Engineering maintenance technician
Look after and fix electrical and mechanical equipment used in industry – from factories and power stations to aircraft and escalators.
Also known as: maintenance engineer
About the job
What it's like
As an engineering maintenance technician, you'll focus on inspecting, repairing and maintaining mechanical and electrical systems. It's a role where your quick thinking and technical skills make a real difference every day.
You'll often be called on to fix urgent issues, which can be both challenging and rewarding, especially when you get things back up and running.
You might work on anything from:
machinery and equipment used on production lines in factories, railways and roads
laboratory equipment in hospitals, or in medicine or food development
civil or military aircraft
equipment and facilities for generating power including hydro-electric, wind turbines, solar and marine energy technology, fossil fuel and nuclear power stations
lifts, escalators, walkways and airport skytrains
Engineering maintenance technicians are needed in industries such as manufacturing, energy, food and drink, transport, healthcare and even the public sector.
Some technicians specialise in areas such as electrical systems, robotics or heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC).
Your tasks might include:
diagnosing faults in machinery using testing equipment
carrying out planned maintenance to prevent breakdowns
repairing or replacing worn or faulty parts
updating maintenance records and reporting issues
installing new equipment and ensuring it works safely
responding quickly to emergency breakdowns
Green job
In this job you could be doing work to help the environment. You might:
maintain energy-efficient systems in factories or buildings
help reduce waste by keeping equipment running efficiently
Explore more information about this job
Here are some useful links to learn more about this career:
Tomorrow's Engineers – careers resources for young people from Engineering UK and Royal Academy of Engineering
WISE – inspires girls and women to study and build careers using science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM)
The Institution of Engineers in Scotland (IES) — get more information about engineering careers
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Related industries
Many jobs can be done in lots of different industries. We've highlighted the ones we think are most important for this job.
Food and drink Engineering and manufacturing Energy
Top skills
Skills are things you're good at. Whether you know what yours are or not, everyone has them!
It's useful to learn which ones are important in a job so you know the areas you need to brush up on. It can also help you work out if you're suited to a career.
Meta skills
Here are some of the meta skills you'll need to do this job.
- understanding
- recalling
- attention to detail
- problem solving
- resourceful
- working with technology
- verbal communication
- adaptability
Your skills are important
Our unique skillsets are what make us stand out from the crowd. Learn about each skill in depth and discover what employers look for in your applications and interviews.
Getting in
Explore each section to find more information about getting into this career.
Colleges and universities will list subjects you'll need for entry to a course. Some useful subjects include:
Foundation Apprenticeship: Automotive
Design and Manufacture
Engineering Science
Practical Craft Skills
Practical Electronics
Practical Metalwork
Skills for Work: Engineering Skills
Foundation Apprenticeship: Engineering
Skills for Work: Building Services Engineering
You can get a head start in this career by doing a Foundation Apprenticeship in S5 and S6.
You'll get an SCQF level 6 qualification which is the same level as a Higher. You'll also learn new skills and gain valuable experience in a work environment.
Discover what's on offer at your school on Apprenticeships.scot.
There are a couple of routes into a career as an engineering maintenance technician.
College
Getting qualifications at college, such as an HNC or HND, could help you secure a job or progress to more advanced study. Useful subjects include:
Mechanical engineering
Electrical and Electronic engineering technologies
Maintenance engineering technologies
Engineering
Use the My World of Work course search to find HNCs or HNDs.
Apprenticeships
Modern Apprenticeships (MAs) mean you learn on the job. You get paid and work towards a qualification at the same time. You might want to consider an MA in Engineering: Asset Lifecycle and Maintenance.
Work
You could work in a less senior engineering-based role and train on the job to become an engineering maintenance technician.
Use the My World of Work job search to find vacancies.
It's helpful to register with the Engineering Council to gain EngTech status.
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