At a Glance
- Tasks: Keep critical energy infrastructure running safely and reliably across Essex and the Thames Estuary.
- Company: Join National Gas, securing Britain’s energy with a focus on safety and reliability.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, generous holiday allowance, and flexible benefits including private healthcare.
- Other info: Inclusive workplace with professional development opportunities and support for all backgrounds.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on energy supply while developing your engineering skills in a dynamic environment.
- Qualifications: Proven mechanical engineering experience and strong fault diagnosis skills required.
The predicted salary is between 44642 - 52519 £ per year.
£44,642 to £52,519 (depending on experience) + up to 6% bonus + access to liveried vehicle. Up to 10-15% additional earnings through overtime and standby. Chelmsford - covering Essex and Thames Estuary assets. You’ll work across a defined regional patch (East 5), covering sites from Essex through to the Thames Estuary, with travel required across the area five days a week.
About us: National Gas is securing Britain’s energy. We transport gas throughout Great Britain, repair and maintain gas pipelines, and manage the meters that allow millions of homes and businesses to access the energy they need. We are the national gas network, providing secure energy to power Britain, achieve net zero, and maintain our industrial competitiveness.
About the role: Keep critical energy infrastructure running safely and reliably. We’re looking for a Mechanical Operations Technician to deliver hands-on support across compressor stations, pipelines and AGI assets. These are predominantly pipelines-focused opportunities within our operations team, where you’ll maintain and support mechanical systems across operational gas infrastructure. You’ll carry out fault finding, repairs and performance improvement, playing a key role in both routine maintenance and emergency response. This role provides exposure to a range of disciplines, enabling you to develop experience beyond your core specialism. This is a field-based role, working closely with technicians and wider teams to keep assets safe, compliant and performing at their best.
Why this role matters: The national transmission system underpins essential energy supply. Your work directly protects asset integrity, keeps gas flowing, and supports safe, uninterrupted operations. You’ll take ownership of high-risk activities, support emergency response, and influence how sites operate - with real impact on safety, reliability and performance.
What you'll be doing:
- Manage installation, inspection, commissioning and maintenance of plant and pipeline assets
- Manage maintenance across plant, including rotating equipment, valves and pressure systems
- Deliver fault diagnosis and repair to maximise availability and reliability
- Lead safe systems of work, issuing permits and defining isolations
- Maintain accurate asset, maintenance and operational records in line with regulatory requirements
- Support commissioning of new assets and contribute to minor design improvements
- Respond to incidents and support emergency operations, including standby cover
- Oversee contractor activity to ensure safety and technical compliance
- Participate in a standby rota once fully trained, typically one week in every four or five
What you'll bring: This role would suit someone who brings strong field-based engineering experience and thrives in disciplined, safety-led environments.
Essential:
- Proven maintenance and operations experience in mechanical engineering (or similar process industry)
- Experience diagnosing faults and maintaining plant and equipment in hazardous or safety-critical environment
- Strong working knowledge of safe systems of work, including permits and isolations
- Understanding of process plant operation and cross-discipline equipment interaction
- Knowledge of relevant technical and health & safety legislation
- Recognised engineering apprenticeship or equivalent, plus Level 3 qualification (e.g. NVQ, City & Guilds)
- Full UK driving licence
Desirable:
- CompEx EX11 certification
- Experience with rotating plant, compressors, pipelines etc.
- Experience with DSEAR-regulated environments
- Exposure to cyber security standards (e.g. IEC 62443)
- Experience supporting construction and commissioning projects
Security clearance: The successful candidate must be able to achieve and maintain Security Check (SC) security clearance for this role. Many of the positions within our company are subject to national security clearance and Trade Control restrictions. This means that your eligibility for certain roles may be affected by your place of birth, nationality, current or former citizenship, and any residency you hold or have held.
What we offer:
- Competitive salary and annual performance bonus
- Double-match pension scheme (max. company contribution 12%)
- Generous holiday allowance (26 days + bank holidays)
- Flexible benefit scheme, inc. private healthcare, dental insurance, technology plans, and more
- Financial protection with 10x salary death in service and financial support if you’re unable to work due to long-term illness or injury
- Excellent family friendly provisions such as maternity, paternity, adoption, and shared parental leave
- Professional development opportunities inc. financial support to help you cover the cost of professional membership subscriptions
- Employee assistance programme offering free confidential professional counselling 24/7
- Inclusive, supportive, and forward-thinking workplace
Inclusive recruitment: At National Gas, we are disability confident, and we are signatories of the Armed Forces Covenant, committed to building a workforce that represents the communities we serve. We celebrate the different experiences our colleagues bring to our organisation and strongly encourage applicants of all backgrounds to apply. Please let us know of any reasonable adjustments you need to perform your best.
Mechanical Operations Technician in Chelmsford employer: National Gas
National Gas is an excellent employer, offering a dynamic work environment in Aberdeen where you can play a vital role in maintaining critical energy infrastructure. With a strong focus on employee growth and development, the company provides competitive salaries, overtime opportunities, and a comprehensive benefits package, all while fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration in the oil & gas sector.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Mechanical Operations Technician in Chelmsford
✨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 National Gas.
✨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 National Gas love to hear about practical applications of your skills.
✨Apply Directly on Company Websites
Check out the careers page of National Gas 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 Mechanical Operations Technician in Chelmsford
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 National Gas and the Mechanical Operations Technician 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 National Gas
✨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 National Gas.
✨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 National Gas.
✨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 National Gas, making you a more appealing candidate.
