HGV & Plant Maintenance Engineer Defence

Multiple UK locations | £37,791 + 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? 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

• Abingdon
• 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:

• 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

My client 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. 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 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

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.