Engineering maintenance technician
Engineering maintenance technicians service and repair equipment in industries like manufacturing, production and transport.
What you'll do
Day-to-day tasks
As an engineering maintenance technician, you could:
- organise routine servicing schedules and assign tasks
- check and maintain instruments and machinery
- fix breakdown faults and arrange for replacement equipment
- complete reports and inform production managers of progress
- do risk assessments and keep stock control records
Working environment
You could work in a factory, on a construction site or at a manufacturing plant.
Your working environment may be noisy and outdoors some of the time.
You may need to wear safety clothing and use safety equipment.
Career path and progression
With experience you could:
- take a Lead Engineering Maintenance Technician Level 4 Higher Apprenticeship to become a senior maintenance technician
- do further training to qualify as an engineer in a specific field like mechanical, electrical or building services
- move into technical sales, maintenance team management or contract management
- become a further education teacher
What it takes
Skills and knowledge
You'll need:
- the ability to use, repair and maintain machines and tools
- the ability to work well with your hands
- problem-solving skills
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- the ability to work well with others
- physical skills like movement, coordination and dexterity
- patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
- the ability to work on your own
- to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently
How to become
You can get into this job through:
- a university course
- a college course
- an apprenticeship
- working towards this role
You could do a foundation degree or higher national diploma in engineering before applying for a job as a trainee technician.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English, maths and science
- 1 or 2 A levels, or equivalent, for a foundation degree or higher national diploma
More Information
You could take a college course, which would teach you some of the skills needed for this job.
Relevant courses include:
- Level 2 Certificate in Mechanical Engineering
- Level 2 Certificate in Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technology
- Level 3 Diploma in Equipment Maintenance Engineering
- Level 3 Diploma in Engineering
- T Level in Maintenance, Installation and Repair for Engineering and Manufacturing
- T Level in Building Services Engineering for Construction
Entry requirements
You may need:
- 2 or more GCSEs at grades 9 to 3 (A* to D), or equivalent, for a level 2 course
- 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, for a level 3 course
- 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths for a T Level
More Information
You could apply to do a Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship, such as:
- Maintenance and Operations Engineering Technician
- Engineering Technician
- Mechatronics Maintenance Technician
You could also do an intermediate or advanced apprenticeship in a specific industry, like:
- aviation
- compressed air and vacuum manufacturing
- lifting equipment
- rail
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship
- 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship
More Information
You could start as an engineering craftworker and train on the job to become an engineering maintenance technician.
Further information
You can get more advice about engineering careers through Tomorrow's Engineers and The Institution of Engineering and Technology.
Related videos
Suggested videos
Coffee With is in early release mode with a limited number of videos. New videos are being added every week, so please check back for updates.
External links
This page contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.