Lead Refrigeration & Air Conditioning Engineer

ATALIAN SERVEST; City Of London; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading facilities management company in London seeks a highly experienced Lead Refrigeration & Air Conditioning Engineer. This senior-level role involves technical leadership and mentorship of junior engineers, as well as maintenance and compliance for large-scale HVAC systems. The ideal candidate should have extensive experience in commercial systems and strong leadership skills, contributing to knowledge sharing and continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• 5–10 years of hands-on experience in commercial HVAC/R systems.
• Proven experience with large-scale refrigeration systems.
• Experience mentoring or supervising engineering teams.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership and mentoring to junior engineers.
• Lead planned and reactive maintenance on large-scale systems.
• Ensure compliance with F-Gas & ODS regulations.

Skills

Technical leadership

Mentorship

Fault-finding

Digital reporting tools

Health & Safety knowledge

Education

City & Guilds Level 3 NVQ in HVAC, Refrigeration, or Mechanical Engineering

Time-served apprenticeship in Refrigeration/Air Conditioning

Job description

About The Company:

OCS UK & Ireland is a leading facilities management company with 50,000+ colleagues and a turnover in excess of £2bn. We deliver innovative, award-winning services within facilities management, hard services, cleaning, security and catering.

Our mission is to make people and places the best they can be for our colleagues, customers and the communities we serve. Our commitment to doing business the right way is rooted in our TRUE values - Trust, Respect, Unity, and Empowerment

About The Role:

Working Days: Monday to Friday 08:00 - 17:00

We are seeking a highly experienced and technically proficient Lead Refrigeration & Air Conditioning Engineer to join our mobile technical services team. This senior-level role is ideal for a time-served engineer with extensive experience in large-scale refrigeration and HVAC systems, who is also passionate about mentoring and supporting the development of junior engineers.

You will lead by example in delivering advanced technical services, supporting complex installations, and ensuring compliance across a diverse portfolio of commercial sites. You will also play a key role in knowledge sharing, technical guidance, and continuous improvement within the team.

Key Responsibilities:

• Technical Leadership & Mentorship: Provide technical leadership and mentoring to junior and mid-level engineers.
• Support training and development initiatives, including on-the-job coaching and technical troubleshooting guidance.
• Act as a point of escalation for complex technical issues and assist in root cause analysis and resolution.

Advanced Service & Maintenance

• Lead planned and reactive maintenance, servicing, and repairs on large-scale VRV/VRF systems, central plant refrigeration systems, chillers, cold rooms, and multi-compressor systems.
• Diagnose and resolve faults across electrical, mechanical, and refrigerant systems with a focus on long-term reliability and performance.

Compliance & Quality Assurance

• Ensure all works meet or exceed F-Gas & ODS regulations, technical standards, and manufacturer specifications.
• Conduct quality audits and support continuous improvement in service delivery and compliance.
• Promote and enforce safe working practices across all operational activities.

Documentation & Reporting

• Review and validate service documentation, inspection reports, and remedial work records.
• Provide technical feedback and improvement suggestions to internal teams and clients.
• Use digital tools (PDA/mobile apps) to manage workflow, reporting, and communication.

Client Engagement & Collaboration

• Build strong relationships with clients and stakeholders, offering expert advice and reassurance.
• Collaborate with internal teams to support project planning, mobilisation, and service enhancements.
• Represent the technical team in client meetings and site reviews when required.

Emergency Support & Escalation

• Participate in the emergency on-call rota and provide senior-level support during critical incidents.
• Lead or support emergency response efforts, ensuring rapid resolution and minimal disruption.

Requirements

• Time-served apprenticeship in Refrigeration/Air Conditioning
• City & Guilds Level 3 NVQ or equivalent in HVAC, Refrigeration, or Mechanical Engineering
• F-Gas & ODS Regulations (Category 1 – 2079)
• Minimum 5–10 years of hands-on experience in commercial HVAC/R systems
• Proven experience with large-scale refrigeration systems and central plant equipment
• Strong understanding of Health & Safety legislation and Permit to Work systems
• Experience mentoring or supervising engineering teams
• Excellent fault-finding and diagnostic skills
• Proficient in using digital reporting tools and mobile apps
• Strong communication and leadership skills
• Full UK driving licence

We are an equal opportunities employer and rely on a diverse workforce with a broad range of knowledge, skills, and backgrounds to deliver our goals. We offer an inclusive and welcoming environment and actively encourage applications from all individuals regardless of race, gender, nationality, religion, sexual orientation, disability, or age.