Engineering Maintenance Technician Apprentice

Summary

The Medical Research Council’s Mary Lyon Centre (MLC) based at Harwell has a vacancy for a Level 3 Engineering Maintenance Technician Apprenticeship. You’ll work alongside expert engineers who will mentor and support you and build skills that open doors to a rewarding career in engineering where every day is different.

Wage

£19,514 a year

Salary rising annually throughout the apprenticeship.

Training course

Engineering maintenance technician - dual discipline (level 3)

Hours

Monday - Friday (Times to be concerned).

36 hours a week

Start date

Monday 14 September 2026

Duration

4 years

Positions available

1

Work

Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.

What you'll do at work

The support of scientific research through high-quality technical skills and training is paramount to robust, reproducible research. In genetics science we are faced with the challenge of unravelling and ultimately developing therapies for many human diseases. Central to all scientific progress is the delivery of high-quality technical support.

As an engineering maintenance apprentice at the Mary Lyon Centre, the appointed individual will gain experience. They will learn to maintain and install many different engineering systems, including but not limited to:

• Air Handling Plant
• Hot & Cold Water Piped Systems
• Low Temperature Hot Water Boilers
• Steam Boilers & Associated Plant
• Robotic Cage Cleaning & Automation Process Equipment
• Low Voltage Electrical Systems
• Building Management System Controls monitoring

Throughout the apprenticeship, the successful candidate will work with our in-house team of experienced engineers to deliver first-class levels of service and maintenance to one of the world’s leading facilities in animal research.  

Where you'll work

Medical Research Council (MRC) Harwell Institute
Harwell
Didcot
Oxfordshire
OX11 0RD

Training

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

Training provider

MTC (MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY CENTRE) TRAINING LIMITED

Training course

Engineering maintenance technician - dual discipline (level 3)

What you'll learn

• Review and use information. For example, work instructions, drawings, design specifications, and plant configurations.
• Use planning, prioritising, organising, and time management techniques to plan tasks.
• Identify and organise resources to complete tasks. For example, consumables.
• Respond and adapt to work demands. For example, adapt working methods to reflect changes in working environment, re-prioritise workloads to react to breakdowns and fault scenarios.
• Identify equipment to work on. Check plant configuration is as defined.
• Prepare the work area for maintenance tasks.
• Identify environmental and health and safety hazards and risks and apply control measures.
• Apply health, safety, and environmental procedures in compliance with regulations, standards, and guidance. For example, signage and barriers, working at height, confined spaces, and COSHH.
• Follow security procedures. For example, site access, document classification, and securing assets.
• Follow emergency incident and response procedures.
• Apply sustainability principles. For example, minimising waste.
• Segregate items for reuse, recycling, and waste.
• Use mathematical principles and formulae to support engineering maintenance.
• Apply engineering maintenance standards and procedures.
• Apply foreign material exclusion procedures.
• Follow maintenance tools and equipment control procedures. For example, handling and storage.
• Reinstate the work area.
• Apply team working principles.
• Communicate with others to give and receive information. For example, colleagues, customers, and stakeholders.
• Escalate issues outside limits of responsibility.
• Record information.
• Produce or amend documents. For example, handover notes and reports.
• Identify and highlight issues (red pen), with technical drawings.
• Use digital and information technology. For example, databases, data sharing platforms, email, management information systems, and word processing. Follow cyber security and GDPR requirements.
• Apply continuous improvement techniques to identify improvement suggestions.
• Carry out and record planned and unplanned learning and development activities.
• Electrical and control and instrumentation. Confirm safe electrical isolation lockout tagout method has been applied and test for dead.
• Electrical and control and instrumentation. Select, check, and use electrical maintenance tools, measurement, and test equipment. Select, check, and use control and instrumentation maintenance tools, measurement, and test equipment.
• Electrical and control and instrumentation. Use electrical diagnostic equipment and apply fault finding and rectification techniques. Use control and instrumentation diagnostic equipment and apply fault finding and rectification techniques.
• Electrical and control and instrumentation. Apply problem solving and critical reasoning techniques.
• Electrical and control and instrumentation. Inspect and test electrical aspects of plant. For example, visual checks, insulation and continuity checks, thermographic surveys, and voltage levels.
• Electrical and control and instrumentation. Remove and replace electrical parts.
• Electrical and control and instrumentation. Prepare and terminate electrical cables.
• Electrical and control and instrumentation. Set up and adjust electrical aspects of plant.
• Electrical and control and instrumentation. Clean parts. For example, removal of dust and debris.
• Electrical and control and instrumentation. Conduct and confirm electrical and connected services isolation and deisolation.
• Electrical and control and instrumentation. Conduct functional testing.
• Electrical and control and instrumentation. Inspect and test control and instrumentation systems.
• Electrical and control and instrumentation. Check calibration and make adjustments.
• Electrical and control and instrumentation. Check loop function.
• Electrical and control and instrumentation. Set up and adjust control and instrumentation systems.
• Electrical and control and instrumentation. Remove and replace instruments and sensors.
• Electrical and control and instrumentation. Re-connect instrumentation power supply, cables, pipework, and services.
• Electrical and mechanical. Confirm safe electrical isolation lockout tagout method has been applied and test for dead.
• Electrical and mechanical. Conduct and confirm electrical and connected services isolation and deisolation.
• Electrical and mechanical. Select, check, and use electrical and mechanical maintenance tools, measurement, and test equipment.
• Electrical and mechanical. Use electrical and mechanical diagnostic equipment and apply fault finding and rectification techniques.
• Electrical and mechanical. Apply problem solving and critical reasoning techniques.
• Electrical and mechanical. Inspect and test electrical aspects of plant. For example, visual checks, insulation and continuity checks, thermographic surveys, and voltage levels.
• Electrical and mechanical. Remove and replace electrical parts.
• Electrical and mechanical. Prepare and terminate electrical cables.
• Electrical and mechanical. Set up, align, and adjust electrical aspects of plant.
• Electrical and mechanical. Clean parts. For example, removal of dust and debris.
• Electrical and mechanical. Conduct functional testing.
• Electrical and mechanical. Check condition and operation of mechanical aspects of plant and equipment. For example, pumps.
• Electrical and mechanical. Remove and replace mechanical parts.
• Electrical and mechanical. Examine mechanical parts for defects. For example, pump seals.
• Electrical and mechanical. Set up, align, and adjust mechanical aspects of plant.
• Electrical and mechanical. Lubricate mechanical assemblies.
• Electrical and mechanical. Apply bench fitting techniques.
• Review and use information. For example, work instructions, drawings, design specifications, and plant configurations.
• Use planning, prioritising, organising, and time management techniques to plan tasks.
• Identify and organise resources to complete tasks. For example, consumables.
• Respond and adapt to work demands. For example, adapt working methods to reflect changes in working environment, re-prioritise workloads to react to breakdowns and fault scenarios.
• Identify equipment to work on. Check plant configuration is as defined.
• Prepare the work area for maintenance tasks.
• Identify environmental and health and safety hazards and risks and apply control measures.
• Apply health, safety, and environmental procedures in compliance with regulations, standards, and guidance. For example, signage and barriers, working at height, confined spaces, and COSHH.
• Follow security procedures. For example, site access, document classification, and securing assets.
• Follow emergency incident and response procedures.
• Apply sustainability principles. For example, minimising waste.
• Segregate items for reuse, recycling, and waste.
• Use mathematical principles and formulae to support engineering maintenance.
• Apply engineering maintenance standards and procedures.
• Apply foreign material exclusion procedures.
• Follow maintenance tools and equipment control procedures. For example, handling and storage.
• Reinstate the work area.
• Apply team working principles.
• Communicate with others to give and receive information. For example, colleagues, customers, and stakeholders.
• Escalate issues outside limits of responsibility.
• Record information.
• Produce or amend documents. For example, handover notes and reports.
• Identify and highlight issues (red pen), with technical drawings.
• Use digital and information technology. For example, databases, data sharing platforms, email, management information systems, and word processing. Follow cyber security and GDPR requirements.
• Apply continuous improvement techniques to identify improvement suggestions.
• Carry out and record planned and unplanned learning and development activities.

