Maintenance Technician

Who are we?

South Western Railway (SWR) operates over 1,500 services each weekday across the network and employs more than 5,000 people. We provide easy and convenient mobility, connecting people and communities in South West London, southern counties of England and the Isle of Wight.

Join our team and help us continue to improve quality of life, by bringing people together to get the most out of life.

SWR is part of FirstGroup, the largest rail operator in the UK and second largest bus operator in the UK outside London. FirstGroup operates services throughout the UK and Ireland, with over 30,000 employees providing services that make travel smoother and life easier. FirstGroup works hard to reduce its impact on the environment, introducing cleaner and more environmentally responsible methods of transport.

About the job:

You will be part of a team responsible for servicing, maintaining, repairing and overhauling traction units, components and equipment to specifications laid down by South Western Railway. You will be a key member of the maintenance team responsible for inspecting our trains as they come in for service. Tasks can range from replacing multiple valves one day to tasks more advanced such as replacing traction motors and gearboxes the next. You will adhere to Depot protection, quality procedures and rules and regulations that have been put in place and will ensure that all trains are fit for service before releasing them for our customers to enjoy.

Your main responsibilities will be:

• Undertake routine electrical and mechanical maintenance of components and systems, in accordance with exam schedule.
• Using the correct equipment undertake fault finding tasks.
• Complete environmental examinations against detailed specifications, detailing any issues found.
• Undertake basic servicing (eg) Brake pads, air filters, oil etc
• Carry out repairs or additional work arising from the examination (mechanical, electrical or vehicle building)
• Carry out general cosmetic repairs in the carriages, such as changing light fittings and door locks and replacing windows, trim and lino.
• Set up electrical contact tips.
• Refuel the units checking and topping up all levels as required.
• Paint the units both internally and externally within South Western Railway specifications.
• Prepare trains for service ensuring a clean and presentable environment.
• Using appropriate paperwork record work carried out and sign on completion.
• Obtain, use, care for and return all tools and equipment used.
• Advise Production Manager / Supervisor of any problems or defects identified and any work arising from the issues.
• Undertake Depot Protection responsibilities as required.

As a minimum, you will need:

Maintenance experience within the aerospace sector, motor industry or similar. This means you will have transferrable skills that will be valued in the rail industry. You have experience working in a safe manner and understand the importance of following strict Health and Safety regulations such as COSHH. You are able to work within a safety critical environment and have great attention for detail. You are a focused individual that enjoys working as part of a team, a fantastic communicator and great listener, and have the ability take initiative.

About the location:

Salisbury Depot is home to South Western Railway's award winning Class 15X diesel fleet. The engineering team at the depot are responsible for all aspects of maintenance and repair of the trains, this includes; engines, transmissions, electrical control equipment, HVAC and the passenger environment amongst many other systems.

Serving the West of England, the SWR Class 15X are the long-standing reliability and performance leaders in their field across the UK due to the hard working team at Salisbury depot. Knowledge, pride and accountability among everyone at Salisbury helps make it a great environment to work, thrive and deliver the best possible journeys for our customers.

Working pattern:

Working an average of 37 hours per week.

4 days on, 4 days off. 0700 to 1900

Additional Information:

At SWR we believe in providing our staff with the best tools and training in order to carry out tasks to the best of their ability. Upon joining, you will attend practical courses at our training centre in Basingstoke where you will attain recognisable qualifications and information in the following areas:

• Depot operating procedures and safety requirements.
• Personal Track Safety
• DC Electrified Lines.
• Passed out in Rules and Regulations as required

The Reward:

Other valuable benefits include:

• Free duty and leisure travel on SWR services for employee
• Free leisure travel for spouse/partner and dependants (criteria dependant)
• 75% discount on many other train operating companies
• Full training and support with development
• Large range of exclusive retail offers
• Excellent pension scheme

We all belong at SWR. FirstGroup's vision is to provide an inclusive environment for all colleagues, across its group of businesses, ensuring all candidates have an equal opportunity to access meaningful employment.

We value our differences such as age, gender, LGBTQIA+, ethnicity, religion, and disability. We maintain a zero tolerance towards any form of prejudice towards our colleagues, customers, and future talent.

We celebrate and encourage diversity of thought, progressive ways of working and seeing all our colleagues grow and thrive.

We review all roles and job descriptions to ensure they are accessible and, where possible, we support and provide flexible working options; we recommend that you refer to each vacancy description for further details.

If you require additional support to complete your application due to a disability or neurodivergent condition, for example, dyslexia, dyspraxia, or autism, please follow the links below. We encourage you to share any additional needs you may require so we can provide a fair and equal process for all who apply.