what is a maintenance engineer?
As a maintenance engineer, you apply engineering concepts to ensure the smooth running of industrial machinery and equipment. Some of the activities include installing, repairing and maintaining different types of equipment. Using specialised equipment, maintenance engineers monitor and diagnose machine failures. In case of breakdowns, it is your job to restore the faulty equipment and ensure optimal performance.
Usually, maintenance engineers use their specialised training for strategic problem solving and guiding technicians to repair problems in the system. Depending on your employer and company size, you are likely to participate in significant installations and maintenance of critical machinery only. The rest of the time, you will take on managerial tasks. However, you are expected to do hands-on work in some companies, like performing generalised repairs and maintenance activities.
A career as a maintenance engineer allows you to work in mechanical repair workshops or companies dealing with machinery and equipment maintenance. Aside from working for consultancy companies, you can work in-house in large factories, manufacturing plants and various industries, including automotive, oil and gas and electronic businesses.
Would working as a maintenance engineer suit your analytical and problem-solving skills? Then read on to find out what competencies and qualifications you need to thrive in a maintenance role.
view jobsaverage salary of maintenance engineer
According to ONS, the average maintenance engineer salary in the UK is £30,801. At an entry-level position, your base salary starts at £21,000. As you improve your skills and certifications, your salary increases to around £42,000. Aside from the base salary, maintenance engineers also enjoy additional benefits such as healthcare, transport and house allowances. Some employers also provide bonuses at the end of the year.
how to increase your salary as a maintenance engineer
Your compensation package depends on the company you work for and the complexity of your tasks. For instance, large manufacturing plants and factories have complex equipment and machinery that require specialised maintenance or installation. Your employer will pay more when you are handling complex work and need to be on call anytime time of the day in case of system failure.
Your qualifications and experience level also determine your wages. Experienced maintenance engineers earn more due to the additional transferable skills and expertise in dealing with faults and problems in machines. Maintenance engineers with higher qualifications also take up managerial roles, which pay more than technical and hands-on work.
types of maintenance engineer
Maintenance engineering is a vast career with various areas of specialisation, including:
- mechanical maintenance engineer: as a mechanical maintenance engineer, your job involves installing or maintaining mechanical systems and equipment used in industrial, commercial and domestic environments. Your focus is on repairing machines' mechanical and moving parts like lubricating gears and replacing motors and pumps.
- maintenance technician: as a maintenance technician, you perform the hands-on work during maintenance and repair of machinery. That involves disassembling equipment to remove defective and damaged components and testing whether the repairs were successful.
working as a maintenance engineer
Are you wondering how the workday of a maintenance engineer looks like? Read on to discover the typical duties and responsibilities of the career.
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maintenance engineer job description
While the duties and responsibilities of a maintenance engineer vary depending on the company, common tasks include:
- inspecting machines and equipment: before production commences, a maintenance engineer should inspect the machinery to check for any issues that could lead to a malfunction. Routine inspections ensure problems are discovered and solved on time to avoid production downtimes or delays.
- preventive maintenance: as a maintenance engineer, you carry out scheduled maintenance checks to prevent any problems that hinder proper functioning of equipment and might need the help of an electronics technicians or industrial electricians. During preventive maintenance, you can replace worn-out components, change fluids, recalibrate instruments or change filters. You need to conduct preventive maintenance at scheduled times to ensure the worn-out parts are replaced before they expire and cause further problems.
- corrective maintenance: in case of an unexpected failure, it is your job to carry out corrective maintenance. It involves fault analysis to determine the cause of machine failure. You will also identify the best procedure for restoring the functionality of the equipment. Corrective maintenance may include disassembling machinery to remove defective components.
- repairs: when a machine breaks down during use, your job is to troubleshoot the problem using diagnostic tools. You will decide whether the damaged parts need replacements or repairs. After completing the repairs, you make the necessary upgrades to other components to improve efficiency and prevent future breakdowns.
- installing new equipment: when your employer acquires new equipment or machinery, it is your job to install them. Aside from setting up the machinery, perform the necessary checks and tests to ensure the system is in good working order.
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work environment
As a maintenance engineer, your work environment depends on your industry and responsibilities. For instance, you will work in rooms that house heavy machinery and equipment in the manufacturing industry such as cnc turners. During production, you should be on call in case of a system failure or machine breakdown. In consultancy firms and government agencies, you work at the office drafting procedures for technicians to use in repairs and maintenance. However, you may visit the client installation site on rare occasions to provide expert assistance, first line support and work with service desk analyst.
