Overview
Mechanical Field Service Engineer role at United Utilities. Salary £38,462. Work Type: Onsite. Job Location: Franklaw Water Treatment Works, Catterall Lane, Catterall, Preston, Lancashire, PR3 0PJ. 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. 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 with a range of core benefits that reflect your value and contribution.
The Role
The Role: As a Field Service Engineer (Mechanical), you’ll deliver expert maintenance and technical support to ensure mechanical systems and powered assets operate safely, efficiently, and reliably. Your work supports 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 demanding 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.
Responsibilities
* 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, responsibilities include:
* Perform planned and reactive mechanical maintenance across multiple sites, ensuring work is completed safely, efficiently, and within required timeframes.
* Act as the Person Controlling the Works (PCW) for mechanical activities carried out by framework contractors, ensuring full safety, quality, and budgetary control compliance.
* Collaborate with the Process Controller to ensure mechanical systems support optimal telemetry alarm settings and visibility of asset performance.
* Maintain accurate mechanical asset data and maintenance records within corporate systems to support operational decision-making.
* Support environmental compliance by ensuring mechanically powered assets meet Environment Agency regulatory standards.
* Minimise downtime and support biogas energy targets by identifying root causes of mechanical inefficiencies and implementing long-term solutions.
* Contribute to contingency planning by ensuring critical mechanical spares are available at high-risk sites, particularly those involved in resource recovery.
* Coordinate and support contractors during mechanical project delivery or site interventions, ensuring work is well planned, risk-assessed, and aligned with operational needs.
Essential Skills & Experience
* Time-served apprentice or equivalent, with academic qualifications to a minimum of NVQ Level 3
* Full UK driving licence
* Industry experience
* Ability to work in a team but also alone, and sometimes in confined spaces
* Willingness to diversify into specialised areas of maintenance, such as chlorine gas systems
* Diagnostic, organisational, planning, communication and computer skills
This role may not be eligible for visa sponsorship.
Additional Information
We are seeking a skilled Mechanical Engineer with a clear pathway to develop Electrical or Instrumentation capabilities. This role is offered initially as a single-skilled position, with opportunities to upskill into a flexi-skilled role through our in-house training programme. Upon successful training and competency sign-off in the secondary discipline, the role will transition to a flexi-skilled position. The starting salary is £38,462, with progression to £44,320 once fully trained and signed off in the secondary skill.
We rely on every employee to ensure our customers receive the best possible service, and we reward effort with an excellent salary and development opportunities.
Benefitsof note: 26 days annual leave (increasing to 30 days after four years), 8 bank holidays, pension with up to 14% employer contribution, life cover, bonus scheme, healthcare, and other voluntary benefits.
Disclaimer: This role may not be eligible for visa sponsorship.
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