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Strategic Career Guide: Site Mechanical Engineer (Refinery & Process Operations)
Executive Overview & Role Summary
AAK International is recruiting a Site Mechanical Engineer to lead asset transformation and mechanical integrity at its flagship Hull site. Located at King George Dock, AAK operates the United Kingdom’s largest edible oils and fats refinery.
This high-impact role balances strategic asset management with hands-on mechanical governance. You will manage Major Accident Hazard (MAH) scenarios (ammonia, hydrogen, steam, caustic soda, nitrogen), ensure compliance with core statutory regulations (PSSR, PUWER, LOLER, DSEAR, MCerts), oversee CapEx/OpEx projects, and drive the site’s transition from reactive to proactive reliability engineering using the Shire Systems CMMS.
About AAK International
With over 150 years of heritage and headquarters in Malmö, Sweden, AAK specializes in plant-based oil solutions under its core guiding purpose, Making Better Happen™. Operating across 25+ countries with 20+ production facilities and 15 Customer Innovation Centers, AAK collaborates with global leaders in food manufacturing, baking, dairy, and personal care.
Technical Profile & Specifications
| Operational Criteria | Key Position Details |
| Position Title | Site Mechanical Engineer |
| Website | https://aak-uk.com/ |
| Employer | AAK International |
| Location | Hull, United Kingdom (King George Dock) |
| Industry Sector | Edible Oils Refinery / Food Processing & Chemical Assets |
| Key Regulations | PSSR, PUWER, LOLER, DSEAR, MCerts |
| Hazardous Media | Ammonia, Hydrogen, Caustic Soda, High-Pressure Steam, Nitrogen |
| CMMS System | Shire Systems |
| Education Requirements | HNC or Degree in Mechanical Engineering (or 5–10 years equivalent experience) |
| Certifications | IOSH / NEBOSH (Desirable); Institution Membership (IMechE or similar) |
Position Benefits & Total Rewards Package
- 10% Employer Pension Contribution: Generous non-contributory pension structure (10% paid entirely by AAK).
- Performance Bonus & Protection: Annual performance-related bonus, Group Life Cover, and Income Protection.
- Comprehensive Healthcare: Premium UK healthcare scheme for employee well-being.
- Annual Leave Allowance: 25 days paid annual leave plus all UK bank holidays.
- Commuter & Eco Perks: Ride2Work scheme alongside global sustainability initiatives.
- Global Mobility & Career Development: Professional development within a network spanning 25+ countries and 4,000 global employees.
Market Insights: Salary & Location Analysis
Salary Insight
While base salaries are aligned based on candidate experience, Site Mechanical Engineers with regulatory ownership (PSSR/DSEAR) and high-hazard process background in the Humber region typically secure salaries between £50,000 and £62,000 per annum, supplemented by AAK’s 10% non-contributory pension and annual bonus structure.
Location Insight
Situated at King George Dock in Hull, the site benefits from major infrastructure investments in the Humber region—a premier hub for renewable energy, port logistics, and process manufacturing. The location offers excellent transport links across East Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire.
Strategic Career Guide: Preparation & Application Framework
How to Prepare Your CV for This Position
- Highlight Regulatory Compliance: Explicitly detail your working knowledge and enforcement of UK statutory regulations, particularly PSSR (Pressure Systems), DSEAR (Explosive Atmospheres), PUWER, and LOLER.
- Emphasize High-Hazard Operations: Feature any experience managing process safety involving dangerous media such as industrial ammonia systems, hydrogen gas, steam boilers, or chemical storage.
- Quantify Asset Reliability Metrics: Mention measurable improvements you have delivered using CMMS platforms (e.g., reductions in unplanned downtime, improved MTBF/MTTR metrics, bad-actor elimination).
- Detail Leadership & Cultural Shift: Showcase your experience in guiding technician teams from reactive breakdown fixing toward structured preventive and predictive maintenance strategies.
How to Prepare for the Interview
- Review Process Safety Management (PSM): Be prepared to discuss how you conduct risk assessments and hazard reviews around pressure vessels, boiler plants, and hazardous chemical pipelines.
- Demonstrate Root Cause Analysis (RCA): Structure past examples of equipment failure investigations using frameworks like 5-Whys, Fishbone, or FMEA.
- Align with AAK Core Values: Review AAK’s Customer Co-Development approach and focus on safety, sustainability, and cross-functional leadership between engineering and production teams.
Technical Interview Questions
- Statutory Compliance & Pressure Systems: “How do you establish and manage a Written Scheme of Examination (WSE) under PSSR for aging pressure vessels and high-pressure steam distribution lines?”
- High-Hazard Risk Mitigation: “Can you walk us through the engineering controls and safety management practices you implement when maintaining equipment within a DSEAR/ATEX-rated zone or an ammonia refrigeration system?”
- Reliability Culture Shift: “How do you overcome technician resistance when shifting a site culture from reactive emergency repairs to data-driven preventive maintenance using a CMMS?”
How to Apply & Contact Information
- Direct Contact: For inquiries regarding this position, contact Emily Lumb (Talent Acquisition Specialist) via email at emily.lumb@aak.com.
- Application Pathway: Submit your updated CV and supporting documentation via the official AAK Careers Portal or through direct recruitment contact.
Disclaimer
This document serves as an independent, professionally formatted career guide and position summary created for candidate preparation. It is not an official offer of employment or a direct application portal. Specific salary offers, terms, and job duties are finalized directly between the applicant and AAK International during official recruitment stages.