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Mechanical Fitting Technician

Assembling components for complex machinery in sectors like defense and leisure

How this role makes a difference

There are many industries, including the aerospace, aviation, automotive, maritime and defence sectors, that use highly complex machinery to make and manoeuvre their products. The leisure industry uses machinery such as Ferris wheels and rollercoasters to provide entertainment.

All these machines need to be built and maintained, which involves assembling multiple devices and components and checking that all the mechanical systems are in reliable and safe working order. You could be the technician who puts all the machine parts together to help various industries perform at their best.

The kind of work you’ll do

  • Following the instructions in design, safety and quality control documentation
  • Completing regular checks on machines and equipment
  • Responding to engineering problems
  • Diagnosing issues and fixing faults
  • Stripping machines back to their parts to clean and maintain them
  • Recording information about machine performance and maintenance
  • Looking after tools and equipment
Useful skills
Attention to detail
Skills & attributes
Useful skills
Logical thinking
Skills & attributes
Useful skills
Technologically minded
Skills & attributes

What you can bring to the role

A passion for understanding how things work.

A natural ability to look at a problem logically and consider all possibilities before deciding on the right way forward.

Strong organisational skills with the ability to break complex challenges down into component parts.

The confidence to try new tools and equipment and a knack for understanding how they work.

A responsible approach to working independently and seeing through detailed tasks.

This role could also be right for you if you have any of the following interests:

- building, making and fixing things

- cars, trains or planes

- exploring problems and finding answers

£ 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 , 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Average salary per year *
£ 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 , 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Average salary per month *

Data powered by LMI for all
*according to ONS

Future career opportunities

As your training and career develop, you could decide to specialise in a specific area of mechanical engineering, for example fitting and turning, pipefitting, or maintenance fitting.

You can also progress to becoming a senior fitter with responsibility for higher level challenges, as well as supporting and training other team members. Another option is becoming a consultant and getting involved in the design of machines.

How to get into this role

There’s no perfect career path or ideal way into your dream job.

But if you’re interested in education and training options that could be relevant to this role, you might want to consider:  

Schools and colleges each have their own career guidance plan and can provide detailed information, advice, and guidance on options and next steps.

A little more about the role

Exciting features...

You will work with detailed drawings that contain intricate measurements and specifications you need to follow. To put parts together you’ll use a range of tools and techniques including thermal healing, welding, cutting equipment and drilling machines. When machines break down, you’ll be the problem solver people call on to make sure they are quickly working again.

Other job titles...

This role can also be known by some other job titles including:

Engineering Technician
Aerospace Technician
Aviation Engineer
Maritime Engineer
Machinist
Mechatronics Engineer
Toolmaker

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technicians who
do this role

Mechanical Fitting Technician

Tommy Allen
Paper aeroplane

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