Defect Maintenance Assistant

Defect Maintenance Assistant Location: Barton-under-Needwood, DE13 | Industry: Rail / Rolling Stock Shifts: Night Shift (Mon - Thurs / Tues - Fri) | 40 hours per week Contract: 12 months rolling contract Pay: Pre 12…

Pay rate £23.11 – £30.98/hour
Contract type Contract
Posted 17 September 2026

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About this contract

Defect Maintenance Assistant

Location: Barton-under-Needwood, DE13 | Industry: Rail / Rolling Stock

Shifts: Night Shift (Mon - Thurs / Tues - Fri) | 40 hours per week

Contract: 12 months rolling contract
Pay:

Pre 12 weeks: £23.11 PAYE | £29.52 UMBRELLA
Post 12 weeks: £23.11 PAYE | £30.98 UMBRELLAOvertime is paid at 1.25

The Role

Our client is looking for a Defect Maintenance Assistant to support the safe, reliable and efficient operation of their DEMU Class 22X fleet.

You'll be responsible for carrying out defect rectification, repairs, basic fault-finding and routine maintenance, working both independently and alongside experienced Technicians. You'll also support depot operations, safety-critical activities and continuous improvement initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

Carry out routine rolling stock maintenance in accordance with Vehicle Maintenance Instructions (VMI).
Undertake repair and basic fault-finding activities on DEMU Class 22X vehicles.
Assist Technicians with maintenance and repair activities as required.
Support the maintenance and upkeep of depot plant and equipment.
Operate powered plant, lifting and mechanical handling equipment where trained and authorised.
Move Class 22X vehicles around the depot site where trained and competent.
Undertake Designated Person (DP) activities where trained and authorised.
Support wider depot operational activities as directed by management.
Maintain high standards of housekeeping and ensure work areas remain safe and hazard-free.
Complete accurate maintenance records and provide clear shift handovers.
Report defects, incidents, recurring faults and safety concerns.
Support continuous improvement initiatives focused on safety, quality, efficiency and reliability.

About You

Essential

Level 3 NVQ or equivalent in an Engineering discipline. - Mechanical or Electrical.
Experience working within a Rolling Stock Engineering environment.
Experience carrying out rolling stock maintenance activities.
Understanding and experience of working safely within a safety-critical environment.
Ability to read and interpret technical manuals and engineering drawings.
Familiarity with SES or similar production systems and MS Office.
Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
Able to work safely and effectively using your own initiative.
Flexible approach to operational requirements.

Desirable

Level 4 / HNC or equivalent in an Engineering discipline.
Detailed knowledge of DEMU Class 22X vehicles.
Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing principles, including 5 Why, Kaizen and Continuous Improvement.
Understanding of local customer requirements.

Key Skills & Competencies

We're looking for someone who is:

Proactive and detail-oriented.
Safety-conscious and committed to quality.
A strong communicator and team player.
Adaptable and able to respond to changing operational demands.
Self-motivated and capable of working independently.
Comfortable working to tight delivery timescales.
Competent in undertaking safety-critical work.
Flexible and willing to support wider depot operations.

The Opportunity

This is a hands-on opportunity to join a busy rolling stock maintenance environment, working directly on the DEMU Class 22X fleet.

You'll play an important role in maintaining fleet reliability and availability while developing your technical skills within a safety-critical rail environment.

If you have rolling stock maintenance experience and an engineering qualification, we'd like to hear from you.

Due to the safety-critical nature of this role, the successful candidate will be required to undertake a Drugs & Alcohol test prior to starting.

Rullion celebrates and supports diversity and is committed to ensuring equal opportunities for both employees and applicants

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