Operator ​/ Machinist

Operator / Machinist

Ipswich | £43,187 including shift allowance | 3 on, 3 off | Permanent

If you have hands‑on experience with machining, lathes, CNC or mechanical fitting and you’re looking for a stable permanent position where you can develop specialist skills, this could be an excellent opportunity to build a long‑term career within the rail engineering sector.

You’ll join an established engineering team at a busy rail maintenance depot, operating and maintaining specialist wheel lathe equipment used to machine locomotive and wagon wheelsets.

You don’t need previous wheel lathe experience. Full training will be provided, giving you the opportunity to develop specialist knowledge and become fully competent to operate the equipment independently.

You’ll be responsible for the safe operation and maintenance of specialist wheel lathe machinery, machining and maintaining wheelsets used across a fleet of locomotives and wagons.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Operating specialist wheel lathe machinery
• Machining locomotive and wagon wheelsets
• Carrying out mechanical fitting and machining activities
• Maintaining equipment and ensuring work is completed safely and to the required standard
• Working as part of a small, hands‑on engineering team
• Completing internal and external industry training
• Developing your skills to become fully competent to operate the wheel lathe independently

You don’t necessarily need previous wheel lathe experience. If you’ve worked in a hands‑on machining, mechanical fitting or heavy machine operating environment, your existing skills could transfer well into this position.

Relevant experience could include:

• CNC machining
• Lathe operation
• Mechanical fitting
• Tool setting
• Heavy machinery or machine operation

More important than having direct wheel lathe experience is having good hands‑on engineering skills, a strong safety attitude and the willingness to learn a specialist machining process.

• £43,187 salary including shift allowance
• 3 days on / 3 days off shift pattern
• Rotating 12-hour day and night shifts
• £1,000-£1,500 module bonuses available per module, usually from around 6 months
• Full industry and depot safety training
• Further development and progression opportunities
• Potential progression into Loco Fitter or Wheel Lathe Supervisor positions
• Pension scheme
• Sick pay
• Generous and flexible leave arrangements
• Access to a range of salary sacrifice benefits

This is a permanent position for someone who is looking for stability and wants to develop their skills over the long term.

You’ll be joining a practical engineering environment where you’ll have the opportunity to learn a specialist skillset that isn’t readily available in every machining role.

The role does involve working a 3 on / 3 off 24/7 shift pattern
, including both days and nights, so it’s important that this works for you before applying.

If you’re a Machinist, CNC Operator, Lathe Operator, Mechanical Fitter or experienced Machine Operator and you’re interested in developing specialist skills within the rail engineering sector, we’d like to hear from you.

You don’t need previous wheel lathe experience. Your existing machining or mechanical experience could be the starting point for your next career move.