Lift Engineer
What is the work like?
Lift engineers, also known as lift technicians, install, refurbish, service and repair electrical and hydraulic lifts and escalators. They also work on stairlifts, vehicle mounted lifts, restaurant 'dumb waiters' and patient hoists like those found in hospitals and nursing homes.
As a lift engineer, your day-to-day duties could include:
- making routine checks on gears, motors, overload detection devices, brakes, doors and locks
- carrying out minor repairs or isolating problems until a fuller service can be done
- responding to emergency breakdown call-outs
- installing and fitting out lifts, lifting gear and lift wells
- demonstrating new equipment to clients
- refurbishing or replacing lift interiors, flooring, panel displays, communication systems, buttons and lighting
- updating work records, both written and computerised
- analysing breakdown trends to identify recurring defects in equipment.
Part of your work would be to inspect lift equipment to make sure that it meets relevant health and safety regulations, and to produce risk assessment reports and documentation for insurance and legal purposes.
In lift design work, you would use computer aided design (CAD) software to produce customised lifts, for example panoramic lifts (lifts with glass panels), like those found in an atrium or on the outside of a building.
What qualifications and experience will employers look for?
You normally need experience and/or qualifications in mechanical or electrical engineering to get into this kind of work. If you do not have these already, you could take an engineering course at college to gain some of the skills. Relevant courses include:
- BTEC National Certificate and Diploma in Mechanical, Electrical, Electronic, or Operations and Maintenance Engineering
- BTEC National Certificate and Diploma in Building Services Engineering
- City & Guilds awards in Electrotechnical Technology (2330) at levels 2 and 3, and Certificate in Engineering (2800) levels 1 and 2.
You may be able to get into this job by starting as an engineering apprentice. You would normally need four GCSEs (A-C), such as maths, English, science, engineering, design and technology or equivalent qualifications like those listed above.
The range of Apprenticeships available in your area will depend on the local jobs market and the types of skills employers need from their workers. For more information on Apprenticeships, visit www.apprenticeships.org.uk.
You could also work towards higher level qualifications, such as BTEC HNCs/HNDs in Mechanical, Electrical and Electronic Engineering. Check with colleges and universities for entry requirements.
Contact SEMTA, or visit the Lift & Escalator Industry Association's website for more information about lift engineering as a career.
What further training and development can I do?
Once you start working, you will do most of your training on the job. You can work towards a range of NVQ awards, including Installation and Commissioning, and Engineering Maintenance and Installation at levels 2 and 3. These have options in lift (traction and hydraulic), escalator installation, repair and servicing.
You could develop your career further by taking the University of Northampton's Foundation Degree in Lift Engineering by distance learning, then completing a 'top-up' engineering degree. For more information, visit the Foundation Degree Forward website.
If you are working as a senior engineer or manager, you can take the University's postgraduate MSc in Lift Engineering, which covers technical issues, lift design, legislation and contract management. Contact the University of Northampton for more details.
You would also have to keep up to date with health and safety, and legal guidelines covering the industry, such as:
- Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER)
- Disability Discrimination Act 1995 covering equal access to goods, services and facilities
- Lifts Guidelines (LG1) for modifications and new installations.
See the Safety Assessment Federation website for more details about regulations.
Where can I go for more information?
Nutmeg House60 Gainsford Street
Butlers Wharf
London
SE1 2NY
Tel: 020 7403 0987
London
W1G 6PY
Watford
Hertfordshire
WD18 0JT
Tel: 0800 282167
If you would like to discuss your career options with a learning adviser, call 0800 100 900 or use our online enquiry form
Alternatively, you can visit our website at: www.direct.gov.uk/careersadvice
Related profiles...
Electrical Engineering Technician
Mechanical Engineering Technician
Engineering Maintenance Technician
What salary and other benefits can I expect?
- Starting salaries are between £14,000 and £18,000 a year.
- Experienced engineers can earn between £19,000 and £26,000.
- Senior engineers can earn up to £30,000 a year.
Figures are intended as a guideline only.
What are the hours and working conditions?
You would normally work 40 hours a week, Monday to Friday. Overtime is common and you may be on a call-out rota covering 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Work conditions would depend on the state of the building housing the lift equipment. The job could be oily and dirty, and you are likely to work in confined spaces, particularly on older systems. You would travel from site to site, using a company vehicle.
What skills and knowledge will I need?
- skills in electrical and/or mechanical work
- excellent problem-solving skills
- an understanding of engineering drawings and principles
- good communication and customer care skills
- good organisational skills to plan workloads
- the ability to work without close supervision
- IT skills for updating records and writing reports
- familiarity with CAD packages if involved in design work
- a willingness to work flexibly
- an awareness of industry guidelines on health and safety.
What opportunities are there?
You could find work with specialist lift maintenance companies, building services contractors, local authorities, hospitals and educational institutions.
With experience, you could move into supervisory management, technical sales or engineering design. You could also use your skills at technician level to move into other industries, such as manufacturing or engineering construction or safety inspection, either within a company or as a freelance contractor.
You may find the following useful for job vacancies and general reading: (links open in new window)
Lift & Escalator Industry Organisation (company listings)
Engineering Jobs Network
Lift Directory (maintenance and installation company listings)
We do not accept responsibility for the content of external sites.
Contact an adviser
Email
Call back
or phone: 0800 100 900
Bilingual advisers available
Face-to-face advice
