Chemical jobs in United Kingdom

Job title Mechanical Technician Ref 40917 Division Asset Operations & Capital Delivery Location Oxford STW - OX4 4YU Contract type Permanent Full/Part-time Full-time Hours 38 hours a week Salary Competitive salary up to £39,000 per annum, depending on skills and experience. Job grade A Closing date 26/11/2025

We have a fantastic opportunity to join Thames Water as a Mechanical Technician to be based at our wastewater treatment site on the outskirts of Oxford.

You will be working in a newly created frontline support team of technicians responsible for supporting the day-to-day operations and improvements of wastewater treatment processes for the project upgrade within the Thames Valley North Area of Waste & Bioresources Operations.

You will also investigate plant failures and carry out repairs as quickly and efficiently as possible to avoid interruptions to the process.

As the Mechanical Technician, your role will be to ensure that all equipment at our wastewater Treatment sites is running safely and efficiently using proactive and reactive maintenance methods. You will inspect, maintain, fault diagnose, test, install, modify or repair mechanical equipment.

You will also investigate plant failures and carry out repairs as quickly and efficiently as possible to avoid interruptions to the process.

Provide technical advice, referring to up-to-date technical knowledge, and provide training or support for technical trainees if required.

If this is you, we are looking for someone to join our Operations Team in Wastewater who offers a brilliant opportunity for you to establish a career with Thames Water in frontline operations.

• Carrying out scheduled planned maintenance work on mechanical equipment in compliance with company standards and procedures, ensuring we continuously improve the mechanical asset base.
• Maintaining technical equipment such as Pumps, Chemical dosing, gearboxes, High-pressure systems, Gas Systems, Hydraulic and Pneumatic systems, Valves, Motors, Generators, Drive Belts, Conveyors, Scrapers and associated control gear, automatic valves and penstocks.
• Investigating plant failures and carrying out repairs as quickly and efficiently as possible to avoid interruptions to the process. This may involve investigating and diagnosing complex faults and carrying out repairs during incidents.
• Providing technical advice to the wider team, referring to up-to-date technical knowledge, and providing training or support for technical trainees if required.
• Complete Lifting Operations safely as per LOLER regs.
• Supporting the Design and Build of new processes.
• Proactively review the health and availability of assets on site.
• Ensure all relevant training, including mechanical and maintenance training, is up to date.
• Always working safely and complying with all Health and Safety guidance and procedures.

Base Location: Oxford Sewage Treatment Works, OX4 4YU.

Working Pattern: During your initial training period (estimated between six months to 12 months), you will work 38 hours per week, Monday to Friday, from 7:30 AM to 3:36 PM. Following this training phase, you will transition to a rotating shift pattern that includes Monday to Sunday—early, day, late, and night shifts, for which you will receive additional payment.

All PPE and tools are provided.

To thrive in this role, the essential criteria you’ll need is:

• You should be a time-served apprentice with significant experience in mechanical systems. With NVQ or C&G level 3 in mechanical engineering.
• Experience working on large industrial plant equipment, including various pumps within the utility industry, would be beneficial.
• Knowledge and awareness of health and safety issues are essential.
• A valid driving license is essential.
• Participation in a 24/7 out-of-hours standby rota will be required after a suitable period of training and assessment, for which you will receive additional payment.

• Competitive salary up to £39,000 per annum, depending on skills and experience.
• Standby rota payments & Overtime opportunities can increase this earning potential by up to a further £8,000‑£10,000 per annum upon completion of essential company training.
• Performance‑related pay plan directly linked to company performance measures and targets.
• 24 days holiday per year, increasing to 28 days with the length of service. (Plus bank holidays)
• Contributory pension – Defined Contribution – Maximum of 12% – 2x employee contribution.
• Personal Medical Assessments – Open to all once a year.
• Wider benefits scheme, including our benefits hub, which is packed full of offers and information to save you money and support your well‑being.

We’re the UK’s largest water and wastewater company, with more than 16 million customers relying on us every day to supply water for their taps and toilets. We want to build a better future for all, helping our customers, communities, people, and the planet to thrive. It’s a big job and we’ve got a long way to go, so we need help from passionate and skilled people, committed to making a difference and getting us to where we want to be in the years and decades to come.

Thames Water is a unique, rewarding, and diverse place to work, where every day you can make a difference, yet no day is the same. As part of our family, you’ll enjoy meaningful career opportunities, flexible working arrangements and excellent benefits.

If you’re looking for a sustainable and successful career where you can make a daily difference to millions of people’s lives while helping to protect the world of water for future generations, we’ll be here to support you every step of the way. Together, we can build a better future for our customers, our region, and our planet.

Real purpose, real support, real opportunities. Come and join the Thames Water family. Why choose us? Learn more.

We’re committed to being a great, diverse, and inclusive place to work. We welcome applications from everyone and want to ensure you feel supported throughout the recruitment process. If you need any adjustments, whether that’s extra time, accessible formats, or anything else just let us know, we’re here to help and support.

When a crisis happens, we all rally around to support our customers. As part of Team Thames, you’ll have the opportunity to sign up to support our customers on the frontline as an ambassador. Full training will be given for what is undoubtedly an incredibly rewarding experience. It’s also a great opportunity to learn more about our business and meet colleagues.