Engineer
Engineers in the NHS maintain and repair a range of equipment and facilities from ambulances to dialysis machines to air conditioning units. All are vital to a high-quality NHS.
Working life
As an engineer, you could work in different departments using your engineering skills in different ways. You could for example be a:
- biomedical engineer, maintaining and managing medical equipment in operating theatres, intensive care, neonatal units, accident & emergency or radiology
- plant maintenance engineer making sure that water supplies and drainage, electrical systems, boilers and alarms are working well within NHS buildings
- heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) engineer, making sure all hospital areas are safe to use and kept at the right temperature, for example to keep patients warm, or vital supplies cool
- prosthetic engineer, creating and maintaining artificial limbs (prosthetics)
- building services engineer, overseeing the installation and maintenance of systems within buildings, including lighting, lifts, communications and security
Chris Barnett
Engineering craftsperson
Read Chris's storyEngineers will always be needed in the NHS and an engineering apprenticeship is one of the best ways in.

Engineers usually specialise in a branch of engineering such as electrical, mechanical, building services or biomedical, for example.
In some cases engineers work in hospital departments, repairing and maintaining equipment where it has been installed. In other cases, such as in clinical engineering and rehabilitation engineering they work in a workshop where smaller equipment (such as wheelchairs or prosthetics) can be brought for repair.
Other, more senior engineers are responsible for planning and designing rather than hands-on repair work.
Entry requirements
To train as an engineer in the NHS, you need at least 3 GCSEs including English maths and science. Employers may ask for an engineering qualification and some engineering experience. This could be from an engineering apprenticeship, for example.
Engineers can also join the NHS with an accredited engineering qualification, usually a degree or HND in a particular branch of engineering (electrical, mechanical or building services, for example). Employers usually ask for a qualification accredited by the Engineering Council. You can search for courses on their website.
To get onto an engineering degree or HND course you usually need
- two or three A levels, including maths, along with five GCSEs (grades A-C), including English language, maths and at least one science
or alternative qualifications, including
- BTEC or HNC which includes maths and/or engineering
- relevant NVQ
- science-based access course
- equivalent Scottish or Irish qualifications
However, each institution sets its own entry requirements, so it’s important to check carefully.
Personal characteristics and skills
Engineers need to be
- interested in knowing how things work
- interested in continuing to learn
- willing to work at heights or in confined spaces
- physically fit for lifting, standing, etc
- able to work responsibly without supervision
- very health and safety conscious
- willing to work in all areas of a hospital or health centre
You'll also need
- problem-solving skills
- good manual (hand) skills
- organisational skills
Training and development
Engineers joining the NHS will be given the training they need to start the job. This will cover procedures and systems, including IT systems, as well as health and safety.
Qualified engineers can become members of the professional institution for their branch of engineering (see ‘Contact information’, below)
With experience and further qualifications, engineers can apply for incorporated or chartered status. Incorporated and chartered engineers have to keep their skills and knowledge up to date with annual CPD (continuing professional development). Each professional institution runs courses, conferences and seminars where engineers can update their skills and network with others.
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Engineers in the NHS are usually paid on the Agenda for Change (AfC) pay system. Your precise pay depends on the level of your role, education, experience and level of responsibility. If you work in estates support, you could start on AfC band 2. In estates maintenance, you could be on band 3 or 4. With further training and experience, you could apply for more senior positions at bands 5 and above.
Engineers in the NHS work standard hours of around 37.5 a week. They are likely to work shifts including nights and weekends. They may be part of an on-call rota for emergency cover.
Terms and conditions will be different for engineers working outside of the NHS.
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With experience, engineers can apply to become team leaders supervising the work of a team of staff. They can progress to become managers, responsible for a department or area of operations, such as estates and facilities.
Qualified engineers can work outside the NHS. There may be opportunities to work overseas.
If you're applying for a role either directly in the NHS or in an organisation that provides NHS services, you'll be asked to show how you think the NHS values apply in your everyday work. Find out more about NHS values.
Most NHS trusts advertise their vacancies on NHS Jobs. Some of the current vacancies are below.
