Mechanical Fitter - Preston - Heysham

National Grid plc; Preston; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 50,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company vehicle from home to work

Paid overtime

Bonus (2025 – up to 4%)

Job summary

National Grid plc is seeking a mechanically biased engineer to maintain and repair equipment across substations. The role involves outdoors work, at height, and performing a range of maintenance activities to keep critical infrastructure running safely.

You will diagnose faults, replace worn parts, install refurbished equipment, and support planned maintenance. Requires a recognised mechanical apprenticeship or NVQ/Level 3, plus driving licence and a proactive approach to fault finding.

Qualifications

• Recognised apprenticeship in Mechanical engineering or NVQ/Level 3 Mechanical with fitting experience.
• Strong mechanical maintenance, overhaul or installation experience.
• Experience stripping, rebuilding and repairing plant and equipment.
• Confidence using hand tools, power tools, precision measuring equipment and torque tools.
• Proactive fault finding and problem solving.
• Commitment to safe working practices and can work at height.
• Full UK driving licence.
• Confidence using a computer and iPad.
• Live within approx. 30 minutes travel to Preston or Heysham.

Responsibilities

• Maintain, repair and overhaul equipment in National Grid substations.
• Diagnose faults and carry out repairs.
• Replace worn components and install refurbished equipment.
• Support planned maintenance and emergency breakdowns.
• Perform routine inspections and condition monitoring.

Skills

Mechanical maintenance

Overhaul experience

Fault finding

Hand tools

Driving licence

Work at height

Proactive problem solving

Education

Recognised apprenticeship

NVQ/Level 3 Mechanical

Tools

Torque tools

Measuring tools

Power tools

Precision measuring equipment

Job description

Keep Britain's electricity network moving — and help power the future.

National Grid is investing heavily in the UK's electricity transmission network, expanding and modernising substations to meet future energy needs. We're growing our Lancashire team and looking for a skilled engineer ready to build a long-term career maintaining some of the country's most critical infrastructure.

Pay and Benefits

• Salary package £40,197 pa including allowance.
• Paid overtime + Bonus (2025 – up to 4%), Company commercial vehicle from home to work.
• Hours - 37 Avg Monday to Friday, Days only (Winter 36 hrs / Summer 38 hrs - 4 day working pattern).

This hands-on, mechanically biased engineering role involves maintaining, repairing and overhauling the equipment that keeps National Grid's Electricity Transmission substations operating safely and efficiently.

Working predominantly outdoors and sometime at height on a mobile platform, you'll carry out a wide range of maintenance activities including:

• Stripping, inspecting and rebuilding mechanical components
• Diagnosing faults and carrying out repairs
• Replacing worn and ageing components including bearings, seals, fasteners and moving parts
• Installing new or refurbished equipment
• Supporting planned maintenance and emergency breakdown response
• Performing routine inspections and condition monitoring

You'll work on specialist equipment including:

• Power transformers
• High-speed on-load tap changers
• Air compressor systems
• Cable systems
• Ancillary equipment across high-voltage substations.

Every day brings new challenges, from rebuilding equipment and aligning components to solving mechanical faults. We'll provide industry-leading training at our Eakring Training Centre in Nottinghamshire, alongside practical site learning, to help you build specialist high-voltage engineering expertise. Training may include occasional stays away from home, supported by overnight and mobility allowances. Some weekend working is required, with paid overtime available.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience

We're keen to hear from candidates with:

• A recognised apprenticeship in Mechanical engineering, or an NVQ/Level 3 Mechanical engineering qualification with relevant fitting experience.
• Strong mechanical maintenance, overhaul or installation experience.
• Experience stripping, rebuilding and repairing plant and equipment.
• Confidence using hand tools, power tools, precision measuring equipment and torque tools.
• A proactive approach to fault finding and problem solving.
• A strong commitment to safe working practices and can work at height.
• A full UK driving licence.
• Confidence using a computer and iPad.
• You live within approximately within 30 minutes travelto Preston or Heysham

It would be great if you also have:

• Experience working on high-voltage equipment
• Previous experience within power generation, utilities, manufacturing, heavy engineering or process industries
• NEBOSH or IOSH qualifications

Please note that visa sponsorship and relocation packages are not available for this role.

Build a career that powers the UK

If you want a role where your skills are valued, your development is supported and your work makes a genuine difference, we'd love to hear from you.

National Grid operates in both the UK and US, with a broad portfolio of energy businesses dedicated to providing safe, reliable, and sustainable power.

From electricity and gas transmission to advancing clean energy and modernising grids, our work covers every aspect of the energy system.

Our energy flows through absolutely everything we do

Life here at National Grid is more than just our purpose or our values, it’s everything we put into everything we do. It’s our commitment to diversity and inclusion; how we help our employees learn and grow; and how we partner with and support the communities where we live and work. It’s all this, and so much more.

We leverage our collective strengths to do meaningful BIG work so that we can be at the heart of a fair and affordable energy future.

Your salary is reviewed each year against the market for your role, skills, knowledge and experience.

Incentive

Annual performance plan or bonus (depending on your role) rewards your contribution to our success each year.

Retirement

Generous pension plan with company contributions up to 12%.

Private medical insurance for self and family.