Job Description:

Maintenance Electrical Technician

£46,800 + 5% shift allowance

Location: Seaham, County Durham
Employment type: Permanent, full-time
Shift pattern: 4 on, 4 off - two 12-hour day shifts followed by two 12-hour night shifts

I am currently working with a leading UK manufacturer who is seeking a skilled Maintenance Electrical Technician to support the safe, reliable and efficient operation of their Seaham manufacturing facility. 

The Role

You will provide electrical maintenance support across a fast-paced, continuous-process manufacturing site. Working as part of the engineering team, you will complete planned and reactive maintenance, diagnose equipment faults and contribute to improvements in plant reliability, safety and performance.

The role involves working closely with production, engineering and external contractors to minimise downtime while ensuring all work is completed safely and to the required technical standards.

Key Responsibilities

• Carry out planned preventative maintenance on electrical equipment, machinery and control systems.
• Respond promptly to plant breakdowns and diagnose electrical and control faults.
• Repair, replace and test electrical components, including motors, drives, sensors, contactors and control equipment.
• Fault-find on PLC-controlled machinery and automated production systems.
• Support the maintenance of conveyors, pumps, compressors, process equipment and associated services.
• Carry out electrical isolation and reinstatement in accordance with safe systems of work and site procedures.
• Use the site maintenance management system to record work, faults, parts used and follow-up actions.
• Complete electrical inspections and testing within the limits of competence and authorisation.
• Identify recurring faults and recommend practical improvements to equipment reliability.
• Participate in continuous improvement, root-cause analysis and equipment modification projects.
• Support installations, commissioning activities and planned shutdown work.
• Maintain accurate technical records, drawings and maintenance documentation.
• Manage tools, critical spares and engineering consumables responsibly.
• Supervise or support contractors when required, ensuring compliance with site rules.
• Maintain high standards of housekeeping within workshops and production areas.
• Work flexibly across the engineering function and provide support to colleagues when required.

Health, Safety and Compliance

• Follow all health, safety, environmental and quality procedures.
• Complete risk assessments, permits and isolation documentation as required.
• Apply lockout/tagout and prove-dead procedures before starting work.
• Report hazards, near misses, defects and unsafe conditions promptly.
• Ensure maintenance work complies with BS 7671, relevant legislation and company standards.
• Support a positive safety culture and challenge unsafe behaviour appropriately.
• Follow site requirements for working at height, confined spaces and hot work where applicable.

Qualifications and Experience

Essential

• A recognised electrical engineering apprenticeship or equivalent vocational training.
• NVQ Level 3, City & Guilds Level 3, BTEC or equivalent qualification in electrical engineering or electrical installation.
• Experience in an electrical maintenance role within manufacturing, processing, recycling or another industrial environment.
• Strong fault-finding skills on three-phase motors, control circuits and automated machinery.
• Working knowledge of variable-speed drives, sensors, contactors and motor control equipment.
• Ability to interpret electrical drawings and technical manuals.
• Understanding of safe electrical isolation and permit-to-work procedures.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a shift-based engineering team.
• Willingness and ability to work the stated day-and-night shift pattern.

Desirable

• 18th Edition Wiring Regulations qualification.
• Inspection and testing qualification, such as City & Guilds 2391 or equivalent.
• Experience fault-finding on PLC systems.
• Experience with Siemens or Allen-Bradley control systems.
• Knowledge of SCADA, instrumentation and process-control equipment.
• Experience working with conveyors, shredders, extruders, compressors, pumps or recycling machinery.
• Training in high-voltage systems, confined spaces, working at height or MEWP operation.
• Familiarity with computerised maintenance management systems.
• Experience using root-cause analysis and continuous-improvement methods.

Skills and Behaviours

The successful candidate will demonstrate:

• A safety-first approach to every task.
• Logical and methodical fault-finding skills.
• A calm response to breakdowns and production pressure.
• Strong communication and teamwork.
• Good organisational skills and attention to detail.
• Ownership of tasks through to safe and effective completion.
• A proactive approach to improving reliability and reducing downtime.
• Flexibility and willingness to support changing operational priorities.
• Basic computer literacy and accurate record-keeping.

Measures of Success

Performance in the role will be assessed against:

• Safe completion of maintenance activities.
• Plant availability and reduction in unplanned downtime.
• Planned maintenance completion rates.
• Quality and timeliness of breakdown response.
• Reduction in repeat equipment failures.
• Accuracy of maintenance records.
• Contribution to continuous-improvement projects.
• Compliance with engineering, environmental and quality standards.