At a Glance
- Tasks: Maintain and repair a diverse fleet of vehicles, including electric and hybrid models.
- Company: Join the Police Service of Northern Ireland and make a difference in your community.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, environmental allowance, and opportunities for overtime.
- Why this job: Be part of a vital team ensuring police vehicles are safe and operational.
- Qualifications: Recognised apprenticeship and NVQ level 3 in vehicle maintenance or auto electrical repairs.
- Other info: Dynamic work environment with potential for career advancement and skill development.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 31000 £ per year.
Hours of Work: Full-Time
Location: Carrickfergus, Antrim, Armagh, Maydown & Enniskillen
Closing Date/Time: 9th February 2026 @ 3pm
Reference Number: HRTP0426
Job Background: The tradesperson role within the Police Service of Northern Ireland Transport Workshops is a multi-skilled role which covers the core trades of mechanics, auto electricians and coach builders/fabricators. The main duties described below cover these three disciplines which are required to maintain the diverse vehicles within the fleet in accordance with the manufacturers specification, service standards and government regulation, ensuring vehicles are readily available to support operational requirements.
Hours Of Work:
- Armagh, Maydown & Enniskillen: Monday to Thursday 08:00 – 16:15 and Friday 08:00 – 14:30 (under review). 37 net hours per week.
- Carrickfergus & Antrim: Monday to Thursday 07:00 – 15:00 and Friday 07:00 – 14:30 (under review). 37 net hours per week.
Overtime may be a requirement of this post for which the appropriate overtime allowance will be paid.
Salary: £30,458 - £31,097 plus £1422 environmental allowance.
Main Activities: The main duties and responsibilities associated with the role include the following:
- Servicing (which includes routine servicing work, safety inspection and major service) and repairing function (dismantle and inspect a variety of vehicles essential electrical and mechanical systems and components for defects and take remedial action) whilst ensuring compliance with the manufacturers specifications and government regulations.
- Service and maintenance on electric & hybrid fleet vehicles as per service schedule.
- Carrying out maintenance (routine and major) as per the relevant Service Schedule, informing supervisor of relevant parts required. Obtaining authorisation and keeping accurate records of all parts used.
- Carrying out electrical installations on new vehicles.
- Completing tyre repairs and/or fitting new tyres, balancing wheels and carrying out four-wheel alignment of vehicles.
- Operating a mobile breakdown/repair service to deal with all minor vehicle maintenance/ faults at police establishments.
- Fault finding and diagnosing electrical/mechanical issues on all modern vehicle systems, including Engine Management, Transmission Systems (both electronic and hydraulic), including two and four wheel drive with and without diff locks, ABS Systems, ESO, SRS, Climate Control, Anti-theft, and where necessary re-programming electronic control units (ECUs).
- Researching faults using manufacturers circuit diagrams and specification manuals.
- Road testing police vehicles for diagnostic output, fault finding and quality control purposes.
- Assisting with designing, planning, preparing and modifying vehicles for police personnel, other departments, contractors and suppliers, all under the direction of line management.
- Assisting with researching and developing vehicle modifications and fit outs, including analysing results, modifying as necessary and recording.
- Testing vehicles to standard of MOT using in house brake suspension tester.
- Quality assuring contractors work, presenting findings to line management and contractors if required to do so.
- Preparing end of life vehicles for disposal.
- Complying with Health and Safety at Work regulations.
- Ensuring workspace is kept clean and tidy.
- Ensuring workshop equipment is used and stored in an appropriate manner. Inspecting all workshop equipment before use and reporting any defects to line management.
- Completing jobs within agreed times and recording details of tasks undertaken in live time using touch screen technology on computerised fleet management system.
- Working within documented Quality Assurance Procedures.
All candidates must successfully complete a driving assessment for class C1 within 12 months of appointment.
There may be an opportunity for shortlisted candidates to visit the Seapark site in Carrickfergus. This will give candidates a better understanding of the role and ask any questions they may have. Successful shortlisted candidates will be notified closer to the time.
Person Specification:
Essential Qualifications: Have completed a recognised apprenticeship AND Hold a NVQ level 3 qualification or equivalent level qualifications in Light Vehicle Maintenance / Repairs or Auto Electrical Repairs.
