Engineering Construction Technician
What is the work like?
Engineering construction technicians, design, build and maintain buildings, processing plant and machinery in a wide range of industries. These include oil, gas and petrochemicals, power and water, transport and construction.
Your work as an engineering construction technician would fall into four key areas:
- planning and design – using computer aided design (CAD) software to draw up plans, showing the dimensions and layout of projects
- fabrication and assembly – cutting and welding pipework and ductwork, and putting up the steel columns and beams of a building's framework
- fitting and maintenance – installing and servicing equipment in factories and industrial sites, such as conveyor lines, control panels, pipelines, pumps and valves
- inspection and testing – checking for faults in machinery, and testing newly installed systems to make sure they work properly.
Your other responsibilities could include supervising a team of craftspeople, scheduling work and dealing with some administrative records. You may also work with related areas, such as estimating, buying and quality control.
What qualifications and experience will employers look for?
You may be able to start in the industry on the an Apprenticeship scheme. You would need at least three GCSEs (A-C), including maths, English, science, engineering, design and technology or equivalent qualifications. See goengineer for more details about technician Apprenticeships.
Alternatively, you could take a college course which would give you some of the skills needed for the job. Courses include:
- BTEC Certificate and Diploma in Operations and Maintenance Engineering (contains options in mechanical, electrical, electronic and manufacturing engineering)
- BTEC Certificate and Diploma in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering
- City & Guilds Certificate in Engineering (2800) Level 3.
Higher-level courses, such as a foundation degree or a BTEC HNC/HND in engineering would also help you get into this career. These courses have options covering manufacturing, operations, electrical, electronic and mechanical engineering. To search for other colleges and universities offering these courses, visit the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS).
If you want to specialise in design work, you could develop your skills by taking a course like the City & Guilds Certificate in 2D or 3D Computer Aided Design (4353). There is more information on the job profile for CAD Technician.
See the Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB) and Women into Science, Engineering and Construction for more details about careers in this field. The Engineering Training Council (Northern Ireland) also has careers and course information for that area.
What further training and development can I do?
You could take on-the-job training towards an NVQ at Level 3, choosing one which most closely matches your job duties, for example:
- Maintaining Plant and Systems (Mechanical, Instrument Pipefitting or Instruments and Control)
- Installing and Commissioning Electrotechnical Systems and Equipment (Plant)
- Constructing Capital Plant Steel Structures (Erecting)
- Installing Plant and Systems (Mechanical, Pipefitting or Instrument Pipefitting)
- Welding (Plate or Pipework)
- Non-Destructive Testing
- Design and Drafting.
The Level 3 award includes the CCNSG Safety Passport (Client/Contractor National Safety Group). The passport covers 10 units, including health and safety law, fire precautions, Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) principles and first aid. You can find information about the award plus training providers on the ECITB's dedicated website at www.ccnsg.com.
If your job includes a lot of welding, you could take further training in specialised welding methods through the Welding Institute (TWI). See the job profile for Welder or contact TWI.
If you have proven experience and qualifications, you may be able to register with the Engineering Council to gain EngTech status for professional development purposes.
Where can I go for more information?
Granta ParkGreat Abington
Cambridge
CB21 6AL
Tel: 01223 899000
Weston House
246 High Holborn
London
WC1B 7EX
Tel: 020 3206 0408
20-24 York Street
Belfast
BT15 1AQ
Tel: 028 9032 9878
Church Lane
Kings Langley
Hertfordshire
WD4 8JP
Tel: 01923 260000
NASEC Administration: 01923 402155
If you would like to discuss your career options with a learning adviser at Careers Advice, call 0800 100 900 or use our online enquiry form
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Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) Technician
Mechanical Engineering Technician
Engineering Maintenance Technician
What salary and other benefits can I expect?
- New entrants start at between £14,500 and £17,000 a year.
- Experienced technicians can earn between £18,000 and £26,000 a year.
- Senior technicians may earn up to £33,000 a year.
Figures are intended as a guideline only.
What are the hours and working conditions?
You would work a basic 38-hour week. Your hours might be flexible depending on the type of work and deadlines.
You could be based in an office or on site in all weathers. You would travel between sites and some contracts may involve working away from home for many weeks at a time, in the UK, offshore or abroad.
What skills and knowledge will I need?
- ability in maths, science and IT
- a working knowledge of CAD software and good freehand drawing skills
- the ability to read technical plans
- an understanding of construction methods
- organisational skills and the ability to prioritise workloads
- good communications skills
- good problem-solving skills
- an awareness of health and safety issues.
What opportunities are there?
The UK engineering construction industry is the largest in the EU and your prospects as a qualified technician are good throughout the UK and overseas.
As an experienced engineering construction technician, you could progress to site management jobs or specialise in particular areas, for example engineering design, testing or procurement.
If you take further academic training up to degree level, you may be able to fully qualify as an engineer.
You may find the following links useful for job vacancies and general reading: (links open in new window)
SCENTA
JustEngineers.net
The Engineer Online
Engineering Jobs Network
We do not accept responsibility for the content of external sites.
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