Training schedule

You will undertake your apprenticeship training with Oxfordshire Advanced Skills (OAS), developing engineering maintenance competencies in both electrical and mechanical maintenance knowledge, skills and behaviours.

In partnership with the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) and OAS you will also have the opportunity to undertake the QuEST programme building a strong foundation in high-value skills such as:

• Scientific Vacuum Technology and Cryogenics
• Precision fitting, milling and turning
• High purity gas systems and machine welding

Throughout the apprenticeship you will gain hands-on experience in world-class facilities, helping to maintain the equipment and facilities that support cutting-edge science and innovation whilst building skills that will open doors to a rewarding career in Engineering.

Programme Structure:

• Year 1: Block-release training at OAS in Culham, rotating through 4-6 week blocks combined with on-the-job training at the MLC
• Year 2: Continued block-release training at OAS supplemented with QuEST modules delivered by STFC staff in collaboration with UKAEA, covering technologies for Quantum, Fusion and high-tech engineering. On-the-job training at the MLC
• Year 3-4: Fully embedded in the workplace, applying your skills in real-world engineering environments as you progress toward becoming a qualified Engineering Technician

Travel to OAS is required, with excess costs covered.

More training information

For more information about OAS, please visit: 

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

• English (grade 4/C)
• Maths (grade 4/C)

Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.

Skills

• Communication skills
• IT skills
• Attention to detail
• Organisation skills
• Problem solving skills
• Number skills
• Analytical skills
• Logical
• Team working
• Initiative
• Physical fitness

Other requirements

To be eligible to be considered for the apprenticeship programme you must:

• Have evidence of 5 GCSE including Maths and English GCSE at grade 4/C or above (or equivalent i.e. Level 2 Functional Skills)
• Have lived in the UK and/or EU for 3 consecutive years prior to the apprentice start date. Please check your eligibility here 
• Confirm that this apprenticeship offers substantive new skills and knowledge and that you have not already achieved an equivalent or higher-level qualification in a similar or related subject. If you already hold a Level 3 Engineering qualification i.e. BTEC Extended Diploma, or an Engineering T-Level, please include as an attachment your transcript(s) outlining the grade(s) achieved and modules covered

As part of our shortlisting process, we may be required to determine your eligibility to undertake the programme based on the information provided within your application. By applying for this apprenticeship, you are giving permission for your details to be shared with the relevant training provider.