HGV & Plant Maintenance Engineer Defence in Ripon

HGV & Plant Maintenance Engineer Defence in Ripon

Ripon Full-Time 40000 - 50000 £ / year (est.) No working from home possible
All The Top Bananas

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Maintain and repair a diverse fleet of military and commercial vehicles.
  • Company: Join Amey Defence, a leader in supporting the UK Armed Forces.
  • Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, enhanced overtime, and generous holiday allowance.
  • Other info: Gain valuable experience with cutting-edge equipment and career progression opportunities.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact on national security while developing your engineering skills.
  • Qualifications: HGV driving licence and relevant engineering qualifications required.

The predicted salary is between 40000 - 50000 £ per year.

Multiple UK locations | £37,791 + enhanced overtime + £3,000 Sponsored Reserve payment

Initial 12-month contract with a clear opportunity to secure permanent employment.

Work on the machines that keep UK Defence moving. Are you an experienced HGV Technician, Plant Fitter, Agricultural Engineer, Vehicle Mechanic or military engineer looking for something more secure, varied and meaningful?

RecruitME is recruiting Maintenance Engineers to support a major UK Defence equipment programme delivered by Amey Defence Equipment. You will maintain and repair a fleet of more than 4,000 military and commercial assets used by the British Armed Forces in the UK and around the world.

Forget working on the same vehicle or production line every day. This role could see you maintaining everything from forklift trucks and telehandlers to excavators, bulldozers, container stackers, lighting towers and 50-tonne cranes. Your work will directly support the safety, readiness and operational capability of the UK’s Armed Forces.

Locations We are recruiting across the following Defence sites:

  • Dalton Barracks, Abingdon OX13 6JB
  • Stafford
  • Ripon
  • Woodbridge
  • Larkhill
  • Chatham
  • Chivenor

What’s in it for you?

  • Salary of £37,791
  • Enhanced overtime payments
  • Time and a half for qualifying hours
  • Double time for designated weekend hours
  • Bank holiday working paid at double time, plus normal statutory payment
  • £3,000 Sponsored Reserve payment where applicable
  • 40-hour working week
  • Initial 12-month contract
  • Opportunity to secure permanent employment after achieving Sponsored Reservist status
  • At least 24 days holiday plus bank holidays
  • Option to purchase additional annual leave
  • Generous pension scheme with additional employer contributions
  • Fully funded technical, professional and military training
  • Funded leadership development programmes
  • Flexible benefits and insurance options
  • Cycle2Work scheme
  • Discounted gym membership
  • Retail, leisure and healthcare discounts
  • Two paid Social Impact Days each year
  • Family-friendly employment policies
  • Genuine long-term career progression

The role

As a Defence Maintenance Engineer, you will help maximise the safety, reliability and availability of military and commercial plant and materials-handling equipment. You will:

  • Service, inspect, maintain and repair diesel and electrically powered equipment
  • Work on commercial off-the-shelf and military-modified vehicles
  • Diagnose mechanical, hydraulic and electrical faults
  • Identify the root cause of equipment breakdowns
  • Complete safe, effective and high-quality repairs
  • Carry out planned maintenance and equipment inspections
  • Check completed work before equipment is returned to service
  • Ensure equipment meets operational, safety and compliance standards
  • Order replacement parts in a timely and cost-effective way
  • Liaise with controllers, customers and technical support teams
  • Provide clear updates on repair requirements and timescales
  • Complete job cards, service records and technical documentation
  • Support military personnel in the safe and effective use of equipment
  • Work in accordance with MOD, Army and site safety procedures

The equipment

The fleet includes more than 4,000 assets supporting military construction, logistics and mechanical-handling operations. You could work on:

  • Forklift trucks
  • Telehandlers
  • Counterbalance trucks
  • Container stackers
  • Self-loading dump trucks
  • Medium wheeled tractors
  • Excavators
  • Bulldozers
  • Cranes
  • Lighting towers
  • Concrete mixers
  • Diesel and electric plant
  • Specialist military-modified equipment
  • Associated mechanical-handling ancillaries

The fleet is supported throughout its entire working life, including maintenance, repair, technical documentation, tooling, testing equipment, spare parts and operator training. Some equipment will also undergo major replacement or service-life extension programmes, providing exposure to modernisation and engineering upgrade work.

