Find a job 
Featured Companies 
Featured Universities 
For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Service and maintain military and commercial vehicles, ensuring operational readiness.
- Company: Join a leading defence engineering organisation with a strong reputation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, 24 days holiday, pension scheme, and funded training.
- Other info: Flexible benefits, career progression, and a supportive team culture.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a stable environment while developing your engineering skills.
- Qualifications: Experience in vehicle maintenance or engineering; ex-military encouraged to apply.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 40000 £ per year.
Are you an experienced Vehicle Mechanic, Plant Fitter, HGV Technician or Military Engineer looking for a role where your skills genuinely matter? We are recruiting for a Defence Plant & Vehicle Engineer to join a specialist defence engineering environment, supporting the maintenance and operational readiness of military and commercial Material Handling Equipment, plant vehicles and associated equipment at a key MOD site in Woodbridge.
This is a hands-on engineering role within a stable and highly respected defence infrastructure organisation, offering excellent long-term prospects, funded development opportunities and a potential pathway to a permanent position.
What’s in it for you?
- Competitive salary with annual reviews
- 24 days holiday plus bank holidays
- Opportunity to buy additional leave
- Generous pension scheme with employer contributions
- Fully funded training and development programmes
- Long-term, stable defence contract environment
- Career progression opportunities across engineering and defence operations
- Flexible benefits package including Cycle2Work and gym discounts
- Discounts portal covering retail, healthcare and lifestyle benefits
- Two paid volunteering / social impact days per year
- Family-friendly policies and wellbeing support
- Inclusive and supportive team culture
- Opportunity to secure a permanent contract through Sponsored Reservist Status
The Role
As a Defence Plant & Vehicle Engineer, you’ll be responsible for servicing, diagnosing, repairing and maintaining a range of military and commercial Material Handling Equipment and plant equipment. You’ll work proactively to maximise equipment availability, minimise downtime and ensure all machinery is operating safely and efficiently.
Key responsibilities include:
- Servicing and maintaining diesel, MOTS and electrical Material Handling Equipment and plant vehicles
- Diagnosing faults and identifying root causes of breakdowns
- Carrying out repairs and preventative maintenance
- Liaising directly with controllers and customers regarding work requirements, timescales and costs
- Ensuring all equipment is safe and operational before handover
- Identifying additional repair opportunities and damage-related work
- Completing all engineering and service documentation accurately
- Working within a highly regulated defence engineering environment
What We’re Looking For
We’d like to hear from candidates with experience in:
- Vehicle maintenance
- Plant maintenance
- HGV engineering
- Mechanical fitting
- Military vehicle maintenance
- Hydraulics, diagnostics or vehicle electrics
You should ideally hold:
- Level 3 Apprenticeship, NVQ or City & Guilds in an engineering discipline such as:
- Vehicle Systems Maintenance
- Automotive Engineering
- Vehicle Diagnostics
- Vehicle Electrics / Electronics
- Hydraulics or Power Train
Ex-military engineers are strongly encouraged to apply.
Defence Engineering with Long-Term Stability
This is an excellent opportunity to join one of the UK’s leading infrastructure and defence support organisations, working on critical engineering assets within a secure and stable environment. Whether you’re coming from military service, heavy plant, commercial vehicle maintenance or industrial engineering, this role offers the chance to develop your career within a highly respected defence operation.
Defence Plant & Vehicle Engineer in Ipswich employer: RecruitMe
Contact Detail:
RecruitMe Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Defence Plant & Vehicle Engineer in Ipswich
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the defence sector, attend industry events, and join relevant online forums. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its projects. Familiarise yourself with their values and recent developments in defence engineering. This will help you tailor your answers and show that you're genuinely interested in the role.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your hands-on experience! Bring examples of your previous work, whether it's maintenance logs or photos of projects you've completed. This tangible evidence can really set you apart from other candidates.
✨Tip Number 4
Don't forget to apply through our website! We make it easy for you to find roles that match your skills and interests. Plus, it shows us that you're serious about joining our team in the defence sector.
We think you need these skills to ace Defence Plant & Vehicle Engineer in Ipswich
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights your experience in vehicle maintenance and engineering. Use keywords from the job description to show we’re on the same page about what you bring to the table.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Share your passion for defence engineering and how your skills align with our needs. Keep it concise but impactful, and don’t forget to mention why you want to join us.
Showcase Relevant Experience: When detailing your work history, focus on roles that involved military or plant vehicle maintenance. We want to see how your hands-on experience makes you a perfect fit for this role.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets into the right hands and shows us you’re serious about joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at RecruitMe
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your technical knowledge related to vehicle maintenance and plant equipment. Be ready to discuss specific systems you've worked on, like diesel engines or hydraulic systems, as this will show your expertise and confidence in the field.
✨Showcase Your Experience
Prepare examples from your past roles that highlight your problem-solving skills and hands-on experience. Think about times when you diagnosed a fault or completed a challenging repair, as these stories can really impress the interviewers.
✨Understand the Company Culture
Research the organisation's values and culture. They’re looking for someone who fits into their inclusive and supportive team environment, so be ready to discuss how your personal values align with theirs and how you can contribute positively to the team.
✨Ask Smart Questions
Prepare thoughtful questions about the role and the company. Inquire about the types of projects you might work on or the training opportunities available. This shows your genuine interest in the position and helps you assess if it’s the right fit for you.