Clinical engineering
Clinical engineering staff check and maintain medical equipment to make sure it is safe to use and operating correctly.
Hospitals and NHS staff in the community rely on an increasingly wide range of medical equipment to provide excellent care to patients, so your role is vitally important.
Life as a clinical engineer
You’ll need a background in electronic or mechanical engineering and the confidence and willingness to take a hands-on approach.
You’ll enjoy a varied and exciting role maintaining and ensuring the safety of a wide range of medical equipment. This could range from simple devices such as nebulisers to sophisticated and life-saving equipment like radiotherapy linear accelerators.
With experience, you can develop your role and gain greater responsibility to modify and construct equipment.
You will be responsible for managing medical equipment through its life cycle, ensuring that parts are replaced, guaranteeing that machines are always safe to use.
A typical day may include:
- testing new equipment
- introducing equipment and devices into service
- advising on the correct use of equipment
- addressing patient safety issues
- safely disposing of old devices
Hollie Owen
Apprentice medical engineer
Read Hollie's storyIt makes me feel good knowing that the equipment I fixed will go and help a patient get the treatment they need.

How much can I earn?
You’ll be employed on a national pay and conditions system called Agenda for Change (AfC). Below are examples of the pay band you’ll be on, depending on your role within neurophysiology:
- healthcare science assistant – B2/3
- healthcare science associate – B4
- healthcare science practitioner – B5
- Cclinical scientist – B6/7/8a
- consultant clinical scientist – B8a-d
How about the benefits?
- make a difference
- flexible and part-time working
- high income early in your career
- work anywhere in the world
- excellent pension scheme
- good holiday entitlement
- NHS discounts in shops and restaurants
How to become a clinical engineer
Starting your career in clinical engineering might be easier than you think. You could undertake study at university or find an apprenticeship that takes you straight into a job.
There are a wide variety of entry levels into clinical engineering such as assistant or level 2 apprenticeships, associate practitioner roles, level 4 apprenticeships.
There are also Bachelor degrees/degree apprenticeships, Master’s degrees and Higher Specialist Scientist Training.
See ‘How to become a healthcare science professional’ for details.
Must-have skills
- excellent communication skills to manage a wide range of relationships with colleagues, patients and their families
- emotional resilience, a calm temperament and the ability to work well under pressure
- teamwork and the capacity to lead multidisciplinary teams
- problem-solving and diagnostic skills
- outstanding organisational ability and effective decision-making skills
- first-class time and resource management for the benefit of patients
Entry requirements
There are several different ways to start your career in clinical engineering, depending on your experience and qualifications.
Apprenticeship
You could look for an entry level job/level 2 apprenticeship – typically GCSEs 9-4/A-C in maths, English and a science. If an apprenticeship feels right for you, you’ll need 5 GCSEs at 9-4/A-C (or equivalent) including maths, English and science or Level 2 Diploma in Healthcare Science to start a level 4 apprenticeship.
Associate practitioner
An associate practitioner role is another route to a career in clinical engineering. You’ll likely require foundation degree, or equivalent experience with training and experience to NVQ level 3.
Degree-level qualification
A level 6 apprenticeship or degree course require relevant level 3 qualifications, for example three A-levels (including at least one science subject) or an Access to higher education course.
Post-graduate
To start the NHS Scientist Training Programme, you’ll need a 1st or 2:1 in relevant first degree or relevant higher degree and 2:2 in a relevant subject.
Higher Specialist Scientist Training is available for registered clinical scientists with relevant MSc or specialist diploma.
Where a career in clinical engineering can take you
Working in clinical engineering can lead to registration as a Clinical Scientist. You can then move into senior and consultant Clinical Scientist roles, through the Higher Specialist Scientist Training (HSST) programme.
It can also lead to careers in academia, research, industry, management and leadership and training.
