Maintenance Fitter

Panda are seeking a Maintenance Fitter to support the safe, reliable and efficient operation of our plant, machinery and site equipment. As a Maintenance Fitter at Panda, youll carry out planned and reactive maintenance, fault finding, repairs and mechanical improvements across a busy recycling and processing environment. This is a hands-on role where safety, reliability and operational uptime are key.

Youll work closely with the Maintenance Supervisor and wider site team to keep equipment running effectively, reduce downtime and ensure all work is completed in line with health, safety, environmental and quality standards.

The Role This Maintenance Fitter role is ideal for someone with strong mechanical maintenance experience gained in recycling, waste processing, heavy industry, quarrying, manufacturing, or another process-led environment. Youll be involved in maintaining and repairing a wide range of equipment, including shredders, separators, trommels, conveyors, balers, hoppers, silos, gear reducers, clutch systems, hydraulic and pneumatic systems.

Key Responsibilities Carry out mechanical maintenance, inspection, fault diagnosis and repair across plant, machinery, equipment, installations and buildings on site. Support planned and reactive maintenance activity in line with the operational and maintenance plan. Identify faults, analyse root causes and complete repairs, adjustments, refurbishments and improvements to agreed standards. Maintain and repair waste processing machinery including shredders, separators, trommels, conveyors, balers and associated bulk handling equipment.

Service, diagnose and rectify hydraulic and pneumatic systems using drawings, manuals and technical information. Carry out general bench fitting, including fitting of keys, shaft pulleys, gears, couplings, rolling element bearings and plain bearings. Install, inspect, condition monitor and maintain gear reducers, clutch systems and drive equipment. Complete basic MIG and MMA welding and fabrication where required, including equipment guarding and safety fencing.

Plan, rig and sling simple lifting operations, acting as banksman where trained and competent. Operate powered hoists or pendant-type lifting equipment where trained and authorised. Ensure all maintenance work is completed safely, efficiently and in a timely manner. Record work completed on the maintenance management system and report updates to the relevant Supervisor. Keep work areas clean, safe and organised, ensuring unused or waste materials are returned to stores or disposed of correctly.

Maintain tools and equipment in good condition, reporting defects immediately. Follow and promote all company health and safety policies, safe systems of work, isolation procedures and relevant legislation. Carry out other reasonable duties requested by the Maintenance Supervisor or management team. What Youll Bring A recognised Mechanical Engineering apprenticeship, City & Guilds Mechanical qualification or relevant NVQ Level
3. Previous mechanical maintenance experience in recycling, heavy industry, quarrying, process operations, manufacturing or similar. Strong mechanical aptitude and the ability to safely use hand tools and portable electrical equipment.

Experience with general bench fitting, fabrication and mechanical repair. Basic MMA and MIG welding experience. Knowledge of safe systems of work, equipment isolation and permitting processes. Experience removing, fitting and maintaining rolling element bearings. Understanding of basic engineering standards and mechanical fitting principles. Basic computer skills, including the ability to input maintenance data onto standard systems. Good communication skills and a practical, team-focused approach.

A positive attitude towards working safely and maintaining high standards. Flexibility, adaptability and willingness to learn. Good personal organisation and administration.

Desirable Experience The following would be advantageous, but are not essential:
Rigging and slinging. MEWP / IPAF training. Working at height / harness training. Abrasive wheels training. Forklift or telehandler training. IOSH Working Safely. Alignment of drives including motors, fans and gearboxes. Conveyor belting repair. Fault finding on mechanical process equipment. Basic condition monitoring techniques for medium or heavy industrial equipment. Hydraulic and pneumatic circuit knowledge. Ability to read and interpret 2D equipment drawings and hydraulic / pneumatic circuit drawings.

Why Join Panda? This is a great opportunity for an experienced Maintenance Fitter who enjoys practical problem solving, working with heavy industrial equipment and helping keep a busy operational site running safely and efficiently. Youll be joining a team where your work has a direct impact on plant reliability, operational performance and the safety of the people around you. About Us We are Panda.

We value waste. Were in the business of waste management but that doesnt just…