ADD ADVICE TO FAVService / maintenance engineer
Service and maintenance engineers work remotely or on site repairing, servicing and maintaining machinery.
What service / maintenance engineers do
- provide a service to external or internal customers by giving advice via the telephone and/or by visiting the equipment in a factory
- work out regular maintenance schedules for each piece of equipment and carry out the work
- deal with emergency breakdowns as they occur
- remove equipment to workshop as appropriate, where detailed diagnosis and investigation can be more readily achieved, dismantling equipment when necessary and replacing faulty parts
- work under pressure to get equipment serviceable.
Key skills
- a thorough understanding of the relevant technology
- good practical skills and a common-sense approach
- ability to work under extreme pressure if, for example, an entire production line is shut down, and a willingness to work unsociable hours when required
- the tact, diplomacy and sense of humour required to deal with people in stressful situations and provide confident assurance
- self-confidence and ability to work independently or as a member of a team.
Training to be a service / maintenance engineer
Training is relevant to the equipment for which engineers have responsibility. Some train to become chartered engineers and some as incorporated engineers.
Salaries
Starting salaries vary considerably from one industry to another but typically range from £20,000 to £24,000. Some of these engineers enjoy the benefit of a company car.
Professional bodies
- Institution of Engineering and Technology
- Institution of Chemical Engineers
- Institution of Mechanical Engineers
