Network Asset Engineer (single skilled mechanic)

United Utilities; Manchester; On-site; GBP 36,000 - 44,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual leave 26+8 days

Pension contribution up to 14%

Performance bonus up to 7.5%

Healthcare plan

Wellbeing benefits

EVolve Car Scheme

Employee discounts

Assistance Programme

Parental leave

Job summary

United Utilities in the North West region seeks a Network Asset Engineer (Single Skilled Mechanical) to maintain and improve wastewater assets across the North Manchester / Pennine region.

You will deliver planned, reactive and proactive mechanical maintenance on pumping stations, screens and detention tanks, identify root causes and implement solutions to enhance reliability, safety and regulatory compliance.

Qualifications

• Time-served apprenticeship in Mechanical Engineering or a relevant mechanical discipline.
• NVQ Level 3 or City & Guilds Level 3 qualification in Mechanical Engineering or an equivalent technical discipline.
• Strong fault-finding and problem-solving skills.
• The ability to work independently and use initiative in a dynamic operational environment.
• Good communication and interpersonal skills.
• Strong organisational and time management capabilities.
• Good analytical skills and the ability to investigate asset performance issues.
• Strong IT skills and confidence in using maintenance and asset management systems.
• The ability to work collaboratively across operational teams.
• A full UK Manual Driving Licence.

Responsibilities

• Carrying out planned, reactive and proactive mechanical maintenance activities across wastewater network assets.
• Investigating equipment failures and conducting root cause analysis to identify permanent solutions.
• Responding to alarms, customer reports and operational incidents as part of the first-line response team.
• Supporting the reliability and availability of pumping stations, powered screens, detention tanks and associated mechanical assets.
• Assisting with the review and optimisation of telemetry alarm settings.
• Identifying follow-on work and capital investment requirements through Problem Notes and Plant Failure Reports.
• Working with Network Asset Controllers and operational teams to ensure asset records remain accurate and up to date.
• Ensuring all maintenance activities and asset information are accurately recorded within company systems.
• Supporting compliance with Environmental Agency permit requirements and company operational standards.
• Proactively identifying ways to reduce repeat failures, pollution incidents and flooding events.
• Acting as Person Controlling the Works (PCW) for mechanical activities carried out by framework contractors.
• Managing and coordinating contractor activities to ensure work is completed safely, on time and within budget.
• Supporting the review of Site Contingency Plans and ensuring critical spare parts remain available.
• Promoting a positive health and safety culture and ensuring full compliance with company policies and procedures.

Skills

Time-served apprenticeship

NVQ Level 3 / City & Guilds 3

Fault finding

Independent working

Communication

Organisational skills

Analytical skills

IT skills

Teamwork

UK driving licence

Education

Time-served apprenticeship in Mechanical Engineering

NVQ Level 3 / City & Guilds Level 3

Job description

Network Asset Engineer (Single Skilled Mechanical)

Location: North Manchester / Pennine Region
Salary: £40,232
Contract Type: Permanent
Working Pattern: Full Time, 37 Hours Per Week
Work Type: Onsite

Help Maintain Critical Wastewater Infrastructure Across the North West

At United Utilities, our purpose is to deliver great water for a stronger, greener and healthier North West. Every day, we provide essential water and wastewater services to millions of customers while protecting the environment and supporting the communities we serve.

We're looking for a skilled and motivated Network Asset Engineer (Single Skilled Mechanical) to join our Wastewater Network team focussing on the North Manchester / Pennine region

This is an exciting opportunity for a mechanically qualified engineer to play a key role in maintaining and improving the performance of critical wastewater assets, helping to protect the environment, prevent flooding incidents and ensure reliable services for communities across the region.

If you enjoy fault finding, problem solving and working hands-on with a wide variety of equipment, this could be the perfect opportunity to further your engineering career within one of the UK's leading utility companies.

The Role

As a Network Asset Engineer, you'll deliver an effective and efficient mechanical maintenance service across a range of Wastewater Network assets, including pumping stations, powered screens and detention tanks.

