Apprentice Engineer (Level 3 Maintenance & Operations Engineer Technician)

Develop technical skills, knowledge and behaviours to support the safe, efficient and reliable operation of a high volume tissue manufacturing plant. Working alongside experienced engineers, learning how to maintain, repair and improve production equipment, contributing to a culture of safety, quality and continuous improvement.

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

Requirements

• GCSE in 5 subjects including Maths, English and Science (grade C / 4 or equivalent)
• Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.
• Communication skills
• IT skills
• Attention to detail
• Problem solving skills
• Non judgemental
• Patience
• Willingness to work at Optimus Point (Roman Avenue, Leicester, LE3 8JS) by the end of Q4 in 2026, with car share available.

Responsibilities

• Work towards completing the engineering apprenticeship, including on the job learning and college requirements
• Develop core mechanical and electrical skills for tissue converting, packaging and automation equipment
• Build competence in fault finding, diagnostics and basic repairs under supervision
• Support planned preventative maintenance (PPM) activities to keep equipment safe and reliable
• Assist with breakdown response and learn to identify root causes and corrective actions
• Maintain accurate engineering records, logs and documentation
• Follow all Health and Safety procedures, maintain 5S standards and report hazards promptly
• Contribute to continuous improvement projects and support engineering upgrades and installations
• Work collaboratively with Engineers, Supervisors and the Production team
• Communicate clearly, show initiative and demonstrate a positive, proactive attitude toward learning
• Review and use information (e.g., work instructions, drawings, design specifications, plant configurations)
• Use planning, prioritising, organising, and time management techniques to plan tasks
• Identify and organise resources to complete tasks (e.g., consumables)
• Respond and adapt to work demands (e.g., adapt working methods, re-prioritise workloads)
• Identify equipment to work on and check plant configuration
• Prepare the work area for maintenance tasks
• Identify environmental and health and safety hazards and risks and apply control measures
• Apply health, safety, and environmental procedures in compliance with regulations, standards, and guidance (e.g., signage, barriers, working at height, confined spaces, COSHH)
• Follow security procedures (e.g., site access, document classification, securing assets)
• Follow emergency incident and response procedures
• Apply sustainability principles (e.g., minimising waste)
• Segregate items for reuse, recycling, and waste
• Use mathematical principles and formulae to support engineering maintenance
• Apply engineering maintenance standards and procedures
• Apply foreign material exclusion procedures
• Follow maintenance tools and equipment control procedures (e.g., handling, storage)
• Reinstate the work area
• Apply team working principles
• Communicate with others to give and receive information (e.g., colleagues, customers, stakeholders)
• Escalate issues outside limits of responsibility
• Record information
• Produce or amend documents (e.g., handover notes, reports)
• Identify and highlight issues on technical drawings
• Use digital and information technology (e.g., databases, data sharing platforms, email, management information systems, word processing) and follow cyber security and GDPR requirements
• Apply continuous improvement techniques to identify improvement suggestions
• Carry out and record planned and unplanned learning and development activities
• Confirm safe electrical isolation lockout tagout method has been applied and test for dead
• Select, check, and use electrical, mechanical, and control and instrumentation maintenance tools, measurement, and test equipment
• Use electrical, mechanical, and control and instrumentation diagnostic equipment and apply fault finding and rectification techniques
• Apply problem solving and critical reasoning techniques
• Inspect and test electrical aspects of plant (e.g., visual checks, insulation and continuity checks, thermographic surveys, voltage levels)
• Remove and replace electrical parts
• Prepare and terminate electrical cables
• Set up, align, and adjust electrical aspects of plant
• Clean parts (e.g., removal of dust and debris)
• Conduct and confirm electrical and connected services isolation and deisolation
• Conduct functional testing
• Check condition and operation of mechanical aspects of plant and equipment (e.g., pumps)
• Remove and replace mechanical parts
• Examine mechanical parts for defects (e.g., pump seals)
• Set up, align, and adjust mechanical aspects of plant
• Lubricate mechanical assemblies
• Apply bench fitting techniques
• Inspect and test control and instrumentation systems
• Check calibration and make adjustments
• Check loop function
• Set up and adjust control and instrumentation systems
• Remove and replace instruments and sensors
• Re-connect instrumentation power supply, cables, pipework, and services