Hydraulics Technician Lead

Athena Racing; Portsmouth; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days annual leave

Company Pension Scheme

Private Medical Insurance

Life Assurance

Cycle to Work Scheme

Job summary

GB1 is expanding its hydraulics shore support team in Portsmouth to lead the workshop crew responsible for the assembly, installation, and maintenance of high‑performance hydraulic actuation systems for the America’s Cup yacht.

The role requires a mechanical apprenticeship or equivalent in fluid power, extensive experience with >350 bar hydraulics, and proven team leadership under tight deadlines in motorsport or marine settings. Competitive package offered in a world‑class team.

Qualifications

• Recognized mechanical apprenticeship, vocational qualification, or equivalent experience in fluid power systems.
• Significant experience in the assembly, maintenance, and fault-finding of high-pressure hydraulic systems (>350 bar) in motorsport, aerospace, or marine environments.
• Demonstrable experience leading a team of technicians, with mentorship and high-pressure workflow management.
• Proficiency in reading complex hydraulic schematics and engineering drawings for accurate installation and testing.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the daily operations of a group of hydraulic technicians, including staff scheduling, workflow management, and maintaining safety and cleanliness standards.
• Oversee assembly, installation, and plumbing of hydraulic hardware onto the race yacht.
• Develop and arrange maintenance schedules for hydraulic systems, adhering to lifing policies and service intervals.
• Direct daily dock-out operations to prepare the yacht for sailing and ensure systems are ready for operation.
• Manage inventory of hydraulic spares, seals, fittings, and consumables for rapid turnaround and regatta support.
• Oversee construction, maintenance, and operation of hydraulic test rigs for component validation and system flushing.
• Inspect parts for wear, fatigue, or corrosion and report feedback to the Design Team.

Skills

Team leadership

Hydraulic systems

High-pressure hydraulics

Reading drawings

Instrumentation setup

Communication

Education

Mechanical apprenticeship or equivalent

Tools

CATIA

Job description

GB1 are expanding our technical team with the goal of winning the America’s Cup, the oldest international competition still contested in any sport. We are building an agile, creative and collaborative team to compete and win at the pinnacle of the sport of sailing. Our team values have a sharp focus on maximizing performance from our designs, while fostering a collaborative and supportive environment.

We’re growing our hydraulics shore support team in support of this America’s Cup challenge. This is a unique opportunity to lead the workshop team responsible for the assembly, installation, and maintenance of the high-performance hydraulic actuation systems that drive the flight and control of our yacht.

Responsibilities

• Workshop Leadership: Lead and manage the daily operations of a group of hydraulic technicians, including staff scheduling, workflow management, and maintaining rigorous safety and cleanliness standards.
• Installation & Assembly: Manage the hands‑on assembly, installation, and plumbing of complex hydraulic hardware—including manifolds, rotary actuators, and linear rams—onto the race yacht.
• Maintenance Strategy: Develop and arrange comprehensive maintenance schedules for all hydraulic systems, ensuring strict adherence to lifing policies and service intervals.
• Daily Operations: Lead the hydraulics team during daily dock‑out procedures, managing the launch and preparation of the yacht for sailing to ensure systems are ready for operation.
• Stock & Spares Management: Manage the inventory of hydraulic spares, seals, fittings, and consumables, ensuring stock levels are maintained for rapid turnaround and regatta support.
• Test Rigs: Oversee the construction, maintenance, and operation of hydraulic test rigs to validate component performance, conduct proof‑loading, and flush systems prior to installation.
• Inspection & Quality: Perform detailed inspection of parts for wear, fatigue, or corrosion, and collaborate with the Design Team to report feedback on component serviceability.
• Compliance: Ensure all work is compliant with AC75 Class Rules and Technical Regulations, maintaining detailed service records and documentation.

Required Skills/Experience

• Recognized mechanical apprenticeship, vocational qualification, or equivalent experience in fluid power systems.
• Significant experience in the assembly, maintenance, and fault‑finding of high‑pressure hydraulic systems (e.g., >350 bar) in a motorsport, aerospace, or marine environment.
• Demonstrable experience leading a team of technicians, with the ability to mentor junior staff and manage high‑pressure workflows.
• Proficiency in reading complex hydraulic schematics and engineering drawings to ensure accurate installation and testing.
• Experience with the installation and setup of hydraulic instrumentation, including pressure transducers and position sensors.
• Excellent communication skills for effective collaboration within multidisciplinary teams under high‑pressure conditions.
• Highly motivated, adaptable, and capable of working to tight deadlines in a fast‑paced environment.

Desired Skills/Experience

• Experience working specifically in the America’s Cup or high‑level Grand Prix sailing environment.
• Basic computer literacy for logging maintenance data and viewing 3D models (e.g., CATIA viewer).
• Genuine interest in sailing or high‑performance sports, with a passion for contributing to elite‑level competition.
• Be part of a world‑class America’s Cup team working at the intersection of sport and technology, with the chance to contribute directly to our sporting success and push the limits of human and technological performance.
• Opportunities for growth—we look to develop you to be part of the future of our team.
• Competitive package with:
• 25 days annual leave (plus public holidays) per annum
• Company Pension Scheme
• Private Medical Insurance
• Life Assurance
• Cycle to Work Scheme

Other

• Salary is negotiable, dependent on experience.