engineering teams to maximise plant performance Ensure all work is completed safely and in line with company procedures and standards Accurately complete maintenance documentation and shift reports Contribute to shutdowns, overhauls, and project work where requiredWhat We're Looking For Time-served Mechanical Engineer or recognised Engineering Apprenticeship NVQ Level 3 / City & Guilds in Mechanical Engineering or equivalent Experience within a heavy manufacturing, industrial, FMCG, paper, steel, recycling, or process environment Strong fault-finding and problem-solving skills Experience working with: Bearings, pumps, conveyors, gearboxes, hydraulics, pneumatics, and rotating equipment, Ability to work independently and as part of a shift
  
  engineering team, A strong commitment to health & safety standardsWhat we can offer you: Competitive salary Qualifying Sick Pay scheme Pension scheme & Life insurance Share Save scheme Income Protection 25 days holiday plus Bank Holidays Employee Assistance Programme Virtual GP, Occupational Health & free Flu vaccine Cycle to Work and shopping discountsWe are DS Smith, together with International Paper, we are a global leader in sustainable packaging solutions and other fibre-based products. We believe a better, more sustainable tomorrow is possible with the right people, who challenge and support one another to enact positive change. We employ more than 65,000 colleagues in North America and Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), who are experts in innovation, manufacturing, design, sales, sustainability, supply chain, and much more. Together with our customers, we make the world safer and more productive, one sustainable packaging solution at a time. Become part of a
world-leading organisation and do your best work with us!Our people come from diverse backgrounds, bring different perspectives, ideas and experiences to generate unique solutions focused on present and future sustainability challenges. We welcome all candidates to apply, even those not meeting all criteria."#LI-SP#DSENGWe are DS Smith, together with International Paper, we are a global leader in sustainable packaging solutions and other fibre-based products. We believe a better, more sustainable tomorrow is possible with the right people, who challenge and support one another to enact positive change. We employ more than 60,000 colleagues in North America and Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), who are experts in innovation, manufacturing, design, sales, sustainability, supply chain, and much more. Together with our customers, we make the world safer and more productive, one sustainable packaging solution at a time. Become part of a world-leading organisation and do your best work with us!As the journey continues of bringing together the strengths of both organisations, during your candidate experience you may engage with our colleagues from International Paper! You could visit an International Paper or DS Smith site or office. #J-18808-Ljbffr