Mechanical Field Service Engineer

United Utilities; Greenfield; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary + standby payments

Annual bonus scheme

Company pension with up to 14% company

26 days’ holiday + bank holidays

Discounts for gym, retail, travel

Job summary

United Utilities is hiring a Mechanical Field Service Engineer to deliver hands-on maintenance and technical support across our sites, with a focus on safety and energy efficiency. The role supports anaerobic digestion and dewatering plants within a defined geographical area.

You will operate in confined spaces, act as PCW for contractors, and ensure asset data and regulatory compliance while driving reliability and performance improvements. This is a permanent, full-time on-site position.

Qualifications

• Time served apprenticeship with NVQ level 3 or equivalent.
• UK driving licence is essential for the role.
• Experience in mechanical maintenance in an industrial setting.
• Ability to work solo or in a team and in confined spaces.
• Willingness to diversify into specialised areas such as chlorine gas systems.
• Strong diagnostic, planning, communication and computing skills.

Responsibilities

• Perform planned and reactive mechanical maintenance across multiple sites.
• Act as Person Controlling the Works (PCW) for mechanical activities by contractors.
• Collaborate with Process Controller to support telemetry and asset performance.
• Maintain accurate mechanical asset data and maintenance records.
• Support environmental compliance with Environment Agency standards.
• Minimise downtime and target biogas energy goals through root-cause analysis.
• Coordinate contractors during project delivery and site interventions.

Skills

Time served apprentice

Full UK driving licence

Teamwork

Work independently

Confined spaces

Chlorine gas systems

Diagnostics

Planning

Communication

Computer skills

Education

NVQ Level 3

Job description

The Role

As a Mechanical Field Service Engineer, you’ll deliver expert maintenance and technical support to ensure mechanical systems and powered assets operate safely, efficiently, and reliably. Your work plays a vital role in supporting high-quality water and wastewater services, with a strong emphasis on renewable energy generation through anaerobic digestion.

This is a hands-on, multi-skilled role that demands flexibility, the ability to work independently, and readiness to operate in confined spaces. You’ll also contribute to both capital and operational projects, ensuring mechanical assets are designed, installed, and maintained to meet performance and reliability standards. Participation in an out-of-hours standby rota is part of the role.

Role Accountabilities

You’ll operate across a defined geographical area, supporting mechanically powered sites—including anaerobic digestion and dewatering plants—with a strong emphasis on safety, compliance, mechanical performance, and energy efficiency. Working within United Utilities’ Health & Safety framework, your responsibilities will include:

• Performing planned and reactive mechanical maintenance across multiple sites, ensuring all work is completed safely, efficiently, and within required timeframes.
• Acting as the Person Controlling the Works (PCW) for mechanical activities carried out by framework contractors, ensuring full compliance with safety protocols, quality standards, and budgetary controls.
• Collaborating with the Process Controller to ensure mechanical systems support optimal telemetry alarm settings and visibility of asset performance.
• Maintaining accurate and up-to-date mechanical asset data and maintenance records within corporate systems to support operational decision-making.
• Supporting environmental compliance by ensuring mechanically powered assets meet Environment Agency regulatory standards.
• Minimising downtime and supporting biogas energy targets by identifying root causes of mechanical inefficiencies and implementing long-term, sustainable solutions.
• Contributing to contingency planning by ensuring critical mechanical spares are available at high-risk sites, particularly those involved in resource recovery.
• Coordinating and supporting contractors during mechanical project delivery or site interventions, ensuring work is well planned, risk-assessed, and aligned with operational needs.

Essential Skills & Experience

To be considered for a role as a Mechanical Field Service Engineer:

• You must be a time served apprentice or equivalent, supported with academic qualifications to a minimum of NVQ level 3.
• A full UK driving license is required for the role
• Industry experience.
• The ability to work in a team but also alone, and sometimes in confined spaces.
• Able and willing to diversify into specialised areas of maintenance, as required, such as chlorine gas systems.
• Diagnostic, organisational, planning, communication and computer skills.

What you’ll get in return – United Utilities Benefits

• Salary - £38,462
• Work Type - Onsite
• Job Location – Saddleworth Wastewater Treatment Works, Shaw Hall Bank Road, Greenfield Saddleworth Oldham Gtr Manchester OL3 7LD
• Role Type - Permanent
• Employment Type - Full Time
• Working Hours - 37.0 Hours per Week

United Utilities’ (UU) purpose is to deliver great water for a stronger, greener and healthier North West of England. We are committed to providing our services in a way that respects the environment, supports the economy, and benefits society.

We value diversity, inclusion and innovation in our workplace, and we foster a culture where our people can grow, excel, and be themselves.

We uphold our ethics, values and business model to fulfil our mission and, by setting clear goals and objectives, we create sustainable long-term value for our colleagues, customers and communities. Whether you work with a team that shares your vision or join a network of peers with similar interests, you will find a welcoming and supportive organisation to be part of.

We’ve got a lot to offer. You’ll be part of a thriving FTSE 100 company and will enjoy a range of core benefits that reflect your value and value contribution.

• Competitive salary + standby payments
• Annual bonus scheme
• Company pension scheme with up to 14% employer contribution
• 26 days’ holiday plus bank holidays, rising with service plus you also have the option to purchase holiday.
• Membership discounts, including gym, retail, travel and technology schemes

Health & Wellbeing

• Healthcare plan
• Free mental health support and wellbeing tools
• Life assurance

Career & Development

• Full training and support, including specialist mechanical training
• Opportunities to diversify into specialist areas (e.g., chlorine gas systems)
• A clear development pathway to upskill into a Flexi Skilled Engineer, giving you broader technical capability across multiple disciplines and increasing your future progression opportunities.
• Career progression across engineering, operations and project delivery

Ready to make a difference?

If you’re a mechanically skilled engineer looking for a role with purpose, variety and long-term career opportunities, we’d love to hear from you.

We rely on every employee to ensure our customers receive the best possible service, day in, day out. In return, we ensure that you will be well rewarded for your efforts, from an excellent salary through to development opportunities that will really kick start a thriving career here at UU.