Maintenance Engineer

Maintenance Engineer - Operations Group - Estates & Facilities - LMB 2787

Open Date: 25/02/2026, 08:00
Close Date: 25/03/2026, 23:55

The MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology (LMB) is one of the birthplaces of modern molecular biology and has played an important role in the development of many new techniques, most notably protein crystallography, cryo electron microscopy, DNA sequencing and monoclonal antibodies. The LMB has a clear goal of understanding biological processes at the molecular level, with the ultimate aim of using this knowledge to tackle specific problems in human health and disease. We aim to tackle difficult, long term problems, which often require investment over many years.

Overall purpose

As a member of the Estates and Facilities team at the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology (LMB) you will be working as a Maintenance Technician. Dependant on your experience and expertise, your focus will be either electrical or mechanical. In this role, you will be responsible for the electrical or mechanical servicing and repairs at the main LMB building and other LMB sites on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus and Babraham Research Campus. The workload is varied, and priorities can change at short notice. Training and development will be provided to assist you with your job responsibilities.

Main duties / Key responsibilities

• Providing planned and preventive maintenance (PPM) and reactive maintenance (RM) on plant systems and services.
• Undertaking works on behalf of the Estates & Facilities team including supervising external service providers and contractors.
• Liaising with end users to plan maintenance works or project works as required.
• Operating the computer controlled Building Management Systems (BMS) to monitor and identify fault diagnostics, taking the appropriate action to resolve these.
• Overseeing the operation of the steam boilers and systems. Steam is used extensively throughout our sites and training will be given as required.
• Assisting with the training and mentoring of apprentices.
• On call duties approximately 6 8 weeks per annum on a rota basis, responding to callouts when off site, including weekend. You will receive an additional payment when on call/call out.

Working relationships

Reporting to the Services Coordinator and part of the Estates and Facilities team. Interacting with external service providers and contractors.

Education / qualifications / training required

Essential:

• Completed a recognised electrical or mechanical apprenticeship or hold the equivalent qualification.
• Full UK driving licence holder.
• Must live within 45 minutes of the LMB in order to reach sites in a reasonable time when on call/call out.

Desirable:

• Experience of completing risk assessments for work activities.
• Formal training/qualifications relating to steam boilers, including analysis of steam systems and boiler water treatment.
• Boiler Operation Accreditation Scheme (BOAS) certificate.

Previous work experience required

Essential:

• Experience of working in a complex building with responsibility for electrical or mechanical systems.

Knowledge and experience

Essential:

• Good working knowledge of engineering services coupled with a good understanding of all aspects of building maintenance.
• Experience of using a Building Management System (BMS).
• An understanding of Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems.
• Competent IT user.

Desirable:

• An understanding of statutory maintenance requirements.

Personal skills / behaviours / qualities

Essential:

• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to work closely and effectively with staff at all levels.
• Ability to plan and prioritise work without or under limited supervision.
• Ability to use initiative when required.

Further Information

Corporate/Local responsibilities & requirements: You must at all times carry out your responsibilities with due regard to the UKRI: Code of Conduct; Equality, Diversity and Inclusion policy; Health and Safety policy; Data Protection policy. Job descriptions should be reviewed on a regular basis and at the annual appraisal. Any changes should be made and agreed between you and your manager.

The role holder will be required to have the appropriate level of security screening/vetting required for the role. UKRI reserves the right to run or re-run security clearance as required during the course of employment.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.

The MRC is a unique working environment where scientific researchers and professional support staff can actively partake in world class innovation and collaboration opportunities and their skills and knowledge through accessing a wide catalogue of training & development, including professional registration with the Science Council. In addition, MRC (part of UKRI) provides its community of employees access to a whole host of useful benefits, including a defined benefit pension scheme and excellent holiday entitlement (30 days plus 2.5 privilege days & 8 bank holidays), family friendly policies (6 months full pay maternity & adoption leave), a range of shopping/travel discounts, access to our Employee Assistant Programme Scheme, Health and Wellbeing Support and a salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme. Please follow this link to find out more - Benefits.

Our success is dependent on our ability to embrace diversity and draw on the skills, understanding and experience of all our people. We warmly invite people from diverse backgrounds and heritage, including people who identify as having a disability, to apply for a role that excites them. As "Disability Confident" employers, any candidate who opts into the scheme and best meets the essential criteria, will be shortlisted for interview.

UKRI supports research in areas that include animal health, agriculture and food security, and bioscience for health which includes research on animals, genetic modification and stem cell research. Whilst you may not have direct involvement in this type of research, you should consider whether this conflicts with your personal values or beliefs.

Copyright 2015. Medical Research Council.