You'll be responsible for undertaking reactive, planned and proactive maintenance activities, identifying the root causes of asset failures and implementing solutions that improve reliability and operational performance.

Working closely with operational teams, contractors and stakeholders, you'll help ensure wastewater assets continue to operate safely, efficiently and in compliance with all regulatory requirements.

What You'll Be Doing

• Carrying out planned, reactive and proactive mechanical maintenance activities across wastewater network assets.
• Investigating equipment failures and conducting root cause analysis to identify permanent solutions.
• Responding to alarms, customer reports and operational incidents as part of the first-line response team.
• Supporting the reliability and availability of pumping stations, powered screens, detention tanks and associated mechanical assets.
• Assisting with the review and optimisation of telemetry alarm settings.
• Identifying follow-on work and capital investment requirements through Problem Notes and Plant Failure Reports.
• Working with Network Asset Controllers and operational teams to ensure asset records remain accurate and up to date.
• Ensuring all maintenance activities and asset information are accurately recorded within company systems.
• Supporting compliance with Environmental Agency permit requirements and company operational standards.
• Proactively identifying ways to reduce repeat failures, pollution incidents and flooding events.
• Acting as Person Controlling the Works (PCW) for mechanical activities carried out by framework contractors.
• Managing and coordinating contractor activities to ensure work is completed safely, on time and within budget.
• Supporting the review of Site Contingency Plans and ensuring critical spare parts remain available.
• Promoting a positive health and safety culture and ensuring full compliance with company policies and procedures.

What We're Looking For

We're seeking a practical and technically capable engineer with strong mechanical maintenance experience and a proactive approach to asset reliability.

You’ll have:

• A time-served apprenticeship in Mechanical Engineering or a relevant mechanical discipline.
• NVQ Level 3 or City & Guilds Level 3 qualification in Mechanical Engineering or an equivalent technical discipline.
• Strong fault-finding and problem-solving skills.
• The ability to work independently and use initiative in a dynamic operational environment.
• Good communication and interpersonal skills.
• Strong organisational and time management capabilities.
• Good analytical skills and the ability to investigate asset performance issues.
• Strong IT skills and confidence in using maintenance and asset management systems.
• The ability to work collaboratively across operational teams.
• A full UK Manual Driving Licence.

Desirable Experience

It would be beneficial if you have:

• Experience maintaining wastewater, water, utilities or industrial process assets.
• An understanding of wastewater network operations and maintenance activities.
• Knowledge of wastewater network non-infrastructure policies and procedures.
• Experience working on pumping equipment, mechanical process assets and associated infrastructure.
• Knowledge of asset reliability and preventative maintenance principles.

Working Environment

This is a hands-on operational role that involves working across a variety of wastewater network sites.

The successful candidate will:

• Participate in an out-of-hours standby rota.
• Be required to respond to emergency call-outs within a reasonable timeframe.
• Work in a physically demanding environment that may include:
• Climbing ladders
• Working at heights
• Accessing manholes
• Entering confined spaces
• Working from elevated access platforms

Comprehensive training and support will be provided to develop the skills and competencies required for the role.

Why Join United Utilities?

As one of the UK's leading FTSE 100 organisations, we offer a competitive rewards package designed to support your wellbeing, development and long-term career ambitions.

Our benefits include:

• 26 days annual leave plus 8 bank holidays, increasing to 30 days with service
• Competitive pension scheme with up to 14% employer contribution
• Up to 7.5% performance-related bonus
• Company-funded healthcare plan
• MyGymDiscounts and wellbeing benefits
• Best Doctors service
• Salary Finance support
• Wealth at Work financial wellbeing programmes
• Employee discounts and retail offers
• EVolve Car Scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Mental Health First Aiders
• ShareBuy scheme
• MORE Choices flexible benefits package
• Enhanced parental leave policies

Build Your Engineering Career with United Utilities

This is an opportunity to join a team responsible for maintaining the critical infrastructure that keeps wastewater services running safely and efficiently across the North West.

If you’re a mechanically qualified engineer looking for a rewarding role with excellent development opportunities and the chance to make a real impact every day, we’d love to hear from you.