What we’re looking for

You must have:

  • HGV Category C driving licence
  • Level 3 apprenticeship, City & Guilds, NVQ or equivalent engineering qualification
  • Strong practical knowledge of mechanical systems
  • Experience diagnosing and repairing technical faults
  • The ability to work independently and manage your workload safely
  • Good attention to detail and accurate documentation skills
  • Willingness to undertake Sponsored Reserve training where required

Relevant qualifications may include:

  • Heavy vehicle maintenance
  • Automotive engineering
  • Vehicle systems maintenance
  • Vehicle electrics or electronics
  • Vehicle diagnostics
  • Plant maintenance
  • Hydraulics
  • Powertrain systems
  • Agricultural engineering
  • Mechanical engineering

Your experience could have been gained as a:

  • HGV Mechanic
  • HGV Technician
  • Plant Fitter
  • Plant Engineer
  • Agricultural Engineer
  • Heavy Vehicle Technician
  • Vehicle Mechanic
  • Mechanical Maintenance Engineer
  • Forklift Engineer
  • Field Service Engineer
  • REME Engineer
  • Military Vehicle Technician

Applications are especially welcomed from former members of REME, the Royal Engineers, RLC, RAF engineering trades and other military engineering backgrounds. However, previous military experience is not essential. Suitably qualified civilian engineers are actively encouraged to apply.

Supporting the UK’s Armed Forces

Amey provides an integrated service covering the deployment, management and maintenance of critical equipment used by the UK’s Armed Forces during national and international operations. Its teams maintain high fleet availability, manage spare parts and technical support, deliver operator and maintainer training and ensure equipment can be deployed quickly whenever it is needed.

Data, engineering expertise and modern fleet-management technology are used to improve reliability, reduce costs and ensure the Armed Forces have the right equipment for changing operational demands.

The Whole Force Approach

This position forms part of the MOD’s Whole Force Approach. The Whole Force Approach brings together:

  • Regular Armed Forces personnel
  • Army Reservists
  • MOD civilian employees
  • Specialist contractors
  • Sponsored Reserves

These personnel work alongside, and in addition to, Regular Army personnel to support essential Defence activities. Depending on operational requirements, employees may work as civilian contractors, Contractors on Deployed Operations or Sponsored Reserves.

What is a Sponsored Reserve?

Sponsored Reserves are Amey employees who also become special members of the Army Reserve. Successful candidates who achieve Sponsored Reservist status will have the opportunity to secure a permanent employment contract. Sponsored Reserves may support Defence activities in the UK or overseas. Military training and operations take place under Army command and control.

Joining as a Sponsored Reserve creates a legal obligation to:

  • Complete the required military training
  • Maintain the necessary level of readiness
  • Accept call-out as a member of the Armed Forces when required
  • Support UK or overseas operations where necessary

Full training, guidance and support will be provided throughout the process.

Why this role stands out

This is not a standard workshop or maintenance position. You will gain:

  • Experience across one of the UK’s most varied specialist equipment fleets
  • Exposure to mechanical, hydraulic, electrical and heavy vehicle systems
  • Valuable MOD and Defence-sector experience
  • Fully funded technical and military training
  • A potential route into permanent employment
  • Long-term stability on a major Defence programme
  • Opportunities to support equipment used in the UK and overseas
  • A role where your engineering skills have a clear operational purpose

Amey holds Platinum Investors in People status and offers structured development, inclusive working practices and genuine opportunities to build a long-term career.

Apply today

Apply with your CV if you are an experienced HGV Mechanic, Plant Fitter, Agricultural Engineer, Vehicle Technician, Forklift Engineer, REME Engineer or similar technical professional looking for a secure and rewarding career supporting UK Defence.

