Apprentice Motion Control Engineer

MICROMECH LTD

BRAINTREE (CM7 2QS)

Closes on Friday 20 June 2025

Posted on 14 May 2025

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Contents

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

Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

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

Training course
Mechatronics maintenance technician (level 3)
Hours
Monday to Thursday 08:30am - 4:30pm. Fridays 08:30am - 12:30pm. 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)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents
  • 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:

maths and English (grade A*-B/9-5)

Desirable qualifications

GCSE in:

Physics and/or Design and Technology (grade A*-C/9-4)

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.

About this company

Micromech is a leading supplier and manufacturer of motion control and automation solutions. We offer a wide range of specialist products, both mechanical and electrical. These products are either globally sourced, or manufactured internally. We work within industrial sectors including medical, simulation, food and beverage, aerospace and defence, and many more. Micromech operates from our site based in Braintree, Essex, with most of our 23 members of staff working from this location. We have consistently grown our business over the last ten years with a turnover of approx. £8 million.

https://www.micromech.co.uk/ (opens in new tab)

Company benefits

The company offers the following benefits: - • 25 days holiday (rising to 30 days with service) • Short working day on Fridays • Workplace pension scheme • Profit share scheme (PSS) • Employee benefit trust (similar to PSS)

After this apprenticeship

The candidate will choose a specific department based on personal preference, competence, and company need.  Within the chosen department the candidate will gain further specific training to enable them to progress to a higher level in this role.  If required there will be the offer to enrol on further academic training.  Whilst we hope that our candidate remains at Micromech for the long term the experience and knowledge gained is higher transferrable throughout the motion control and automation industry.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

COLCHESTER INSTITUTE

Colchester Institute - Apprenticeships Team

ci.apprenticeships@colchester.ac.uk

01206712043

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000320607.

Apply now

Closes on Friday 20 June 2025

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After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.