Maintenance Engineer/ Charge Hand in Leeds

Business function: Engineering

Grade: Fleet Level 5C

Salary: £56,919.00 per annum

Hours: 35 per week

Location: Neville Hill TrainCare Centre – onsite

Keeping Northern’s trains safe, reliable, and ready for service takes strong engineering judgment and the confidence to lead from the front. As a Maintenance Engineer (Level 5C) at Neville Hill TrainCare Centre, you’ll combine hands‑on technical expertise with day‑to‑day leadership. Alongside maintaining and repairing our rolling stock, you’ll be responsible for leading a small team of six engineers and technicians, making sure work is carried out safely, to standard, and to plan. This role sits at the point where engineering skill meets people leadership. If you enjoy solving technical problems, supporting others to do their best work, and taking ownership of outcomes on shift, this is a role where your impact is felt every day.

What you’ll be doing:

• Leading the maintenance, inspection, repair, and overhaul of traction and rolling stock to agreed engineering standards
• Providing day‑to‑day direction and support to a team of six colleagues, setting priorities and allocating work effectively
• Acting as the first point of escalation for technical or safety issues within your team
• Interpreting and working from technical drawings, schematics, and maintenance documentation, including air, hydraulic, and electrical systems
• Diagnosing faults and applying sound engineering solutions across mechanical and electrical systems
• Using mechanical and electrical tools, plant, and test equipment safely and effectively
• Working closely with Production Team Leaders and other engineers to deliver safe, on‑time trains
• Ensuring accurate completion of engineering records and compliance with rules, procedures, and work instructions
• Coaching, guiding, and supporting your team, including developing skills and promoting safe ways of working
• Driving continuous improvement and helping maintain a clean, safe, and efficient depot environment

About you:

You’re comfortable balancing technical responsibility with people leadership. You’ll bring:

• A recognised apprenticeship or NVQ Level 3 (or equivalent) in a relevant engineering discipline
• Proven experience maintaining traction and rolling stock, or working in a comparable safety‑critical engineering environment
• The confidence to lead, motivate, and support a small team, setting clear expectations and leading by example
• A strong understanding of engineering standards, safe systems of work, and quality requirements
• The ability to plan work, manage priorities, and make sound decisions in a fast‑paced environment
• A detail‑focused approach, with pride in delivering high‑quality engineering outcomes
• Clear, confident communication skills, with the ability to raise concerns and share information effectively
• Confidence using computer systems and digital technical documentation

Safety‑critical requirements:

This role is safety critical and subject to Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB) regulations. To be considered, you must:

• Live within a 45‑minute car journey of your working location
• Be at least 18 years of age at the time of application
• Pass a safety‑critical medical assessment, including drugs and alcohol screening
• Have no defective colour vision

What’s in it for you:

• Free Travel: Unlimited free travel for you, your partner, and your dependents on Northern services, plus up to 75% discount on other networks in the UK and Europe.
• Generous Pension Scheme: We top up your contributions by 1.5 times.
• Enhanced Family Benefits: 9 months of full pay for maternity leave and 2 weeks for paternity leave.
• Cycle to Work Scheme: Save up to 42% on a bike and spread the cost.
• Exclusive Discounts: From shopping to wellbeing, Northern Perks has you covered.
• Employee Assistance Programme: 24/7 support for family, lifestyle, and more.
• Training and Career Development: Tailored training, recognised qualifications, and clear leadership and engineering career pathways.
• Recognition: Our Northern Lights and Northern Sparks Awards celebrate the brilliant work our people do every day.

Equality and diversity:

We’re a Level 2 Disability Confident employer, and we welcome applications from all backgrounds. We are committed to a fair and unbiased recruitment process. All successful offers will be subject to a DBS check and a medical assessment.