Assistant Engineering Manager

Arriva Kent Thameside Limited; Luton; On-site; GBP 53,000 - 64,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days annual leave

Full Time contract

Career progression and upskilling

Arriva Village discounts

Free bus travel for you and family

Workplace Pension

Job summary

Arriva plc in Luton is seeking an Assistant Engineering Manager to support the Engineering Manager in delivering safe, reliable, and efficient engineering operations across our fleet and infrastructure.

This role offers a clear path into management for an experienced engineer, with responsibilities spanning maintenance planning, staff development, and driving continuous improvement in a fast-paced transport environment.

Qualifications

• Level 3 qualification in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering (or equivalent).
• Experience in transport or heavy industry engineering roles.
• Supervisory or team-support experience with technicians or engineers.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with data interpretation.

Responsibilities

• Support the Engineering Manager in planning, organising and overseeing day-to-day engineering activities.
• Assist with supervision, development and performance management of engineering staff.
• Help implement engineering strategies, policies and procedures to improve efficiency and control costs.
• Monitor fleet performance data, identify trends, and recommend actions to improve availability and reduce breakdowns.
• Ensure full compliance with health & safety legislation, industry standards, and company policies.
• Support procurement and management of spare parts, equipment, and external services.
• Assist with fleet upgrades, new equipment installations, and infrastructure improvements.
• Collaborate with Operations, Finance and other departments to support business objectives.
• Participate in incident investigations and support corrective actions.
• Prepare reports for senior management.

Skills

Engineering leadership

Maintenance planning

Data analysis

Stakeholder engagement

IT skills

Health and safety knowledge

Education

Level 3 qualification in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering

Tools

Microsoft Office

Engineering systems

Job description

Company: Arriva plc Location: Luton Department: Engineering Salary - £58,560 per annum

About the role

We’re looking for an Assistant Engineering Manager to support the Engineering Manager in delivering safe, reliable, and efficient engineering operations across our fleet and infrastructure. This is a great opportunity for an experienced engineer looking to take the next step into management. You’ll play a key role in maintaining vehicle reliability, supporting engineering teams, and driving continuous improvement in a fast-paced operational environment.

What you’ll be doing

• Support the Engineering Manager in planning, organising, and overseeing day-to-day engineering activities, including preventative and reactive maintenance


• Assist with the supervision, development, and performance management of engineering staff


• Help implement engineering strategies, policies, and procedures to improve efficiency and control costs


• Monitor fleet performance data, identify trends, and recommend actions to improve vehicle availability and reduce breakdowns


• Ensure full compliance with health & safety legislation, industry standards, and company policies


• Support procurement and management of spare parts, equipment, and external engineering services


• Assist with engineering projects such as fleet upgrades, new equipment installations, and infrastructure improvements


• Work collaboratively with Operations, Finance, and other departments to support business objectives


• Participate in incident investigations and support corrective actions


• Prepare reports and performance updates for senior management

What we’re looking for

• Level 3 qualification in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related discipline


• Proven experience in an engineering role within transport or a similar heavy industry environment


• Strong understanding of vehicle maintenance, diagnostics, and repair procedures


• Experience supervising or supporting a small team of technicians or engineers


• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to interpret technical data


• Excellent communication, organisational, and stakeholder engagement skills


• Competent IT skills, including Microsoft Office and engineering systems


• Knowledge of relevant health & safety and environmental legislation


• A valid UK driving licence is desirable


• A proactive approach and commitment to continuous professional development

What Arriva can offer you

• 25 days annual leave plus 8 bank holidays from date of commencement


• Full Time contract


• Fantastic career progression and upskilling opportunities


• Access to the Arriva Village - Retail discounts and offers


• Free bus travel for you and your family (within the same household)


• Arriva Workplace Pension

Why join Arriva?

At Arriva, you’ll be part of a business that plays a vital role in keeping communities moving. We offer opportunities to develop your career, work with experienced leaders, and make a real impact on safety, reliability, and performance. Arriva is a leading provider of passenger transport across Europe, employing around 34,400 people and delivering around 1.6 billion passenger journeys. With buses, trains, coaches, trams, waterbuses, bike-sharing systems, on-demand transport solutions and a rolling stock leasing company, Arriva proudly connects people and communities safely, reliably and sustainably across 11 countries, delivering these services in a better way, every day. The activities of Arriva are divided into four business units: UK Bus, UK Trains, The Netherlands and Mainland Europe. Arriva has passenger transport operations in the Czech Republic, Croatia, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and the United Kingdom, and also operates a rolling stock leasing company in Romania.