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Senior Medical Engineer/Medical Engineer
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- Salary :
- £31049.00 to £46580.00
- Type :
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- Employer :
- Harrogate Integrated Facilities
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Clinical Engineer
317 01 Freeman Hospital, NE7 7DN
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- £47810.00 to £54710.00
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- Employer :
- The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
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Clinical Engineering Technician
Brighton, BN2 5BE
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- £31049.00 to £37796.00
- Type :
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- Employer :
- University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (279)
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Principal Engineer - Medical Gas, Asbestos & Lifts
London, WC1N 3JH
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- £72921.00 to £83362.00
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- Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust
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Group Head of Medical Physics and Clinical Engineering
Cottingham, HU16 5JQ
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- £109179.00 to £125637.00
- Type :
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- Employer :
- Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
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Specialist Clinical Engineering Technician
Darlington, DL3 6HX
- Salary :
- £46078.00
- Type :
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- Employer :
- CDD Services (Synchronicity Care Ltd)
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Senior Clinical Engineering Specialist
Brighton, BN2 5BE
- Salary :
- £38682.00 to £46580.00
- Type :
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- Employer :
- University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (279)
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Specialist Medical Engineering Technician (Internal Only)
Victoria Road, Macclesfield, SK10 3BL
- Salary :
- £38682.00 to £46580.00
- Type :
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- Employer :
- East Cheshire NHS Trust
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Infrastructure Engineer
Gosforth, NE3 3XT
- Salary :
- £37338.00 to £44962.00
- Type :
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- Employer :
- Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and wear (CNTW) NHS Foundation Trust
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Decontamination Engineer
Cambridge, CB2 0SN
- Salary :
- £38682.00 to £46580.00
- Type :
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- Employer :
- Cambridge University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
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Mechanical Engineer
Exeter, EX2 5DW
- Salary :
- £27485.00 to £30162.00
- Type :
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- Employer :
- Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
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Maintenance Engineer
Tadworth, KT20 5RU
- Salary :
- £38000.00
- Type :
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- Employer :
- The Children's Trust
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Craftsman (Electrical Engineering)
PLYMOUTH, PL6 8DH
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- £27485.00 to £30162.00
- Type :
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- Employer :
- University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust
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Mechanical Engineer Apprentice
Exeter, EX2 5DW
- Salary :
- £27485.00 to £30162.00
- Type :
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- Employer :
- Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
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Mechanical Engineering Craftsperson
Wrexham, LL13 7TD
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- £31516.00 to £38364.00
- Type :
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- Employer :
- Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board
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Senior Engineer - Huntingdon
Huntingdon, PE29 6NT
- Salary :
- £55690.00 to £62682.00
- Type :
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- Employer :
- North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust
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Junior Electrical Engineer
Gateshead, NE96SX
- Salary :
- £42597.00
- Type :
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- Employer :
- QE Facilities
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Principal Engineer - Electrical
London, WC1N 3JH
- Salary :
- £72921.00 to £83362.00
- Type :
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- Employer :
- Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust
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Network Operations Engineer
Seaton Delaval, NE25 0QJ
- Salary :
- £31049.00 to £37796.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
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Craftsman (Mechanical Engineering)
Plymouth, PL6 8DH
- Salary :
- £27485.00 to £30162.00
- Type :
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- Employer :
- University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust
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Ambulance Vehicle Engineer
Coventry, CV6 6JR
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- £29970.00 to £36483.00
- Type :
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- Employer :
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Electronics Service Engineer
Bath, BA1 3NG
- Salary :
- £31049.00 to £37796.00
- Type :
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- Employer :
- Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust
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Digital Field Engineer
Colchester, CO4 9QS
- Salary :
- £31049.00 to £37796.00
- Type :
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- Employer :
- Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
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Advanced Engineer - Plumber
Barrow in Furness, LA14 4LF
- Salary :
- £31049.00 to £37796.00
- Type :
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- Employer :
- East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust
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Major Capital Projects Engineer
Liverpool, L9 7AL
- Salary :
- £64455.00 to £74896.00
- Type :
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- Employer :
- Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
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Senior Systems Test Engineer
Barnsley, S75 3FG
- Salary :
- £47810.00 to £54710.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- NHS Blood and Transplant
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Plumbing and Heating Engineer
Abergavenny, NP7 7EG
- Salary :
- £31516.00 to £38364.00
- Type :
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- Employer :
- Aneurin Bevan University Health Board
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Senior Multi-skilled Engineer
Bristol, BS10 5NB
- Salary :
- £38682.00 to £46580.00
- Type :
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- Employer :
- North Bristol NHS Trust
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Engineering Technician (Mechanical Bias)
Worthing, BN11 2DH
- Salary :
- £31049.00 to £37796.00
- Type :
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- Employer :
- University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (279)
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Engineering Technician - Electrical - JR109251
Orpington, BR6 7RG
- Salary :
- £39000.00 to £41500.00
- Type :
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- Employer :
- Circle Health Group
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Security Systems CCTV Engineer
Scarborough, YO12 6QL
- Salary :
- £31049.00 to £37796.00
- Type :
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- York Teaching Hospital Facilities Management (LLP)
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Vehicle Technician/Fleet Engineer - Nursling
Southampton, SO16 0YU
- Salary :
- £39150.31 to £45805.00
- Type :
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- Employer :
- South Central Fleet Services Ltd
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Vehicle Technician/Fleet Engineer - Aylesbury
Aylesbury, HP20 1BH
- Salary :
- £39150.31 to £45805.00
- Type :
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- Employer :
- South Central Fleet Services Ltd
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Unified Desktop Windows 11 Engineer
Basildon, SS16 5NL
- Salary :
- £31049.00
- Type :
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- Employer :
- Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust
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Vehicle Technician/Fleet Engineer - Didcot
Didcot, OX11 8RY
- Salary :
- £39150.31 to £45805.00
- Type :
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- Employer :
- South Central Fleet Services Ltd
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Senior Mathematical Modeller / Research Software Engineer
Birmingham, London, Leeds, Liverpool., E14 4PU
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- Type :
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- UK Health Security Agency
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Medical and Clinical Administrator
Telford, TF3 4NF
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- Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
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Medical Secretary - Clinical Chemistry
Liverpool, L7 8YE
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- £27485.00 to £30162.00
- Type :
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- Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
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Deputy Chief Medical Officer for Clinical Effectiveness
Bath, BA1 3QE
- Salary :
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- Type :
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- Avon & Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust
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Clinical Tutor – London North Medical Physics Training Consortium
London, W6 8RF
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- £64156.00 to £71148.00
- Type :
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- Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust
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