Apprentice Motion Control Engineer

Summary

In this role the candidate will train in several engineering departments of our business before specialising based on personal preference, competence, and company need. The departments will include Applications engineering, Control system electrical and software design, Control panel assembly and wiring, electrical test and commissioning.

Wage

£14,000 a year

£14,000 starting salary reviewed 6 monthly for the first three years.

Training course

Mechatronics maintenance technician (level 3)

Hours

Monday to Thursday 08:30 - 16:30 and Friday, 08:30 - 12:30. With a 30 minute flexible lunch break each day.

34 hours a week

Start date

Monday 1 September 2025

Duration

3 years 6 months

Positions available

1

Work

Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.

What you'll do at work

Key duties for the role are as follows:

• Develop motion control solutions based on customer requirements
• Liaise with customers to understand and develop applications
• Design electrical control systems and write PLC programs based on a written specification
• Test and commission control systems
• Provide technical support to customers over the phone or via remote services
• Support the sales team with technical product knowledge
• Provide technical support to the manufacturing staff
• The role will include a significant customer facing element

Where you'll work

RAYNE ROAD
BRAINTREE
CM7 2QS

Training

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

College or training organisation

COLCHESTER INSTITUTE

Your training course

Mechatronics maintenance technician (level 3)

What you'll learn

• Use information technology, for example to create documentation, communication and information management.
• Obtain, read and interpret task related documentation, such as work instructions, quality control documents, drawings, operation manuals, specifications and service manuals.
• Record information for example job sheets, risk assessments, equipment service records, test results, handover documents and manufacturers' documentation, asset management records, work sheets, checklists, waste environmental records and any legal reporting requirements.
• Conduct initial assessment of equipment that requires maintenance.
• Formulate plans setting out the methodology of the maintenance activity including timescales and resources.
• Select, prepare and use material, consumables, tools and equipment.
• Comply with health and safety regulations and organisational requirements applicable in the workplace. For example, COSHH, PUWER, LOLER, PPE and applying safe systems of work.
• Apply dynamic risk assessment, hazard identification and risk mitigation principles and techniques.
• Apply isolation principles and techniques to equipment undergoing maintenance, including dissipation of stored energies as required.
• Manufacture, repair and refurbish components using hand and machine tools.
• Restore the workplace on completion of the maintenance activity. Handover resources, consumables and equipment to process owner.
• Apply the techniques and processes used in reactive maintenance and repair activities on complex engineered systems such as electrical, electronic, mechanical, fluid power and control systems.
• Produce, maintain, update, record and store documentation including electronic items such as PLC and robot programmes.
• Apply techniques and processes used in planned and preventative maintenance activities on engineered systems such as electrical, electronic, mechanical, fluid power and control systems.
• Apply functional testing and checking techniques and processes after maintenance interventions, and handover to the operational team.
• Apply techniques and processes used in condition monitoring, non-destructive or sensory testing. Record findings and take necessary actions.
• Apply calculation techniques such as, feeds, speeds, tolerances, electrical calculations using Ohms law, power calculations and cable sizing calculations.
• Select, use and confirm calibration of electrical and mechanical testing and measuring equipment.
• Produce sketches or drawings to support maintenance activities.
• Communicate in writing. Prepare communications, documents and reports on technical matters.
• Segregate, separate and dispose of waste streams and by-products.
• Apply 4S or 5S principles of housekeeping to the work environment.
• Identify opportunities and make recommendations to improve operational performance.
• Apply continuous improvement techniques.
• Communicate with others verbally. Negotiate with colleagues or stakeholders. For example, to access equipment or arrange access to equipment.
• Follow equity, diversity and inclusion procedures.
• Carry out and record planned and unplanned learning and development activities.
• Apply fault finding techniques used in reactive maintenance on complex integrated systems including half split, input output, six point technique, function or performance testing, unit or component substitution and equipment diagnostics.
• Use information technology, for example to create documentation, communication and information management.
• Obtain, read and interpret task related documentation, such as work instructions, quality control documents, drawings, operation manuals, specifications and service manuals.
• Record information for example job sheets, risk assessments, equipment service records, test results, handover documents and manufacturers' documentation, asset management records, work sheets, checklists, waste environmental records and any legal reporting requirements.
• Conduct initial assessment of equipment that requires maintenance.
• Formulate plans setting out the methodology of the maintenance activity including timescales and resources.
• Select, prepare and use material, consumables, tools and equipment.
• Comply with health and safety regulations and organisational requirements applicable in the workplace. For example, COSHH, PUWER, LOLER, PPE and applying safe systems of work.
• Apply dynamic risk assessment, hazard identification and risk mitigation principles and techniques.
• Apply isolation principles and techniques to equipment undergoing maintenance, including dissipation of stored energies as required.
• Manufacture, repair and refurbish components using hand and machine tools.
• Restore the workplace on completion of the maintenance activity. Handover resources, consumables and equipment to process owner.
• Apply the techniques and processes used in reactive maintenance and repair activities on complex engineered systems such as electrical, electronic, mechanical, fluid power and control systems.
• Produce, maintain, update, record and store documentation including electronic items such as PLC and robot programmes.
• Apply techniques and processes used in planned and preventative maintenance activities on engineered systems such as electrical, electronic, mechanical, fluid power and control systems.
• Apply functional testing and checking techniques and processes after maintenance interventions, and handover to the operational team.
• Apply techniques and processes used in condition monitoring, non-destructive or sensory testing. Record findings and take necessary actions.
• Apply calculation techniques such as, feeds, speeds, tolerances, electrical calculations using Ohms law, power calculations and cable sizing calculations.
• Select, use and confirm calibration of electrical and mechanical testing and measuring equipment.
• Produce sketches or drawings to support maintenance activities.
• Communicate in writing. Prepare communications, documents and reports on technical matters.
• Segregate, separate and dispose of waste streams and by-products.
• Apply 4S or 5S principles of housekeeping to the work environment.
• Identify opportunities and make recommendations to improve operational performance.
• Apply continuous improvement techniques.
• Communicate with others verbally. Negotiate with colleagues or stakeholders. For example, to access equipment or arrange access to equipment.
• Follow equity, diversity and inclusion procedures.
• Carry out and record planned and unplanned learning and development activities.
• Apply fault finding techniques used in reactive maintenance on complex integrated systems including half split, input output, six point technique, function or performance testing, unit or component substitution and equipment diagnostics.

Your training plan

• The Apprentice will be working towards the Level 3 Mechatronics Maintenance Technician Apprenticeship Standard
• Qualifications include the EAL Level 3 Diploma in Advanced Manufacturing Engineering
• All college attendance will be at Colchester Institute at our Colchester Campus one day per week

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

Desirable qualifications

GCSE in:

Let the company know about other relevant qualifications and industry experience you have. They can adjust the apprenticeship to reflect what you already know.

Skills

• Communication skills
• IT skills
• Attention to detail
• Problem solving skills
• Number skills
• Analytical skills
• Initiative

Other requirements

The apprenticeship will require the candidate to work in every department of our business before specialising. Most of these roles are office based. Workshop based tasks may require long periods of standing. Periodically It may be necessary to make overnight business trips, either to customer sites or to industry events. Foreign trips (normally EU) may be required so a Passport is required.