Chiller Engineer

Thrive SW; Reading; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 50,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company van

Private medical insurance

Additional benefits

Job summary

Thrive SW is seeking an experienced Chiller Engineer to service and repair commercial HVAC plants across Reading, Swindon, Milton Keynes and the M4 corridor. You will take ownership of PPMs, fault-finding and end-of-life equipment replacements, working hands-on with VRF and air conditioning systems.

The role offers a competitive salary of £45,000–£50,000 per year, a company van, private medical insurance and additional benefits, with travel across the region and opportunities to develop the

Qualifications

• Three years’ experience with HVAC systems and chillers.
• City & Guilds Level 2 Refrigeration & AC or equivalent.
• Current F-Gas certification.
• Understanding of chilled-water systems and controls.
• Ability to read schematics and manuals.
• Full UK driving licence and willingness to travel.

Responsibilities

• Perform PPM and reactive fault-finding on chillers including air- and water-cooled units.
• Diagnose refrigeration, mechanical, electrical and control faults.
• Inspect chilled-water systems, pumps, valves and cooling towers.
• Assess plant performance using temperatures, pressures and alarms.
• Leak check and recover refrigerants; maintain records.
• Support VRF, air conditioning and HVAC equipment as needed.
• Assist with installation works and project handover.
• Read manufacturers' information and drawings to plan work.

Skills

HVAC maintenance

Chiller servicing

Troubleshooting

Education

City & Guilds Level 2 Refrigeration & Air Conditioning

F-Gas certification

Tools

Diagnostic equipment

Electrical schematics

Job description

Chiller Engineer (AC & Refrigeration)

Reading and surrounding areas

£45,000-£50,000 per annum

Company van, private medical insurance and additional benefits

We are working with an independent cooling and HVAC specialist with an in-house projects team and national service capability. They are looking for an experienced Chiller Engineer to support customers across Swindon, Reading, Milton Keynes and the M4 corridor.

You will take ownership of planned preventative maintenance, fault-finding and repairs on commercial chiller plant, while also supporting VRF and air-conditioning systems and selected end-of-life equipment replacements.

This is a hands-on, customer-facing role offering the opportunity to work across a diverse range of environments, including commercial offices, process cooling facilities, airports and hospitals. There will also be scope to help develop the company's service presence across the region.

Key Responsibilities

• Carrying out planned preventative maintenance (PPM) and reactive fault-finding on commercial chillers, including air-cooled and water-cooled systems.
• Diagnosing refrigeration, mechanical, electrical and controls faults, identifying root causes and completing repairs to restore reliable operation.
• Inspecting and maintaining associated chilled-water systems, including pumps, valves, pressurisation equipment, strainers, heat exchangers and cooling towers where applicable.
• Assessing plant performance using temperatures, pressures, flow rates, alarms and control information to identify defects and improve reliability and efficiency.
• Undertaking refrigerant leak checks, recovery and repairs, maintaining accurate records in line with relevant qualifications and regulations.
• Servicing and fault-finding on VRF, split-system air conditioning and associated HVAC equipment where required.
• Supporting installation works, chiller replacements and end-of-life equipment changeovers alongside the projects team.
• Assisting with testing and commissioning activities where appropriate.
• Reading and interpreting manufacturers' information, electrical schematics, control information and system drawings to plan and complete work effectively.

Essential Requirements

• At least three years' experience installing, maintaining or repairing HVAC systems and chillers, including hands-on chiller servicing and fault-finding.
• City & Guilds Level 2 in Refrigeration and Air Conditioning, or an equivalent recognised qualification, as a minimum.
• Current F-Gas certification appropriate to the refrigerant work required.
• Sound understanding of refrigeration principles and chilled-water systems, including associated pumps and controls.
• Ability to interpret technical manuals, electrical schematics and system drawings.
• Confidence using manual and electronic diagnostic equipment.
• Strong problem-solving, communication and customer service skills.
• Ability to organise workloads effectively and work independently.
• Full UK driving licence and willingness to travel throughout the region.

Desirable Experience

• Experience working on both air-cooled and water-cooled chillers, ideally across equipment from major manufacturers.
• Knowledge of Building Management Systems (BMS), control sequences and wider mechanical and electrical building services.
• Experience working in commercial offices, healthcare facilities, data centres or other operationally sensitive environments.
• Manufacturer-specific training.
• Relevant electrical qualifications.
• Additional access qualifications such as IPAF or PASMA.

For further information about the role and the company, contact Rhymel Henderson for a confidential chat.