Traction Service Engineer in West Kilbride

At ABB, we help industries outrun - leaner and cleaner. Here, progress is an expectation - for you, your team, and the world. As a global market leader, we give you what you need to make it happen. It won’t always be easy, growing takes grit. But at ABB, you’ll never run alone. Run what runs the world.

Your role and responsibilities:

• As a Field Service Engineer specializing in traction systems, you will play a critical role in supporting ABB’s traction systems for rail and rolling stock applications.
• Your primary responsibility will be to deliver expert on-site service activities, including installation, commissioning, preventive and corrective maintenance, diagnostics, and repair of traction converters and associated power electronics.
• Each day, you will plan and execute service tasks with a first-time-right approach, demonstrating technical excellence, a strong sense of urgency, and customer care.

The work model for the role is: Hybrid.

This role is contributing to the Traction product group within ABB’s Motion business area in the UK region. Main stakeholders include rail operators, rolling-stock manufacturers (OEMs), ABB’s regional service teams, and internal engineering and supply chain functions.

You will be mainly accountable for:

• Displaying a clear sense of urgency and care in your area of responsibility and effectively communicating this to customers.
• Executing service work in compliance with ABB quality and safety standards.
• Working closely with customers to identify opportunities to improve operations, address additional concerns, and report these opportunities to the account team through local business processes.
• Diagnosing and troubleshooting traction converters, IGBT-based drives, and medium-voltage systems (up to ~4 kV).
• Recognizing technical problems and analyzing them through customer communication and remote connections to assets for a defined range of services and products.
• Commissioning new traction converters and energy storage systems.
• Preparing spare parts lists and ensuring material readiness for service activities.
• Performing fault analysis and root-cause investigations to prevent recurrence.
• Taking proactive actions to identify new service business opportunities for ABB in close cooperation with customers and internal teams.
• Providing technical training and mentoring to customers and junior technicians.
• Creating service reports, technical documentation, and training materials to support knowledge sharing and continuous improvement.

You will join a dynamic, skilled, and customer-focused team within ABB Traction, where collaboration and technical excellence drive everything we do. Our team thrives on solving complex challenges in rail and mobility, ensuring reliable and sustainable traction solutions. This environment will allow you to grow professionally, share knowledge, and make a real impact on modern transportation.

Qualifications for the role:

• You are immersed in and highly skilled in traction systems, power electronics, and service methodologies, and you enjoy working with advanced diagnostic tools and technologies in the rail industry.
• Ability to demonstrate your experience with field service engineering, showcasing established and advanced skills in troubleshooting and commissioning systems.
• You have 3+ years of experience in field service engineering, preferably in traction or power electronics (experience as a Field Service Engineer working with traction converters and IGBT technology is a plus).
• Possess enhanced knowledge of and familiarity with diagnostic tools and software (MATLAB/Simulink is advantageous).
• You are passionate about problem-solving, customer engagement, and continuous improvement, and innovative in applying safety and quality standards.
• Strong communication and customer service skills; you are at ease communicating in English (additional languages are an advantage).
• Ability to work independently with a structured and safety-conscious approach.
• Willingness to travel internationally and work on-site.
• You hold current licenses or certifications valid in the UK and comply with country-specific work permit requirements.

What’s in it for you?

• You will have the opportunity to work with cutting-edge traction technology, contribute to sustainable rail solutions, grow professionally through ABB’s global training programs, and enjoy a competitive benefits package while making a real impact in the transportation industry.

Benefits:

• Competitive salary
• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays
• Competitive contributory pension scheme
• Life assurance
• Flexible benefits scheme (Includes options to buy/sell holidays, health checks, dental, eye care, gym memberships, cycle to work, gadget discounts and more)
• Internal mobility opportunities, mentorships & access to projects globally
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Generous employee referral scheme

ABB Traction is part of the Motion business area, delivering reliable and energy-efficient solutions such as propulsion converters, traction motors, auxiliary converters, batteries, and digital services for rail, off-highway, and marine applications. Our adaptable portfolio supports operators in transitioning to cleaner, more efficient mobility, with tailored systems that maximize energy efficiency, reduce emissions, and ensure long-term reliability throughout the full asset lifecycle.

We value people from different backgrounds. Could this be your story? Apply today or visit www.abb.com to read more about us and learn about the impact of our solutions across the globe.