Be part of this city within a city. Every year, millions of people travel through Heathrow. Joining our Engineering team means being at the heart of a complex operation whose size, scale and reputation for innovation are unique. We make sure the airport is always running smoothly and keep passengers and planes moving.
Our team touches all aspects of airport life – from water to energy, rail to roads, baggage systems to runways. The scope and variety of what we do is vast, spanning mechanical, electrical, water, civil, rail and environmental disciplines. Together we are responsible for the performance of 500,000 assets worth £14bn. It means there are always a wide range of interesting development, construction and maintenance projects to get involved with. And a lot of ways to develop your skills, career and reputation.
You’ll be part of a close-knit, driven team, taking on work that you can take real pride in and feel passionate about. It’s an exciting place to be, where every day, you’ll discover a world of fresh possibilities and you’ll be mentored by world-class experts every step of the way.
Join Heathrow’s Specialist Systems Engineering team and support the critical technologies that enable the safe and efficient movement of millions of passengers each year. You’ll maintain, troubleshoot and enhance a diverse range of operational systems, including cabin baggage screening equipment, CCTV, PLC control systems, Flight Information Display Systems (FIDS) and other specialist airport technologies.
This role offers exposure to a broad portfolio of complex systems, providing far greater variety than a typical engineering position. We’re looking for engineers who thrive on technical challenges, enjoy working across multiple technologies and are committed to continuous learning and improvement.
About the Role
In this hands-on engineering role, you’ll maintain and enhance Heathrow’s critical operational systems, including cabin baggage screening equipment, CCTV, PLC control systems and Flight Information Display Systems (FIDS). Working across a diverse range of technologies, you’ll support maintenance, fault diagnosis, technical upgrades and continuous improvement initiatives that drive asset reliability, operational performance and the passenger experience. This is an excellent opportunity for engineers who enjoy technical variety, problem-solving and continuous learning in a highly collaborative environment.
Salary: £46,345–£49,584 (depending on experience), plus £6,624 shift allowance , with structured progression linked to technical competency development.
Shift pattern: 2 days, 2 nights, 4 days off.
Requirement: Minimum 3 years’ UK residency to meet CTC security clearance requirements.
You'll also benefit from manufacturer-led training, ongoing professional development, exposure to specialist airport technologies, and opportunities to contribute to cutting-edge projects within one of the world’s most complex and dynamic operational environments.
- Maintaining and optimising Heathrow's specialist operational systems, including cabin baggage screening equipment, PLC control systems, CCTV and FIDS platforms.
- Delivering preventative maintenance and responding to operational faults to ensure asset safety, reliability and availability.
- Diagnosing complex hardware, electrical and systems faults using analytical and data-driven approaches.
- Supporting advanced system configuration, upgrades, testing, commissioning and asset replacement programmes.
- Maintaining accurate maintenance records and asset histories to support compliance and operational excellence.
- Promoting a strong safety culture and collaborating with operational teams, manufacturers and engineering specialists to enhance system performance.
- A recognised NVQ Level 3 (or equivalent) in a relevant mechanical and electrical engineering discipline, or a recognised indentured apprenticeship .
- Relevant qualifications may include EAL or City & Guilds (C&G) Level 3 NVQs in:
- Engineering Maintenance (Electrical & Mechanical)
- Electrical & Electronic Engineering
- Electromechanical Engineering
- Mechatronic Engineering
- Controls Engineering
- Electrical Installation (including AM2)
Please note: Standalone qualifications such as BTECs or degrees are not considered equivalent to a practically assessed NVQ and will only be accepted when supported by a relevant NVQ qualification.
- Full UK driving licence, with the ability to obtain and maintain airside permits and licences.
- Proven hands-on experience within a maintenance, operational or technical engineering environment.
- Strong fault-finding, diagnostic and problem-solving skills, with a commitment to safety and compliance.
- Excellent communication and teamwork skills.
- A proactive approach to continuous learning and technical development.
There’s something so special about working at the world’s most iconic airport. Its sights. Its sounds. Its constant air of excitement. Heathrow is an amazing backdrop to a career filled with unique opportunities.
Every day, you’ll discover a world full of fresh possibilities and come home buzzing with stories to tell, as you encounter people from all cultures, nationalities and experiences. A world full of pride for what we do and no end of exciting career prospects to explore.
It brings out the best in all of us. And inspires everyone to deliver on our ambitious plans. Together, we’re working to welcome millions more passengers while ensuring aviation can continue to be a force for good by leading global efforts in sustainability.
Join us on that journey and we'll help you achieve your ambitions too. Supporting you to learn, encouraging you to be yourself, backing you to achieve more than you might ever have imagined. Because there’s no place like Heathrow.
Our rewards
We offer competitive salaries and excellent benefits that will support you now and in the future. As well as performance-based annual bonuses and our longer-term Share in Success Bonus plans, we also offer generous annual leave allowances and market-leading pensions. With family friendly policies, access to private health insurance and a wide range of wellbeing tools, we’ll support you to be at your best inside and outside work. And of course, we’ll provide varied learning and development opportunities too. Here you’ll find everything you need for a fulfilling career journey that can take you in exciting directions.
Working location
This is an airport-based position. Every day, you will play a critical role in helping us to give our passengers the best airport service in the world.
Sustainable Travel to work
Heathrow’s Sustainable Travel Guide sets out easy and sustainable travel options that everyone can access.
Equal Opportunities
As an equal opportunities employer, we encourage applications from all. We believe that diverse talent makes us stronger – not least because we welcome passengers from all corners of the globe, every single day. Heathrow is an accessible place to work, and through our diversity networks, we champion inclusivity and celebrate individuality.
