Heavy Maintenance Team Leader

FirstGroup; West of England; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

GWR is seeking a motivated engineer for St Philips Marsh (SPM) Depot to undertake heavy maintenance across Class 150, 158 and 16x fleets. You’ll perform C4 examinations, engine and transmission work, coupler renewals, and planned maintenance within mileage-based regimes, ensuring safety and quality.

The role involves fault diagnosis, hands-on problem solving, and working to a rostered weekend pattern (4 on 4 off, 10-hour shifts).

Qualifications

• Apprenticeship or NVQ Level 3 in engineering or equivalent.
• Minimum two years in heavy maintenance on rolling stock.
• Experience with major component changes, overhauls and planned maintenance.

Responsibilities

• Undertake and support heavy maintenance across rolling stock fleets.
• Carry out C4 examinations, engine changes, transmission work and coupler renewals.
• Ensure all work complies with safety standards and procedures.
• Diagnose faults and resolve engineering issues with practical solutions.
• Support colleagues and share best practice to meet quality and timings.
• Work flexibly to meet operational needs, including weekend rosters.

Skills

Heavy maintenance experience

Fault finding & diagnostics

Safety-focused

Teamwork

Education

NVQ Level 3 in engineering

Job description

Who we are:

GWR is the proud custodian of one of the most prestigious Railway networks in the world. Our services call at over 275 stations, stretching across the South West of England.

We aim to transform the way people think about rail travel by setting a new standard – a better experience for our customers. Together we will restore the railways as a very special way to travel – relaxing, fast, efficient, friendly and fun.

About the Role

St Philips Marsh (SPM) Depot is responsible for delivering a wide range of heavy maintenance activities across the majority of the West fleet. Core work includes C4 overhaul examinations, coupler renewals, engine changes, and transmission replacements on Class 150, 158, and 16x fleets, undertaken within established mileage-based maintenance regimes. The depot also carries out planned wheelset replacements in response to wheel wear, ensuring vehicles remain compliant, safe, and available for service.

Key Responsibilities

• Undertake and support the delivery of heavy maintenance activities across a range of rolling stock fleets.
• Carry out C4 examinations, engine changes, transmission replacements, coupler renewals, and other major maintenance tasks.
• Ensure all work is completed safely, efficiently, and in accordance with company standards and maintenance procedures.
• Apply technical knowledge and practical experience to diagnose faults and resolve engineering issues.
• Support colleagues and share best practice to ensure work is delivered to the required quality and timescales.
• Work flexibly to meet operational requirements, including participation in a rostered weekend working arrangement.

What We're Looking For

• A motivated and enthusiastic engineer with a strong commitment to safety and quality.
• Extensive hands-on experience within a heavy maintenance environment.
• A practical problem-solver with excellent fault-finding and diagnostic skills.
• Ability to remain calm under pressure while maintaining high standards of workmanship.
• Strong knowledge of railway rolling stock systems and maintenance practices.

Essential Requirements

• Apprenticeship trained or qualified to NVQ Level 3 (or equivalent) in a relevant engineering discipline.
• Minimum of two years' proven heavy maintenance experience, ideally within a rolling stock environment.
• Demonstrable experience undertaking major component changes, overhauls, and planned maintenance activities.
• Experience working safely within a regulated engineering or railway environment.
• Knowledge of Class 150, 158, or 16x fleets would be advantageous.

About the location: SPM depot

Working Pattern: The current shift pattern is 4on 4 off, 10 hours shifts.

Additional Information:

If there is more than one successful candidate a reserve list will be created to fill other FO4 Team Leader roles that may become available over the next 6 months. These roles maybe on a different shift type.

We all belong at GWR. This is our vision for providing an inclusive environment for all our colleagues, ensuring all candidates have an equal opportunity to access meaningful employment.

We value our differences such as age, gender, LGBTQIA, ethnicity, religion and disability. We maintain zero tolerance towards any form of prejudice towards our colleagues, customers, and future talent.

We celebrate and encourage diversity of thought, progressive ways of working and seeing all our colleagues grow and thrive.

We review all roles and job descriptions to ensure they are accessible and, where possible, we support and provide flexible working options; we recommend that you refer to each vacancy description for further details.

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https://exceptionalindividuals.com/neurodiversity/

https://www.healthassured.org/blog/neurodiversity/