About the role:
The Mechanical Technician will ensure that all below ground assets are running safely and efficiently using proactive and reactive maintenance methods. You will inspect, maintain, fault diagnose, test, install, modify or repair mechanical plant equipment.
Working within the Trunk Sewer team you will follow robust planned maintenance, getting involved in minor installation projects, mechanical fault finding and emergency breakdown repairs to ensure our assets operate all year round.
Working as part of a team of 5, this manual role will involve the day-to-day maintenance of the Victorian trunk sewer network in London. You will be responsible for performing a range of assigned activities including routine maintenance; investigations.
The normal working hours are 6:30 am – 3:45 pm; with 1 week out of 5 on the night shift from 9:00 pm - 5:30 am (for which you will receive additional payment). You will be required to participate in a 24/7 Out of Hours Standby rota (typically 1 week in 10), for which you will also receive an additional payment.
Key Accountabilities:
- You will be working in a small, multi-discipline team and will be responsible for carrying- out scheduled, unscheduled and emergency maintenance work on mechanical in compliance with company procedures in order to minimise asset breakdowns and improve plant availability.
- You will investigate plant failures and carry out repairs as quickly and efficiently as possible in order to avoid interruptions to the process. This may involve investigating and diagnosing complex faults and carrying out repairs during incidents.
- You will be expected to provide technical advice, making reference to up to date technical knowledge, and provide training or support for technical trainees if required.
- Examples of equipment that you will be working on will be hydraulic-powered flaps, manual flaps, penstocks, rotork’s, and gearboxes as well as other below ground assets.
- Participate in a stand-by rota (presently 1 in 10 weeks) following the relevant training.
This role involves but is not limited to:
- Working in confined spaces (obtaining a CP2 confined space rescue qualification),
- Working at heights and lifting heavy loads – all mandatory for this role.
- Physical maintenance of the sewer network and associated assets e.g. penstock gates. Operation of plant and equipment.
- Cleaning, maintenance and fault-finding, the sewer cleaning programme along with surveys and safety cover for contractors
- Driving 7.5t Vehicles (desirable)
Essential Health and Safety requirements:
This role requires you to be physically fit and comfortable with working in water, working at heights and within the confined space of sewers and the like. As a part of the critical safety requirements you must always be clean-shaven and due to the lifting equipment for man-riding weigh less than 110kgs in this role. You will also need to participate in a pre-employment medical.
To be successful you will have the following skills and experience:
- You should be a time served apprentice, NVQ or C&G level 3 in mechanical engineering with an upskill qualification in mechanical NVQ2/3 is crucial.
- With a mechanical qualification to allow inspecting, maintaining, fault diagnose, test, install, modify or repair mechanical plant equipment in a safe and efficient manner.
- Experience working on large industrial plant equipment including various pumps within the utility industry would be beneficial.
- Due to the nature of this role, the domestic experience is not suitable.
- Knowledge and awareness of health and safety issues are crucial.
- You will be required to work outdoors and in confined spaces all year round and mainly in underground assets, therefore it is essential that you are, prepared to work in a challenging environment on a daily basis.
- You must be willing to get stuck in, with a proactive approach to your work and demonstrate how you can positively contribute to a team.
- A full manual valid UK driving licence is essential; 7.5t licence is desirable
This is an exciting opportunity to work with a great team in London’s historic network of sewers, some of which dates to the Victorian ages.
There are opportunities to work on innovative new projects such as the Thames Tideway Tunnel, meet key stakeholders and even take part in filming for TV programmes!
You will use a variety of mechanical techniques and innovative ideas to maintain and repair the ageing network keeping it running for our customers.
What’s in it for you:
Our competitive salary package includes an excellent contributory pension, 24 days holiday per year increasing to 28 with the length of service and a wider benefits scheme. This includes an annual pay review, season ticket loans, voucher scheme giving you money off in major retail outlets, loyalty awards for continuous service plus much more, including our referral scheme, where you can receive £750 for helping someone get a permanent position within the company.
We’re also proud to be here for our local community, offering everyone two days paid volunteer leave a year, as well as proudly supporting a lot of local events and charities.
Click here to find out more about working at Thames Water
About us:
Thames Water is the UK’s largest water and wastewater company. We make a daily difference to millions of customers by supplying 2.7 billion litres of world-class water to around 10 million homes.
As our world changes, the need to take care of our most precious resource is greater than ever, both locally and globally. That’s why, at Thames Water, every one of our actions, big and small, matters every day. Water is essential to daily life, and that means our business is always open. We’re passionate about providing world-class tap water, now and for the future.
We’re also turning waste into power, self-generating 20% of the energy we use and, in turn, doing our bit for the planet. We’re reducing plastic waste by celebrating our tap water and rolling out an ambitious water fountain project. We’re using our voice to lobby for change and partnering with WaterAid to provide clean water to the world’s poorest communities.
Together, we’re building a better future for our customers, our region and our planet.
Thames Water is a unique, rewarding and diverse place to work. If you join our team, you’ll enjoy fast-tracked career opportunities, flexible working arrangements and unparalleled benefits. We’re also proud to be an equal opportunity employer, Stonewall Diversity Champion and Disability Confident Leader, welcoming individuals from all walks of life and leading the way with award-winning mental health and well-being strategy.