Project Engineer- Buildings & Systems

Job Description:

Project Engineer- Buildings & Systems

Location: Melton Mowbray

Salary: £53,000-£65,000 + Bonus + Benefits

At Mars, the world we want tomorrow starts with how we do business today. As a Buildings & Systems Project Engineer, you will be a critical technical leader within our site Engineering Project Team at Melton Mowbray—the heart of our pet food manufacturing innovation. In this role, you aren't just managing physical assets; you are the guardian of safety, corporate compliance, and structural integrity for our site. You will lead the end-to-end planning, execution, and closeout of new buildings, infrastructure, and facility services capital projects. By driving our site’s Long-Term Infrastructure Strategy, you will integrate sustainable technologies, building automation, and energy-efficient systems to future-proof our manufacturing capabilities and help us deliver on our "Sustainable in a Generation" commitments

What will be your key responsibilities?

• Strategic Project Management: Lead the planning, execution, and end-to-end delivery of capital projects for our state-of-the-art pet food processing lines
• You will develop detailed project plans, track progress against critical milestones, and control scope, budget, and quality to ensure flawless delivery.
• Collaboration with Commercial & Suppliers: Manage the full procurement lifecycle for process equipment. You will develop technical specifications, issue tenders, and evaluate bids, collaborating closely with Commercial partners to secure favorable terms, build strong supplier relationships, and ensure material quality.
• On-Site Installation & Commissioning: Oversee the installation, commissioning, and startup of new utilities and process equipment. You will coordinate seamlessly with cross-functional internal teams—including Maintenance, Operations, R&D, and CVS—and manage external contractors to lead performance trials and ensure a smooth handover to production.
• Guardian of Safety & Compliance: Act as the primary authority for ensuring all new equipment and line designs comply with relevant machine safety and engineering guidelines by design. You will conduct rigorous risk assessments to ensure all health, safety, and environmental (HSE) requirements strictly adhere to Mars global standards.
• Financial & Stakeholder Management: Develop and manage project budgets, providing accurate forecasting and cost tracking of your areas of responsibility (specifically the Inbound & Process area). Serve as the key communication link, providing clear status updates to senior management, production teams, and external partners.

What are we looking for?

• A bachelor’s degree in mechanical, Electrical, Chemical, Civil, or a relevant Engineering discipline.
• Proven experience leading end-to-end capital engineering projects in a fast-paced manufacturing environment (FMCG, food, or pet food manufacturing experience is highly desirable).
• Experience in process engineering, utility distribution, building systems, and automation/control systems
• Understanding of machine safety standards, building codes, local compliance, and Quality & Food Safety management systems (HACCP/GMP)
• stakeholder management, communication, and collaboration skills, with the ability to influence technical decisions across cross-functional teams and external vendors.
• A continuous improvement lens, with a passion for sustainable technologies, energy efficiency, and future-proofing manufacturing capabilities.

What can you expect from Mars?

• Work with diverse and talented Associates, all guided by the Five Principles
• Join a purpose-driven company, where we’re striving to build the world we want tomorrow, today
• Best-in-class learning and development support from day one, including access to our in-house Mars University
• An industry-competitive salary and benefits package, including a company bonus

Mars is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable adjustments for individuals with disabilities, long-term health conditions, or who are neurodiverse during the application and recruitment process. To request reasonable adjustments, complete our Reasonable Adjustment Request Form here