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work schedule
Most maintenance engineers based in production facilities and manufacturing plants work 37 to 40 hours a week. While you can work the regular 9 am to 5 pm office hours, some manufacturing plants run 24 hours a day. That means a maintenance engineer should be on call 24/7 in case of a system failure or machine breakdown. Your work may be on rotational shifts to cover night and weekend shifts from time to time. Part-time opportunities are rare for maintenance engineers, but some employers hire on short-term contracts or temporary positions. Your work often involves travelling if you work away from your client's manufacturing plant or you may also work with cnc oparator. Overseas travel is also common for maintenance engineers with expert knowledge in a particular sector.
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job outlook
As a maintenance engineer, you have plenty of opportunities for career progression. You can specialise in a specific sector or increase your skills to boost your career. For instance, if you are employed in the manufacturing sector, years of working in the industry give you expert knowledge to become a specialist or technical expert. Your experience also gives you a chance to become a consultant in the industry. Alternatively, you can become the maintenance manager before moving to operations manager or facilities manager. Some maintenance engineers increase their qualifications and become mechanical engineers before joining managerial positions.
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advantages of finding a maintenance engineer job through randstad
Finding your maintenance engineer job through Randstad provides important advantages such as:
- a wide variety of training and development opportunities
- an experienced contact person to provide help if needed
- a range of opportunities in your area
- get paid weekly or monthly, depending on the job
- temporary and permanent contracts
Want a permanent contract? A temporary job as a maintenance engineer is often a stepping stone to an attractive permanent job. Every year, thousands of people earn a permanent contract with great employers thanks to a temporary job found through Randstad. What's more, many companies recruit their permanent employees through Randstad too!
education & skills
If you want to become a maintenance engineer, you should attain relevant academic qualifications such as:
- apprenticeship: become a maintenance engineer through an apprenticeship that will open up numerous opportunities in the field. For an intermediate apprenticeship, you need GCSEs with Maths and English, while an advanced apprenticeship requires 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 with Maths, English and Science. Aside from course training, you need to gain on-the-job experience of up to 30 hours a week.
- college: if you want to join college for a maintenance engineering course, do a diploma or certificate course depending on your qualifications. For a Level 2 certificate in mechanical engineering, you need two GCSEs at grades 9 to 4. The entry requirements for the diploma course in Level 3 engineering and maintenance are four or five GCSEs at grades 9 to 4.
- university: if you want to pursue a university degree or a Higher National Diploma foundation degree, you need four to five GCSEs and one or two A-Levels. You can do a degree in maintenance engineering or mechanical engineering.
skills and competencies
While you need experience and knowledge of machines in maintenance engineering, soft skills also improve your job success. Some of the skills include:
- leadership skills: as a maintenance engineer, you are in charge of a technical team, and leadership skills will help you integrate with other staff. Motivating team members and bringing them together to accomplish a task is useful during equipment failure. With your leadership skills, you can also manage stress levels during unfavourable conditions and promote accountability for mistakes made during inspection.
- problem-solving skills: multiple problems arise when operating equipment and machines. Despite creating procedures for dealing with problems, you cannot exhaust all possible system failure scenarios. You need creative problem-solving skills to tackle issues outside the standard maintenance procedures.
- attention to details: becoming a good maintenance engineer depends on your ability to pay attention to small details. An error or miscalculation can have serious consequences; hence you should be keen when diagnosing faults in equipment.
- aptitude for physics: to learn how machines and equipment work, you should have a knack for maths and physics. Sometimes, complex calculations are required to identify faults in a system. Aptitude for physics will also help you understand the schematics of machines from their blueprints and plan to fix the problems.
FAQs
FAQs about working as a maintenance engineer
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what makes a good maintenance engineer?
If you want to succeed as a maintenance engineer, you need to be organised and logical to maintenance procedures. Creative problem-solving skills and paying attention to details also helps you to deal with issues promptly.
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what qualifications do you need to become a maintenance engineer?
Become a maintenance engineer through a university degree or a higher national diploma. You can also find diplomas, certificates and apprenticeship courses to undertake.
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what is a maintenance engineer?
A maintenance engineer uses engineering concepts to optimise equipment efficiency. They also maintain and inspect machines to ensure repairs are done on time.
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what is the role of a maintenance engineer?
The main responsibility of a maintenance engineer is to repair equipment and machines. They also install, maintain and troubleshoot issues that arise during equipment use.
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is maintenance engineering a good career?
Becoming a maintenance engineer is an exciting career that presents you with new problems to solve daily. Besides, it is a lucrative profession with a hefty compensation package.
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how do I apply for a maintenance engineer vacancy?
Applying for a maintenance engineer job is easy: create a Randstad profile and search our job offers for vacancies in your area. Then send us your CV and cover letter. Need help with your application? Check out all our job search tips here!