Essential Skills And Experience: A minimum of 12 months post apprenticeship experience in vehicle servicing, inspection and repair to include:
- Experience of carrying out routine servicing work, identification of worn parts for replacement, safety inspections and major servicing of vehicles including solving problems using computer based diagnostic equipment AND / OR experience of fitting and wiring of electrical components and reading wiring diagrams to trace/repair electrical faults.
- In depth knowledge of modern day vehicle engineering and electronics together with good experience of health and safety working practices.
Essential Other: IT literate specifically in the use of the Microsoft Office suite. (Including MS Word, MS PowerPoint, MS Excel and MS Outlook). The successful candidate must have access to a form of transport which will enable them to fulfil the responsibilities of the job in full.
Desirable Qualifications: NVQ level 4 qualification or equivalent level qualification in Light Vehicle Maintenance/Repairs or Auto Electrical Repairs. IMI level 3 in Electric/Hybrid vehicle system and replacement.
Desirable Skills And Experience: Experience of working specifically on Volkswagen, Audi, Skoda, Vauxhall, Ford and Land Rover Vehicles. Trained and certified to De-Gas, Re-Gas and record A/C systems in reference to F-Gas regulations. Certified to work on hybrid and electric vehicles.
Desirable Other: Current driving licence with Class C1 vehicle classification.
Shortlisting: Shortlisting will be carried out based on essential criteria. Please note in some instances, for example, where there is a high volume of applicants, desirable criteria may be assessed.
Selection Methodology: PSNI uses the Competency and Values Framework (CVF) which sets out nationally recognised behaviours and values to support all policing professionals. You will be assessed against the values and at the competencies level as indicated below. Further guidance and information about the CVF is available on our website. Please use the 2024 CVF for this role.
Qualifications: Applicants meeting the eligibility criteria and essential qualifications, skills and experience will be required to demonstrate their experience for the following criteria:
- Competency and Values Based Interview
Competencies Level 2:
- We Take Ownership
- We Analyse Critically
- We Collaborate
- We Support and Inspire
Tradesperson Mechanic Auto Electrician in Carrickfergus employer: POLICE SERVICE OF NORTHERN IRELAND
Contact Detail:
POLICE SERVICE OF NORTHERN IRELAND Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Tradesperson Mechanic Auto Electrician in Carrickfergus
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the company! Research the Police Service of Northern Ireland and their values. This will help you tailor your responses during interviews and show that you're genuinely interested in the role.
✨Tip Number 2
Network like a pro! Connect with current or former employees on LinkedIn. They can provide insider tips and might even give you a heads-up about the interview process.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice makes perfect! Prepare for competency-based questions by thinking of examples from your past experience that demonstrate the skills they're looking for, like teamwork and problem-solving.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining the team!
We think you need these skills to ace Tradesperson Mechanic Auto Electrician in Carrickfergus
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Skills: Make sure to highlight your qualifications and experience in vehicle servicing and repairs. We want to see how your skills match up with the essential criteria, so don’t hold back!
Tailor Your Application: Take a moment to customise your application for this specific role. Mention your experience with modern vehicle systems and any relevant certifications. It’ll show us you’re genuinely interested!
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application straightforward and to the point. Use bullet points where possible to make it easy for us to read through your experience and qualifications.
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way to ensure we receive all your details correctly and can get back to you quickly.
How to prepare for a job interview at POLICE SERVICE OF NORTHERN IRELAND
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your technical knowledge related to mechanics and auto electrics. Familiarise yourself with the latest technologies in electric and hybrid vehicles, as well as common diagnostic tools. Being able to discuss specific systems like ABS or ECU programming will show you're serious about the role.
✨Showcase Your Experience
Prepare to share specific examples from your past work that demonstrate your skills in vehicle servicing and repairs. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers, especially when discussing how you've solved complex problems or worked under pressure.
✨Understand the Company Values
Research the Police Service of Northern Ireland's values and competencies. Be ready to explain how your personal values align with theirs, particularly around ownership, collaboration, and support. This will help you stand out as a candidate who fits well within their culture.
✨Ask Smart Questions
Prepare thoughtful questions to ask at the end of your interview. Inquire about the team dynamics, ongoing training opportunities, or how they handle new technology integration. This shows your genuine interest in the role and helps you assess if it's the right fit for you.