A career as a Straightset Engineer – is it for you?

When looking to start a new career, or take a sidestep or promotion within your current field, wouldn’t it be great to know what a typical day for you, in the new role, would involve?

There are so many unknowns, when looking to join a new company, that make the decision sometimes a daunting one, hence why many people choose to stay where they are, it’s the fear of the unknown.

To many, the role of a garage equipment engineer may seem very niche, however the reality is the opposite of that. A Straightset garage equipment engineers’ job is flexible, diverse, sociable, varied, convenient, challenging and rewarding. Here’s why…

Our engineers are home based, starting and ending their day from home. Engineers travel from home to workshops and garages to conduct planned service visits and breakdown calls on garage equipment. Day to day, your duties might include any and all of the following:

• Immediate breakdown callouts
• Identifying issues and finding solutions
• Carrying out routine planned service maintenance visits
• Carrying out calibration visits

Depending upon the amount of equipment to service, the nature of the call and the distance to travel, engineers may visit anywhere from 1 – 5 sites in a day. Based upon an engineer’s home location, they are assigned a controller in the head office, to work closely with. A great deal of time and emphasis is placed upon the controller planning visits for engineers to ensure the optimum amount of time is spent on site, rather than travelling. There are, however, always exceptions to this rule, where we have to respond to immediate breakdown calls to meet customer expectations, and more travel may be required.

Whilst travelling is a key part of this job, we work hard to ensure time spent in the van is comfortable. Straightset engineers are provided with a fully equipped branded van. The majority of our fleet consists of VW Caddy’s, VW transporters, Mercedes Vito and Citan, Citroen Dispatch, Ford Transit Connects and we regularly replace our fleet, depending upon mileage and age. Vans are methodically stocked with our fastest moving spare parts, and replenished regularly, where parts are needed these are sent to site, negating the need for you to travel for spares.

Once engineers arrive at site, they are the face of Straightset, representing our company. They are provided with branded workwear and replacement workwear regularly, to remain professional looking. Engineers are also provided with PDAs, which provide on hand manuals, documentation, information and access, to ensure they have to hand what they need to complete the job effectively. Controllers are only a phone call away should any questions arise on site. With Straightset there is the added benefit of the size and age of our company, there is a great deal of knowledge and expertise which can be shared.

Here at Straightset Health and Safety is our top priority and therefore is a significant part of the job. With strict guidelines to be met to protect yourselves and colleagues. For engineers new to the field, they are teamed up with experienced garage equipment engineers, for in-the-field hands on, peer-to-peer training, until they are confident to attend sites alone. Engineers also a attend manufacturer training on equipment, where relevant. The added benefit of a role as an engineer is the ability to gain qualifications and certificates, with training available. With a range of qualifications available from GEA, Lift training, LOLER, CHAS, Gas Safe, all to add to your personal CV.

A garage equipment engineer is a diverse job, with site visits consisting of servicing, repairing and diagnosing a large array of equipment including:

• vehicle lifts (hydraulic & mechanical), in-ground lifts, above ground lifts, commercial lifts, motorcycle lifts, from a large range of manufacturers including Nussbaum, Slift, Rotary, Bradbury, Zippo, Stenhoj to name a few.
• tyre & wheel equipment from manufacturers including Beissbarth, HPA, Hoffman, Hunter
• gas & smoke emissions
• air compressors
• exhaust extraction
• air conditioning
• workshop accessories including oil drainers, axle stands, trolley jacks etc

On planned service visits engineers are provided with detail about what work is to be carried out and engineers work methodically to complete the tasks assigned. With breakdown visits, as much information as can be gathered in advance is, but there is a large requirement for fact finding on the spot. Once complete paperwork is filled in detailing what work has been done and any follow up required.

Engineers are expected to work in a safe and timely manner, to make sure the job is done to the best of their ability, to achieve our aspirations on first time fixes and customer satisfaction. We do however understand, in many cases, replacement parts may be required which need ordering and fitting on a second visit, or simply the equipment cannot be fixed and needs replacing all together. Every afternoon, engineers are contacted by their controllers to run through the site visits planned for the following day, and discuss any issues that need resolving.

Straightset is a family run business, and we care about the health and safety and welfare of our colleagues. We offer competitive salaries, attractive overtime rates, expenses and training, for a rewarding career.

If you think a Straightset Engineer is the right career for you, working in some of the most prestigious car dealer group workshops in the UK, we are currently recruiting, so please send your CV to [email protected].