Lift engineers, also known as lift technicians, are responsible for the installation, refurbishment, servicing, and reparations of hydraulic lift equipment.
They are usually employed by specialist lift maintenance and building servicing company’s, local council authorities, and public sector institutions.
The lifts they work on can vary greatly, with passenger lifts, goods lifts, scissor lifts, stair lifts, and escalator all being included in their work remits.
If you are tech-savvy, taking an interest both electrical and mechanical topics, and have strong troubleshooting skills, then a career as a lift engineer may be for you!
So, what does the work a lift engineer entail?
The job and role of a lift engineer can include a variety of different responsibilities, including:
- Installing and fitting lifts to new buildings and structures;
- Upgrading and refurbishing old lift systems;
- Emergency response reparations in the event of a lift breakdown;
- Conducting demonstrations and seminars for new clients and lift users on how the hydraulic equipment works;
- Lift equipment inspections to ensure they comply with health and safety regulations;
- Write risk and safety assessment reports for insurance and legal purposes.
In addition to these fundamental aspects of the job you may also:
- Design lifts using design software such as CAD;
- Analyse trends in equipment malfunction and breakdowns to develop solutions to prevent future issues from occurring.
What is the Work Environment like?
Standard Lift Engineer working hours are 40 hours per week from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, however, depending on the operational hours of specific lifts you may have to work in shifts (for lifts that operate all day).
Overtime is common and many engineers may be placed on call in the event that a lift breaks down and you have to perform emergency fixings. This call-out rota you would be assigned would vary depending on your employer.
During work hours, engineers are often exposed to oils, dirt and other lubricants commonly used during maintenance. Working in confined space is also commonplace.
Lift engineers who are employed by specialist lift maintenance and building service contractors will frequently travel between sites using company vehicles.
What are the entry qualifications I need?
You can become a Lift Engineer through multiple routes. These include:
- Direct application;
- Working in an apprenticeship;
- Enrolling in a college course;
- Working various similar roles to gain experience;
- Being trained by a relevant professional body.
In regard to educations requirements, you will usually need:
- 4 or 5 GCSEs between A* and C, or the equivalent in a level 3 course;
- 1 or 2 A levels, or the equivalent with a higher national certificate or higher national diploma.
To enrol in an apprenticeship, you can enrol in an intermediate apprenticeship for stairlift, platform lift, service lift electromechanics, or a lift and escalator mechanic advanced apprenticeship.
What areas of industry would offer me various employment opportunities?
If you are a qualified lift engineer or technician then there are a multitude of area you can look to begin or progress you career:
- Building service companies;
- Local authorities;
- Educational institutions;
- Hospitals.
What are the career prospects for a Lift Engineer?
Lift engineers are in high demand, since they are hired by a wide range of organisations in both the public and private sectors.
With experience and further training, you might be able to advance to supervisory management, technical sales, or engineering design positions.
Skilled engineers at the technician level are in high demand in other sectors, such as manufacturing and engineering construction, so there could be opportunities to advance.
Other choices include preparation and evaluation, which can be done in-house or as a freelance contractor.
How much can I expect to earn as a Lift Engineer?
The total annual wage for a Lift Engineer is £33,300 (£2,180 net per month), which is £3,700 (+13%) more than the national average salary throughout the UK.
A Lift Engineer should expect a starting salary of £22,700 on average. The highest-paying jobs will earn more than £50,000 a year. The higher end of this range will usually be based on geographical location.
If you are interested in becoming a lift engineer or would like to find out more then contact us and we can discuss your options.