At a Glance
- Tasks: Maintain and repair a diverse fleet of military and commercial vehicles.
- Company: Join a leading provider supporting the UK Armed Forces.
- Benefits: Enhanced overtime, generous holidays, and funded training opportunities.
- Other info: Dynamic role with long-term career progression and military training options.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on national security while developing your engineering skills.
- Qualifications: HGV Category C and relevant engineering experience required.
The predicted salary is between 43225 - 52831 £ per year.
- Multiple UK locations |enhanced overtime + £3,000 Sponsored Reserve payment
- 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?
We're recruiting Maintenance Engineers to support a major UK Defence equipment programme.
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 UKs Armed Forces.
We are recruiting across the following Defence sites
- Abingdon
- Stafford
- Ripon
- Woodbridge
- Larkhill
- Chatham
- Chivenor
Whats in it for you?
- 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
- 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
- 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.
You must have
- HGV Category C essential
- Level 3 Apprenticeship (C&G or NVQ Technical Certificate and Functional Skills) in a related engineering function i. e.
Vehicle Systems Maintenance/Vehicle Electrics/Electronics/Vehicle Diagnostics/Automotive Engineering/Hydraulics/Power Train
- Significant experience working in a related engineering function, Car Mechanic, HGV Fitter, Plant Fitter or a formal apprenticeship qualification.
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 UKs Armed Forces
My client provides an integrated service covering the deployment, management and maintenance of critical equipment used by the UKs 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.
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 employees who also become special members of the Army Reserve.
Sponsored Reserves may support Defence activities in the UK or overseas. Military training and operations take place under Army command and control.
Full training, guidance and support will be provided throughout the process.
This is not a standard workshop or maintenance position.
You will gain
- Experience across one of the UKs 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
- 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.
TPBN1_UKTJ
HGV & Plant Maintenance Engineer Defence in Chatham employer: RecruitMe
Join a leading firm in the Fire Protection sector, where your expertise as a Quantity Surveyor will be valued and rewarded. With a competitive salary package, including a car allowance and bonus potential, we foster a supportive work culture that prioritises employee growth and development. Located in the vibrant East Anglia and Northern Home Counties, you'll enjoy a dynamic environment that encourages innovation and collaboration while making a meaningful impact in public sector projects.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land HGV & Plant Maintenance Engineer Defence in Chatham
✨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 RecruitMe.
✨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 RecruitMe love to hear about practical applications of your skills.
✨Apply Directly on Company Websites
Check out the careers page of RecruitMe 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 Chatham
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 RecruitMe 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 RecruitMe
✨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 RecruitMe.
✨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 RecruitMe.
✨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 RecruitMe, making you a more appealing candidate.