-
Craftsman (Electrical Engineering)
PLYMOUTH, PL6 8DH
- Salary :
- £27485.00 to £30162.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust
-
Principal Engineer - Electrical
London, WC1N 3JH
- Salary :
- £72921.00 to £83362.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust
-
Junior Electrical Engineer
Gateshead, NE96SX
- Salary :
- £42597.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- QE Facilities
-
Mechanical Engineer Apprentice
Exeter, EX2 5DW
- Salary :
- £27485.00 to £30162.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
-
Mechanical Engineering Craftsperson
Wrexham, LL13 7TD
- Salary :
- £31516.00 to £38364.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board
-
Craftsman (Mechanical Engineering)
Plymouth, PL6 8DH
- Salary :
- £27485.00 to £30162.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust
-
Falkland Islands - Estates Engineer (Mechanical)
Falkland Islands, AA1 1AA
- Salary :
- £28982.00 to £41168.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- Falkland Islands Government
-
Maintenance Engineer Electrical Technician
Poole, BH15 2JB
- Salary :
- £31049.00 to £37796.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust
-
Engineering Technician - Electrical - JR109251
Orpington, BR6 7RG
- Salary :
- £39000.00 to £41500.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Circle Health Group
-
Mechanical Engineering Project Manager
Blackshaw Rd, London, SW17 0QT
- Salary :
- £64156.00 to £71148.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
-
Engineering Technician (Mechanical Bias)
Worthing, BN11 2DH
- Salary :
- £31049.00 to £37796.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (279)
-
Data Engineering Analyst
Torquay, TQ2 7AN
- Salary :
- £55690.00 to £62682.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust
-
Workshop Manager (Engineering)
Sunderland, SR4 7TP
- Salary :
- £41266.00 to £49692.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- City Hospitals Independent Commercial Enterprises Ltd (CHoICE)
-
Junior Building Engineer
Gateshead, NE96SX
- Salary :
- £42597.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- QE Facilities
-
IT Infrastructure Engineer
Hull, HU3 4AE
- Salary :
- £38682.00 to £46580.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- City Health Care Partnership CIC
-
Medical Engineering Technician
Barrow in Furness, LA14 4LF
- Salary :
- £31049.00 to £37796.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust
-
Field Support Engineer
Rotherham, S60 1FL
- Salary :
- £27565.01 to £30459.35
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- MSI Reproductive Choices
-
Principal Data Engineer
Wythenshawe, Manchester, M23 9NR
- Salary :
- £55690.00 to £62682.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust
-
Electronics Service Engineer
Bath, BA1 3NG
- Salary :
- £31049.00 to £37796.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust
-
Advanced Engineer - Plumber
Barrow in Furness, LA14 4LF
- Salary :
- £31049.00 to £37796.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust
-
Estates Shift Engineer (XN05)
Leeds, LS9 7TF
- Salary :
- £31049.00 to £37796.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Leeds Teaching Hospitals
-
Band 5 Medical Engineer
Sutton Coldfield, B75 7RR
- Salary :
- £31049.00 to £37796.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust
-
Head of Data Engineering
Fulwood, Preston, PR2 9WT
- Salary :
- £65000.00 to £75000.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- CHEC
-
Clinical Engineering Assistant/Apprentice
Plymouth, PL6 8DH
- Salary :
- £24465.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust
-
Major Capital Projects Engineer
Liverpool, L9 7AL
- Salary :
- £64455.00 to £74896.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
-
Specialist Clinical Engineering Technician
Darlington, DL3 6HX
- Salary :
- £46078.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- CDD Services (Synchronicity Care Ltd)
-
Lead Cloud & Server Engineer
Exeter or Bristol, EX2 7HY
- Salary :
- £46148.00 to £52809.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust
-
Medical Engineering Team Manager
317 Trustwide, NE7 7DN
- Salary :
- £47810.00 to £54710.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
-
Building Services Engineering Technician
Shepton Mallet, BA4 4LP
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Practice Plus Group
-
Information Manager (Data Engineer)
Manchester, M13 9LL
- Salary :
- £47810.00 to £54710.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- NHS Blood and Transplant
-
Security Systems CCTV Engineer
Scarborough, YO12 6QL
- Salary :
- £31049.00 to £37796.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- York Teaching Hospital Facilities Management (LLP)
