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.
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Building Services Engineer Electrical/Mechanical/Plumbing
Lancaster, LA1 4RP
- Salary :
- £38682.00 to £46580.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust
-
Estates Engineer - Mechanical
Huntingdon, PE29 6NT
- Salary :
- £47810.00 to £54710.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust
-
Advanced Engineer - Mechanical
Barrow in Furness, LA14 4LF
- Salary :
- £31049.00 to £37796.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust
-
Mechanical Engineer
Exeter, EX2 5DW
- Salary :
- £27485.00 to £30162.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
-
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
-
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
-
Multi skilled Services Engineer - Mechanical
London, SW10 9NH
- Salary :
- £37259.00 to £45356.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
-
Falkland Islands - Estates Engineer (Mechanical)
Falkland Islands, AA1 1AA
- Salary :
- £28982.00 to £41168.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- Falkland Islands Government
-
Engineering Technician - Electrical - JR109251
Orpington, BR6 7RG
- Salary :
- £39000.00 to £41500.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Circle Health Group
-
Engineering Technician (Mechanical Bias)
Worthing, BN11 2DH
- Salary :
- £31049.00 to £37796.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (279)
-
Clinical Engineering Assistant - Mechanical Services
Plymouth, PL6 8DH
- Salary :
- £24465.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust
-
Senior Medical Engineer/Medical Engineer
Harrogate, HG2 7SX
- Salary :
- £31049.00 to £46580.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Harrogate Integrated Facilities
-
Production Engineer
Exeter, EX2 5DW
- Salary :
- £27485.00 to £30162.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
-
Infrastructure Engineer
Gosforth, NE3 3XT
- Salary :
- £37338.00 to £44962.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and wear (CNTW) NHS Foundation Trust
-
Clinical Engineer
317 01 Freeman Hospital, NE7 7DN
- Salary :
- £47810.00 to £54710.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
-
EBME Engineer
Stockport, SK2 7JE
- Salary :
- £31049.00 to £37796.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Stockport NHS Foundation Trust
-
Decontamination Engineer
Cambridge, CB2 0SN
- Salary :
- £38682.00 to £46580.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Cambridge University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
-
Maintenance Engineer
Tadworth, KT20 5RU
- Salary :
- £38000.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- The Children's Trust
-
IT Operations Engineer
Crowborough, TN6 1XP
- Salary :
- £24826.00 to £30673.50
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Horder Healthcare
-
Senior Engineer - Huntingdon
Huntingdon, PE29 6NT
- Salary :
- £55690.00 to £62682.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust
-
Clinical Engineering Technician
Brighton, BN2 5BE
- Salary :
- £31049.00 to £37796.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (279)
-
Network Operations Engineer
Seaton Delaval, NE25 0QJ
- Salary :
- £31049.00 to £37796.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
-
Medical Engineering Technician
Sutton in Ashfield, NG17 4JL
- Salary :
- £31049.00 to £37796.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
-
Field Support Engineer
Rotherham, S60 1FL
- Salary :
- £27565.01 to £30459.35
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- MSI Reproductive Choices
-
EME Bed Engineer
Guildford, GU2 7XX
- Salary :
- £31469.00 to £38307.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Royal Surrey 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
-
Digital Field Engineer
Colchester, CO4 9QS
- Salary :
- £31049.00 to £37796.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
-
IT Integration Engineer
Bath, BA1 3NG
- Salary :
- £47810.00 to £54710.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Royal United Hospitals Bath 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
-
Estates Senior Engineering Technician
Grays, RM16 2PX
- Salary :
- £38682.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust
-
Junior Technical Support Engineer
Rochdale, OL12 0NB
- Salary :
- £27485.00 to £30162.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust
-
Specialist Clinical Engineering Technician
Darlington, DL3 6HX
- Salary :
- £46078.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- CDD Services (Synchronicity Care Ltd)
-
Plumbing and Heating Engineer
Abergavenny, NP7 7EG
- Salary :
- £31516.00 to £38364.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Aneurin Bevan University Health Board
-
Nova Digital Field Engineer
Basildon, SS16 5NL
- Salary :
- £31049.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust
-
Senior Multi-skilled Engineer
Bristol, BS10 5NB
- Salary :
- £38682.00 to £46580.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- North Bristol NHS Trust
-
Senior Clinical Engineering Specialist
Brighton, BN2 5BE
- Salary :
- £38682.00 to £46580.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (279)
-
Clinical Engineering Support / Driver
Norwich, NR6 5DR
- Salary :
- £24465.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust
-
Building Services Engineering Technician
Shepton Mallet, BA4 4LP
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Practice Plus Group
-
Software Engineer - 36 hours
Warwick, CV34 6RQ
- Salary :
- £50000.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS)
-
Estates Maintenance Engineering Manager (Projects)
London, UB1 3EU
- Salary :
- £51883.00 to £58544.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- West London NHS Trust
-
Vehicle Technician/Fleet Engineer - Nursling
Southampton, SO16 0YU
- Salary :
- £39150.31 to £45805.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- South Central Fleet Services Ltd
-
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
-
Vehicle Technician/Fleet Engineer - Aylesbury
Aylesbury, HP20 1BH
- Salary :
- £39150.31 to £45805.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- South Central Fleet Services Ltd
-
Unified Desktop Windows 11 Engineer
Basildon, SS16 5NL
- Salary :
- £31049.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust
-
IT Support Engineer 1st Line
Fulwood, Preston, PR2 9WT
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- CHEC
-
Senior Public Health Analytics Engineer
London, N1C 4AG
- Salary :
- £55581.00 to £63438.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- London Borough of Camden
-
Senior Public Health Analytics Engineer
London, N1C 4AG
- Salary :
- £55581.00 to £63438.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- London Borough of Camden
-
Vehicle Technician/Fleet Engineer - Didcot
Didcot, OX11 8RY
- Salary :
- £39150.31 to £45805.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- South Central Fleet Services Ltd
-
Medical Engineering Entry Level Technologist
Shrewsbury, SY3 8XQ
- Salary :
- £27485.00 to £30162.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust
-
Band 4 - Clinical Engineering, Environment
Watford, WD18 0HB
- Salary :
- £28860.00 to £31671.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS 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
-
Engineering Maintenance Assistant - Grange University Hospital
Cwmbran, NP44 8YN
- Salary :
- £25313.00 to £26999.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Aneurin Bevan University Health Board
-
Group Head of Medical Physics and Clinical Engineering
Cottingham, HU16 5JQ
- Salary :
- £109179.00 to £125637.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
-
Electrical Manager
London, SW10 9NH
- Salary :
- £64156.00 to £71148.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
-
Electrical Craftsperson
London, E1 4DG
- Salary :
- £33094.00 to £36195.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Barts Health NHS Trust
-
Electrical Craftsperson
Dorchester, DT1 2JY
- Salary :
- £27485.00 to £30162.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
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