Assistant Mechanical Engineer

Job overview

Assisting and supporting the Operational Management team, which includes Reactive, Planned Preventative and Scheduled Maintenance services at Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust premises (including off-site properties). 

This will be undertaken with a special emphasis on the estate being operated and maintained in accordance with statutory compliance requirements. 
Staff management will be a core responsibility.

Main duties of the job

To assist the Mechanical Hospital Engineer by constantly monitoring, reporting, and assessing the condition of the Trusts Estates and assets and advising on inspection frequencies.

To assist in monitoring out-sourced contracts against agreed specifications, success criteria and user views and to take action to ensure the service is provided in accordance with the specification.

To assist in the reviewing and updating of the Trusts planned and reactive maintenance system.

Liaise with clients and contractors.Liaise with manufacturers regarding plant or equipment failure and to arrange orders for new plant, equipment, and spare parts as necessary. 

To assist in maintaining the statutory and general records of engineering plant and services in accordance with the requirements of the Health and Safety at Work Act and all other relevant statutory requirements. 

To demonstrate good fault-finding skills on complex Mechanical plant and equipment and be prepared to react quickly and positively to changing circumstances.

Feedback information to the Mechanical Hospital Engineer on all matters affecting policy, established procedures, safety, continuity of engineering services and technical development on matters which may affect or be beneficial to the area of work the post holder is responsible.

Working for our organisation

Our Trust

Cambridge University Hospitals (CUH) NHS Foundation Trust comprises Addenbrooke’s Hospital and the Rosie Hospital in Cambridge. With over 13,000 staff and over 1100 beds the priorities of the Trust focus on a quality service which is all about people – patients, staff and partners. Recognised as providing ‘outstanding’ care to our patients and rated ‘Good’ overall by the Care Quality Commissioner, is testament to the skill and dedication of the people who work here. CUH’s values – Together - Safe, Kind, Excellent – are at the heart of patient care, defining the way all staff work and behave. The Trust provides accessible high-quality healthcare for the local people of Cambridge, together with specialist services, dealing with rare or complex conditions for a regional, national and international population.

CUH is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive community - a place where we can all be ourselves. We value our differences and fully advocate and support an inclusive working environment where every individual can fulfil their potential. We want to ensure our people are truly representative of all the communities that we serve. We welcome applications for all positions in the organisation irrespective of people’s age, disability, ethnicity, race, nationality, gender identity, sex, sexual orientation, religion or belief, marriage and civil partnership status, or pregnancy and maternity status or social economic background.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see the attached Applicant Information Pack (combined Job Description and Person Specification) for key duties and responsibilities.

As there is a 12-week probationary period, successful candidates are expected to have the Right to Work for a period of at least 6 months from the proposed start date. Immigration and Right to Work status will be discussed with successful candidates at conditional offer. CUH will not offer sponsorship to candidates that have applied for a fee waiver. 

Due to Home Office immigration rules, a full time permanent vacancy cannot be filled by individuals on a Student visa. Therefore, please be advised that if you are a Student visa holder, we will not be able to offer you a full time permanent contract unless you have:
-    applied for a Graduate visa
-    or you will have successfully completed your course and have applied for a Graduate visa before the anticipated start date of your employment
-    or the Trust has agreed that they will Sponsor you as a Skilled Worker and you will complete your studies within 3 months of the anticipated start date of employment

This vacancy will close at midnight on 8th October 2026

Interviews are due to be held on 21st October 2026

Benefits to you

At Cambridge University Hospitals, we want to do all we can to support good working days. We offer development opportunities and a wide range of benefits, including on-site leisure facilities, shopping concourse and day nurseries. Our good work programme currently includes providing reduced cost Stagecoach bus travel to and from Cambridge University Hospital site. Park and Ride bus journeys between Babraham Road and Trumpington sites are free, as is the route to and from Cambridge train station and our hospitals. We also subsidise the cost of parking on site for eligible staff. 

On CUH campus, hot food is available 24/7 and at a reduced cost for colleagues. Recently we launched the first of our staff pod break spaces. Located in the Deakin Centre, we have a purpose-created colleague-only café, with free tea and coffee, a break space and private outside area for colleagues to rest, refuel and recharge. Just one of the ways we are working hard to support good working days at CUH.

CUH is committed to assisting employees in achieving a good work-life balance irrespective of role or personal circumstances. Flexible arrangements may include, but are not limited to, part-time working, job-share, term-time working and flexible start and finish times.
Please note if you would like to discuss the required hours of this role further, you should approach the contact given. In some cases, alternative working hours will be considered.

We welcome applications from the Armed Forces.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria

HNC Mechanical Engineering Certificate in Management or equivalent

Desirable criteria

In depth knowledge of all Health Technical Memoranda

Authorised Person in accordance with Department of Health Guidance

Experience

Essential criteria

Proven maintenance management experience or relevant experience in managing Mechanical plant and equipment.

Experience of writing Safe Systems of Work Experience of managing permit to work systems

Sound IT experience

Desirable criteria

Experience of complex Mechanical plant operation and maintenance requirements within healthcare

Experience of managing authorised processes and contract management

Experience of programming building management computer systems

Knowledge

Essential criteria

Working knowledge of Health and Safety and current legislation and guidance

Sound IT knowledge

Desirable criteria

Working knowledge of Mechanical PPM schedules and management

Skills

Essential criteria

People / staff management skills

Good communication skills

Good leadership skills

Proven Mechanical fault-finding capabilities.

Capable of working in a demand driven service

Desirable criteria

Presentation skills

Additional Requirements

Essential criteria

The ability to understand and behave at all times, towards patients, visitors and colleagues according to the Trust values of Safe, Kind, Excellent.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Applicant requirements

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Documents to download

Further details / informal visits contact

Name

Andrew Read

Job title

View email address on careers.cuh.nhs.uk

Email address

View email address on careers.cuh.nhs.uk