HGV & Plant Maintenance Engineer Defence in Ripon employer: All The Top Bananas

My Four Wheels is an exceptional employer, offering a rewarding career as a Trainee Driving Instructor with flexible working hours and the potential to earn up to £50,000+ annually. With comprehensive training provided through our new Training Academy, employees benefit from ongoing support and resources, ensuring a fulfilling journey towards becoming a qualified instructor while enjoying the satisfaction of teaching locally in Westfield, Surrey.

All The Top Bananas

Contact Details:

All The Top Bananas Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land HGV & Plant Maintenance Engineer Defence in Ripon

Get Your Hands Dirty at Engineering Events

Join local engineering meetups or industry conferences related to mechanical engineering. Whether it's a workshop or a career fair, these events are goldmines for networking and getting a foot in the door. Plus, you can showcase your passion and enthusiasm directly to potential employers like All The Top Bananas.

Connect with Professors & Peers

Tap into your university’s resources—professors often have connections in the industry. Don’t be shy to ask about potential openings or recommendations. Your classmates might also know of companies hiring. Often, it’s who you know that gets you in front of the right people!

Highlight Your Projects and Practical Experience

When you land those interviews, make sure to talk about your hands-on projects or internships. Whether it's a design project or hands-on experience with CAD software, specific examples will make you stand out. Companies like All The Top Bananas love to hear about practical applications of your skills.

Apply Directly on Company Websites

Check out the careers page of All The Top Bananas and apply directly through there. It shows initiative and interest in their specific values. Plus, you'll often find openings that aren't advertised on job boards, giving you a better chance to land that full-time gig!

We think you need these skills to ace HGV & Plant Maintenance Engineer Defence in Ripon

HGV Category C driving licence
Level 3 apprenticeship, City & Guilds, NVQ or equivalent engineering qualification
Strong practical knowledge of mechanical systems
Experience diagnosing and repairing technical faults
Attention to detail
Accurate documentation skills
Ability to work independently

Some tips for your application 🫡

Show Off Your Technical Expertise:In mechanical engineering, it’s vital to highlight your technical skills and projects. Make sure to include relevant software proficiency (like CAD tools) in your CV. If you've worked on specific engineering projects, detail your key contributions — we want to see how you’ve applied your skills in a practical setting!

Focus on Problem-Solving Examples:Employers in mechanical engineering love to see how you handle challenges. Use your cover letter to share specific instances where you’ve solved a complex problem or improved a design. This will show us you're not just knowledgeable but also capable of applying that knowledge effectively.

Highlight Relevant Certifications:Include any relevant certifications or training that can set you apart from the competition. Whether it's coursework from your degree, a recognised certification, or extra training in new technologies, we love to see candidates who continuously improve their skill set. This tells us you're serious about your career in engineering!

Tailor Your CV for the Role:Don’t forget to customise your CV for All The Top Bananas and the HGV & Plant Maintenance Engineer Defence role specifically. Pull examples from your experience that align with the job description — it shows us you've done your research and are genuinely interested in becoming part of the team. We recommend applying through our website to ensure your application gets to the right people!

How to prepare for a job interview at All The Top Bananas

Brush Up on Your CAD Skills

Since mechanical engineering often involves design processes, be ready to showcase your proficiency in CAD software like SolidWorks or AutoCAD. Bring along a digital portfolio or even some sketches that demonstrate your design capabilities — it’s a great way to show what you can bring to the table at All The Top Bananas.

Prepare for Technical Questions

Expect technical questions that test your understanding of engineering principles and problem-solving skills. You might get hypothetical scenarios where you need to design a component or troubleshoot a mechanical system. Practising these types of questions will give you the confidence to tackle whatever comes your way!

Show Your Team Spirit

As a full-time mechanical engineer, collaboration is key! Be ready to share examples of past team projects or any experiences where you contributed to solving a complex problem with others. Demonstrating your ability to work in a team will resonate well with the interviewers at All The Top Bananas.

Discuss Your Future Goals

Since this is a full-time position, your long-term vision is important. Be open about your career aspirations, whether it’s mastering a specific tool or leading projects. This shows that you're committed not just to learning but also to growing with All The Top Bananas, making you a more appealing candidate.