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How to become a Maintenance Engineer

Maintenance Engineer

Career progression and salary expectations for a Maintenance Engineer

1

Junior Maintenance Engineer

| Up to £22,000
2

Maintenance Engineer

| Up to £30,000
3

Maintenance Manager

| Up to £40,000

The role of a Maintenance Engineer

Feel like your career’s stopped working? You should become a Maintenance Engineer…

Maintenance Engineers oversee, manage and maintain industrial machinery, ensuring that all equipment is reliable and continues to run smoothly.

Their role could involve anything from diagnosing faults and ordering parts, to carrying out regular maintenance and dealing with budgeting. Aside from fixing equipment, Maintenance Engineers are also often responsible for the ongoing improvement of procedures and methods.

Although their specific duties will depend on whether they’re a technician or a fitter (or working in preventative or emergency maintenance), a Maintenance Engineer’s job is always based around ensuring all devices are functioning safely - and continue to work without interruption.

Key duties for a Maintenance Engineer could include:

  • Carrying out routine maintenance checks
  • Responding to and investigating breakdowns
  • Fixing machinery or scheduling repairs
  • Replacing or upgrading equipment if necessary
  • Allocating manual work to the rest of the team
  • Keeping records of stats and finances
  • Managing supplies and ordering stock
Excellent practical ability, combined with relevant technical knowledge, is absolutely essential for anyone looking to become a Maintenance Engineer.

Because of the risks involved with working with heavy machinery (and the importance of reinforcing proper procedures in an environment like this), a solid understanding of health and safety protocol is equally vital.

But maintenance engineering doesn’t just rely on your practical expertise – you’ll also need to be able to demonstrate good business skills in order to liaise with suppliers and manage budgets.

You’ll also need to be:

  • A good motivator
  • An excellent problem solver
  • Able to work well under pressure
  • Capable of managing a team effectively
  • Technically minded
  • Patient
"I’ve always been interested in making things work – starting from electronic train sets and remote control planes, and building my way up to car and motorbike repairs in my teenage years. I knew I wanted to do something similar in my job – so I started an apprenticeship as a technician straight after school and have now worked my way up to becoming a Maintenance Engineer. I love the mix of practical and technical work, and although not everything always works in the way you hope (machines aren’t perfect), I often find that spotting a fault and fixing it is just as rewarding as having a problem-free day. Some might say I’m a control freak, but someone has to be – right?"

Get qualified as a Maintenance Engineer

To become a Maintenance Engineer, you'll usually need to complete an engineering degree or vocational qualification, in a field such as mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, or mechatronics. Practical experience gained through internships, apprenticeships, or entry-level positions is also invaluable. Additionally, there are a number of engineering courses that will help you understand regulations, safety standards, and industry-specific practices, and continuing professional development (CPD) is essential for staying updated with advancements in the field of engineering.

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