-
Voice and Data (Network) Engineer
TBC, LL57 2PW
- Salary :
- £31516.00 to £38364.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board
-
CAD and Information Technical Engineer
Reading, RG1 5AN
- Salary :
- £38682.00 to £46580.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust
-
Digital Support Engineer (Service Support)
Bolton, BL1 5DD
- Salary :
- £27485.00 to £30162.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust
-
Senior Server and Datacentre Engineer
Harrow, HA1 3UJ
- Salary :
- £53751.00 to £60651.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust
-
End User Device (EUD) Support Engineer
Sutton-In-Ashfield, NG17 4JL
- Salary :
- £31049.00 to £37796.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
-
Principal Engineer - Medical Gas, Asbestos & Lifts
London, WC1N 3JH
- Salary :
- £72921.00 to £83362.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust
-
Senior Mathematical Modeller / Research Software Engineer
Birmingham, London, Leeds, Liverpool., E14 4PU
- Salary :
- £40661.00 to £50472.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- UK Health Security Agency
-
Medical Engineering Technician (Home Ventilation & Community)
317 02 Royal Victoria Infirmary, NE1 4LP
- Salary :
- £31049.00 to £37796.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
-
Specialist Medical Engineering Technician (Internal Only)
Victoria Road, Macclesfield, SK10 3BL
- Salary :
- £38682.00 to £46580.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- East Cheshire NHS Trust
-
Mechanical Technician
Crowthorne, RG45 7ET
- Salary :
- £35763.00 to £43466.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- West London NHS Trust
-
Mechanical Fitter
Darlington, DL3 6HX
- Salary :
- £34267.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- QE Facilities
-
Mechanical Craftsperson
Warwick, CV34 5BW
- Salary :
- £31104.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- SWFT Clinical Services Ltd
-
Maintenance Technician - Electrical
Hull, HU3 2JZ
- Salary :
- £31049.00 to £37796.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
-
Mobile Electrical Technician
Slough, SL2 4HL
- Salary :
- £32601.00 to £39686.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust
-
Day Technician (Electrical)
Nottingham, NG7 2UH
- Salary :
- £31049.00 to £37796.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trusts
-
Maintenance Tradesperson (Electrical)
Orpington, Kent, BR6 9JU
- Salary :
- £32199.00 to £34876.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
-
Specialist Craftsperson (Mechanical)
Cambridge, CB2 0QQ
- Salary :
- £31049.00 to £37796.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Cambridge University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
-
Estates Mechanical Technician
Birmingham, B31 2AP
- Salary :
- £31049.00 to £37796.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- The Royal Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
-
Skilled Tradesperson (Mechanical)
Chesterfield, S44 5BL
- Salary :
- £25674.00 to £32503.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
-
Mechanical Estates Officer
London, SE13 6LH
- Salary :
- £47810.00 to £54710.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust
-
Estates Mobile Electrical Technician
Frimley, GU16 7UJ
- Salary :
- £32602.00 to £39686.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust
-
Multi-skilled Technician (Electrical)
Doncaster, DN4 8QN
- Salary :
- £31049.00 to £37796.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Rotherham Doncaster and South Humber NHSFT
-
Estates Maintenance Craftsperson Electrical
Carlisle, CA1 3SX
- Salary :
- £31049.00 to £37796.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust
-
Maintenance Technician Electrical (On Call)
Stafford, ST16 3SR
- Salary :
- £31049.00 to £37796.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
-
Multi-Skilled Maintenance Assistant (Electrical)
Hull, HU16 5JQ
- Salary :
- £24937.00 to £26598.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
-
Multi-Skilled Craftsperson (Electrical Bias)
Burton On Trent, DE13 0RB
- Salary :
- £31607.00 to £34686.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust
-
Electronics / Electro-Mechanical Technician
Kidderminster, DY11 6RJ
- Salary :
- £38682.00 to £46580.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust
-
Estates Officer – Mechanical & Buildings
Harrogate, HG2 7RY
- Salary :
- £47810.00 to £54710.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Harrogate Integrated Facilities
-
Multi-Skilled Tradesperson (Mechanical)
Chesterfield, S44 5BL
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
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