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Technical Services Manager – Process Plant & Commissioning
UK Home-Based | Regular UK Travel & Occasional International Travel
Salary: Competitive, dependent on experience
Sector: Recycling Technology | Process Engineering | Industrial Equipment | Clean Technology
Overview:
- Are you an experienced Technical Services Manager, Commissioning Manager or Service Engineering professional looking to take ownership of a new technical service function within an innovative engineering business?
- Our client specialises in advanced pyrolysis technology, recovering valuable materials from end-of-life and as the business moves from pilot-scale development towards its first commercial-scale installation.
- We are looking for a hands-on technical leader to support the deployment, commissioning, operation and ongoing development of our technology.
- Reporting directly to the Managing Director, you will take ownership of technical services across pilot and commercial-scale systems, combining practical engineering expertise with customer support, equipment commissioning, plant maintenance and service function development.
- This is an opportunity to play a pivotal role in an evolving technology business, helping establish the processes, standards and technical capability needed to support future commercial growth.
The Role:
- UK home-based, with frequent travel to customer sites, the pilot plant and manufacturing partners.
- Hands-on responsibility for installation, commissioning, maintenance and troubleshooting.
- Operational ownership of the pilot plant, supporting testing, validation and process optimisation.
- Technical oversight of equipment manufacture, assembly and pre-delivery inspections.
- Opportunity to establish and develop a dedicated technical services and commissioning team as the business grows.
Key Responsibilities:
Technical Services & Customer Support
- Develop and lead the technical service and aftersales support capability for companies process equipment.
- Provide hands-on technical support at customer sites, diagnosing faults, resolving operational issues and coordinating repairs and maintenance.
- Establish service procedures, preventative maintenance schedules, inspection processes and technical support documentation.
- Support customers with equipment operation, process optimisation and operational best practice.
- Develop effective remote and on-site support arrangements as commercial installations increase.
- Build strong customer relationships and act as a key technical point of contact throughout equipment operation.
Installation & Commissioning
- Support and lead installation and commissioning activities for commercial tyre pyrolysis systems.
- Oversee equipment installation, ensuring compliance with engineering drawings, specifications and relevant quality requirements.
- Conduct system testing, start-up activities, operational validation and troubleshooting.
- Develop commissioning procedures, start-up protocols and operational handover documentation.
- Play a key role in the successful deployment of the first commercial-scale installation, establishing standards for future projects.
Pilot Plant Operations & Maintenance
- Take responsibility for the day-to-day operation, maintenance and upkeep of the pilot plant.
- Carry out inspections, routine maintenance, fault finding and repairs.
- Operate equipment during development trials, process testing and customer demonstrations.
- Support monitoring, data collection and operational reporting.
- Identify opportunities to improve plant reliability, performance, maintainability and operational efficiency.
Engineering, R&D & Process Improvement
- Work closely with engineering and R&D teams to support technology development and process optimisation.
- Provide practical operational feedback to improve equipment design, reliability and serviceability.
- Support testing, validation and development activities across pilot and commercial systems.
- Troubleshoot mechanical and process-related issues, helping translate operational experience into engineering improvements.
Manufacturing & Supplier Support
- Visit manufacturing and fabrication partners to monitor equipment assembly, build quality and technical compliance.
- Review equipment against engineering drawings, specifications and quality requirements.
- Identify and help resolve manufacturing issues, technical discrepancies and non-conformances.
- Support factory acceptance testing (FAT), pre-delivery inspections and preparation for installation.
Building the Technical Services Function
- Establish the processes, standards and systems required for a scalable technical services operation.
- Identify future resource requirements and support the recruitment and development of service and commissioning engineers.
- Develop maintenance, commissioning, troubleshooting and customer support procedures.
- Help build a technical service capability that can support multiple commercial installations as the business expands.
What We’re Looking For
- We are looking for a technically strong, practical and commercially aware engineering professional who can combine hands-on problem-solving with the ability to build and lead a service function.
- You may currently be working as a Technical Services Manager, Service Engineering Manager, Commissioning Manager, Field Service Manager, Technical Operations Manager, Process Plant Manager or Senior Commissioning Engineer.
Essential experience
- Experience working with industrial process equipment, engineered systems or process plant.
- Practical experience of equipment installation, commissioning, maintenance and operational troubleshooting.
- A strong understanding of mechanical and/or process systems, including fault diagnosis and performance improvement.
- Experience providing technical support in operational, manufacturing or customer-facing environments.
- The ability to interpret engineering drawings, technical specifications and equipment documentation.
- A structured approach to maintenance planning, technical problem-solving and continuous improvement.
- Strong communication skills and the ability to work effectively with customers, engineers, suppliers and senior stakeholders.
- Willingness to undertake frequent UK travel and occasional international travel.
Desirable experience:
- Experience in pyrolysis, recycling, waste processing, waste-to-energy, thermal processing or chemical/process engineering.
- Exposure to pilot plants, process development, industrial scale-up or first-of-a-kind equipment deployment.
- Experience with factory acceptance testing, supplier quality, fabrication or equipment assembly.
- Experience developing technical service procedures or establishing an aftersales support function.
- Previous team leadership, mentoring or recruitment of service and commissioning personnel.
- A relevant engineering qualification or equivalent practical industry experience.
- We are particularly interested in candidates who can transfer their experience of complex industrial equipment, process plant or commissioning into an emerging technology environment.
Why Join?
- Make a tangible impact: Play a central role in the transition from pilot-scale technology to commercial deployment.
- Take ownership: Shape the technical services function, rather than inheriting an established operation.
- Work across the full equipment lifecycle: From manufacturing oversight and commissioning through to maintenance, customer support and technical development.
- Influence the technology: Feed practical operational experience directly into engineering and product improvements.
- Build for the future: Help establish the service standards, systems and team required to support future commercial growth.
- Work with an evolving technology: Contribute to the recovery of valuable materials from end-of-life tyres through advanced pyrolysis.
Location & Travel:
This is a UK home-based position requiring frequent travel to customer installations, the pilot plant, manufacturing partners and supplier facilities. Occasional international travel will also be required.
The role is suited to someone comfortable combining home-based planning and coordination with regular, hands-on site work.
Apply:
If you have a background in industrial process equipment, commissioning, technical services or plant operations and want to help establish a growing technical function within an emerging technology business, we would welcome a conversation.
Your CV will be forwarded to Jonathan Lee Recruitment, a leading engineering and manufacturing recruitment consultancy established in 1978. The services advertised by Jonathan Lee Recruitment are those of an Employment Agency.
In order for your CV to be processed effectively, please ensure your name, email address, phone number and location (post code OR town OR county, as a minimum) are included.
7198388 – Lee Elwell