Junior Plant Engineer

Balfour Beatty; Leiston; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days annual leave + bank holidays

Car or car allowance

Pension savings schemes

Enhanced maternity/paternity policies

Refer and Earn scheme

Discretionary annual salary reviews

Job summary

Balfour Beatty Ground Engineering is looking for a Junior Plant Engineer to support maintenance and reliability of site plant on the Sizewell C project in Suffolk. You will work with Plant Supervisors, Fitters, Operators and site teams to help keep equipment safe and available for operations.

The role offers hands-on experience in preventative maintenance, fault finding, and record-keeping, with opportunity to develop skills in a major infrastructure programme and pursue further engineering

Qualifications

• Minimum 6 months' experience in a practical engineering or technical role.
• Basic understanding of plant and equipment, ideally within construction or heavy plant environments.
• Good communication and teamwork skills, with the ability to work collaboratively with others.
• Ability to work under supervision, follow instructions, and learn quickly.
• Basic IT skills, including experience using Excel, Word, or maintenance systems.
• Awareness of health and safety requirements and a commitment to safe working practices.
• Experience within piling, ground engineering, or construction environments would be desirable.
• An engineering qualification, such as HNC, NVQ, or equivalent, or a willingness to work towards one.
• A CSCS card, or exposure to maintenance planning or plant systems, would be advantageous.
• A motivated, reliable, proactive, and flexible approach, with enthusiasm to learn and develop technical skills.

Responsibilities

• Support the maintenance, inspection, and repair of plant and equipment to ensure safe and efficient operation.
• Assist with fault finding and diagnostics across mechanical and non‑mechanical plant.
• Work closely with Plant Supervisors, Fitters, Operators, and site teams to resolve equipment issues.
• Maintain accurate records of maintenance activities, inspections, defects, repairs, and servicing requirements.
• Assist with the coordination of parts, servicing schedules, and third‑party supplier support.
• Monitor plant performance and escalate faults, defects, or recurring issues where required.
• Support planned preventative maintenance activities to improve reliability and reduce downtime.
• Liaise effectively with internal plant teams, site teams, supervisors, operators, suppliers, and subcontractors.
• Ensure all work is completed in line with company health and safety policies, risk assessments, method statements, environmental standards, and quality requirements.
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of plant processes, reliability, efficiency, and overall performance.
• Produce weekly and monthly reliability dashboards, statistics, and reports as required.
• Assist in the design and implementation of machine, equipment, and accessory modifications.

Skills

Communication skills

Teamwork

Willingness to learn

Health and safety awareness

Education

HNC/NVQ or equivalent in engineering

Tools

Excel

Word

Maintenance systems

Job description

About the role

We have a fantastic opportunity for a Junior Plant Engineer to join our Ground Engineering team working on the Sizewell C project in Nacton, Ipswich.

Be part of this once in a generation' project that will deliver clean energy to 6 million homes for the next 60 years. Sizewell C will see the creation of a 3.2 Gigawatt nuclear power station on the Suffolk coast to provide reliable low‑carbon electricity.

The Civil Works Alliance is an extended delivery enterprise involving Sizewell C and three international construction companies: Balfour Beatty, Bouygues Travaux Publics and Laing O'Rourke.

We are more than just an alliance; we are bringing together a single delivery organisation with years of learning and experience from other major complex infrastructure programmes worldwide.

Role purpose: To support the Plant Team in the safe, efficient maintenance, monitoring, and performance of mechanical and non‑mechanical plant and equipment across site and workshop environments. Assist in ensuring plant reliability, compliance, and availability meet project and operational requirements.

What you'll be doing

The successful candidate will have the following accountabilities:

• Support the maintenance, inspection, and repair of plant and equipment to ensure safe and efficient operation;
• Assist with fault finding and diagnostics across mechanical and non‑mechanical plant;
• Work closely with Plant Supervisors, Fitters, Operators, and site teams to resolve equipment issues;
• Maintain accurate records of maintenance activities, inspections, defects, repairs, and servicing requirements;
• Assist with the coordination of parts, servicing schedules, and third‑party supplier support;
• Monitor plant performance and escalate faults, defects, or recurring issues where required;
• Support planned preventative maintenance activities to improve reliability and reduce downtime;
• Liaise effectively with internal plant teams, site teams, supervisors, operators, suppliers, and subcontractors;
• Ensure all work is completed in line with company health and safety policies, risk assessments, method statements, environmental standards, and quality requirements;
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of plant processes, reliability, efficiency, and overall performance;
• Produce weekly and monthly reliability dashboards, statistics, and reports as required;
• Assist in the design and implementation of machine, equipment, and accessory modifications.

Who we're looking for

The successful candidate will have the following qualities, skills and experience:

• Minimum of 6 months' experience in a practical engineering or technical role;
• Basic understanding of plant and equipment, ideally within construction or heavy plant environments;
• Good communication and teamwork skills, with the ability to work collaboratively with others;
• Ability to work under supervision, follow instructions, and learn quickly;
• Basic IT skills, including experience using Excel, Word, or maintenance systems;
• Awareness of health and safety requirements and a commitment to safe working practices;
• Experience within piling, ground engineering, or construction environments would be desirable;
• An engineering qualification, such as HNC, NVQ, or equivalent, or a willingness to work towards one;
• A CSCS card, or exposure to maintenance planning or plant systems, would be advantageous;
• A motivated, reliable, proactive, and flexible approach, with enthusiasm to learn and develop technical skills.

Why work for us

Our people are our biggest asset and we focus on recruiting, training and developing the people who can apply innovation to deliver the infrastructure of the future. We nurture these talents, offer a great benefits package in addition to a competitive base salary and continually invest in developing the skills of our people at every level.

Some of our key benefits are:

• An attractive/negotiated salary;
• 25 days annual leave + bank holidays;
• Car or car allowance;
• Pension savings schemes;
• Enhanced maternity/paternity and family friendly policies;
• Access to our Refer and Earn scheme;
• Discretionary annual salary reviews.

About us

Balfour Beatty Ground Engineering is one of the UK's leading specialist geo‑technical contractors, providing innovative piling and ground improvement solutions across all sectors.

Our comprehensive ground engineering capabilities, equipment and experience provide the solid foundations for infrastructure and buildings of any height, ranging from city skyscrapers to cross‑country rail and road projects.

Our reputation as one of the UK's leading specialist geo‑technical contractors is earned through the delivery of ground engineering solutions on some of the UK's largest and most prestigious projects including HS2, The Shard, Wembley Stadium, Reading Station Viaduct, Marble Arch Place, Battersea Power Station redevelopment and the A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon improvement project.

Diversity and inclusion

At Balfour Beatty, we believe that diversity and inclusion are essential components of any successful, happy workplace. Through our Value Everyone D&I Strategy and Action Plan, we are growing our diverse workforce and developing our inclusive culture where everyone is able to thrive and reach their full potential, regardless of their identity or background. To find out how we are making this a reality, visit www.balfourbeatty.com/diversityandinclusion

We are a Gold Award holder in the Ministry of Defence 'Employer Recognition Scheme' and actively encourage applications from Armed Forces personnel, veterans and reservists.

As a Disability Confident Employer, we are committed to working with people who have disabilities and long‑term health conditions to remove barriers for them in obtaining employment. We are also committed to offering applicants with a disability an interview if they meet the minimum requirements for the role. For more info, visit: https://disabilityconfident.campaign.gov.uk/