Engineering Technician Apprentice - Mechatronics

Biffa; Plymouth; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

Biffa is offering a Mechatronics Apprenticeship in Plymouth, a 4-year program to develop skills in electrical, mechanical, and control systems. The role involves maintenance and compliance at a hazardous waste site, with a starting salary of £25,792 and opportunities for career development.

Benefits

Ongoing career development, training, and coaching

Generous pension scheme

Retail and leisure discounts

Holiday and travel discounts

Life cover

Qualifications

• Strong interest in maintenance and desire to become a multi-skilled technician.

Responsibilities

• Execute preventive and reactive maintenance on plant and equipment.
• Conduct fault diagnosis and ensure health & safety compliance.
• Develop planned maintenance to reduce downtime.

Skills

Maintenance

Fault Diagnosis

Health & Safety Compliance

Education

GCSEs at Grade C/4 or above in Maths and English

Job description

Begin your journey to becoming an engineering technician with Biffa's Mechatronics Apprenticeship.

Our award-nominated and IET-accredited Mechatronics Maintenance Technician Apprenticeship is a 4-year programme where you will develop skills across electrical, electronic, mechanical, fluid power, and control systems disciplines.

Throughout the apprenticeship, you'll spend time at our Plymouth site and at Plymouth City College on a day-release schedule.

Your starting salary of £25,792 will increase each year based on your progress.

On successful completion, you'll earn a formal Level 3 qualification and gain experience and qualifications to pursue EngTech status with the Institution of Engineering and Technology.

Role Overview

The role involves executing preventive and reactive maintenance, fault diagnosis, and servicing on plant and equipment at a hazardous waste site, ensuring health & safety and environmental compliance, and contributing to operational improvements.

The Biffa Division

Within Resources & Energy, we focus on waste treatment, recycling, and disposal, offering recovery and landfill services for different waste materials.

Core Responsibilities

1. Ensure high operational availability and efficient repair services, diagnosing faults, and conducting effective repairs promptly.
2. Perform installation work to required standards.
3. Maintain productivity and availability, driving cost control and operational excellence.
4. Develop and implement planned maintenance and inspections to reduce downtime and address recurrent faults.
5. Carry out minor maintenance on plant and equipment.
6. Coordinate with external contractors for repairs and maintenance.
7. Stay updated on health & safety and environmental legislation and ensure compliance.
8. Adhere to company policies, processes, and procedures.
9. Review maintenance activities and implement corrective actions.
10. Perform other reasonable job-related tasks as required.

Requirements

Essential Criteria

• GCSEs at Grade C/4 or above in Maths and English (or equivalent).
• Must not already hold a qualification in a similar subject at the same or higher level.
• Strong interest in maintenance and a desire to become a multi-skilled electrical/mechanical technician.

Benefits

• Ongoing career development, training, and coaching.
• Generous pension scheme.
• Retail and leisure discounts.
• Holiday and travel discounts.
• Life cover.

Our Commitment

At Biffa, we are passionate about waste management—transforming waste into sustainable power, recycling innovations, and keeping communities clean. Our 11,000+ team members nationwide are dedicated to providing rewarding careers that challenge and inspire.

We champion diversity, equity, and inclusion, believing that diverse perspectives foster innovation and better outcomes for all stakeholders.