Utilities & Facilities Plant Technician

We have an exciting opportunity for a Utilities and Facilities Plant Technician to join our Engineering team at our site in Loughton, Essex. Reporting to the Facilities & Utilities Supervisor, you will be responsible for the reliable, safe, and efficient operation of all site utilities and facility systems that support secure, high-quality currency manufacturing.

In this role, the successful candidate will own and support a variety of utilities including (but not limited to) effluent treatment, compressed air, chilled water systems, pre-press services and ink production services.

This is a hands-on, multi-skilled engineering role covering a broad range of service infrastructure across the site.

Key Responsibilities

Utilities Engineering (Hands-On)

Responsible for day-to-day maintenance, and fault-finding across a wide range of site utilities, including but not limited to:

• Effluent Treatment Plant (chemical dosing, filtration, pH control, pumps, tanks)
• Compressed Air Systems (compressors, dryers, receivers, leak management, distribution lines)
• Chilled Water Systems (chillers, pumps, heat exchangers, process cooling loops)
• Pre‑Press Utilities (environmental controls, ventilation, filtration, specialist services)
• Ink Section Services (temperature-controlled services, extraction, agitation systems, utilities feeding ink preparation areas)
• Water treatment systems (softened/process water)

Facilities & Building Services

• Maintain facility infrastructure including ventilation, lighting, extraction, and environmental controls.
• Ensure all utility and facility systems operate within safety, environmental, and regulatory limits.

Compliance, Safety & Documentation

Ensure compliance with:

• PUWER, LOLER, COSHH
• Environmental permits related to effluent discharge and emissions
• Site H&S standards and secure manufacturing protocols

• Maintain accurate records including PPMs, inspections, and maintenance logs.

Continuous Improvement and Reliability

• Carry out root-cause investigations and implement corrective actions.
• Improve the reliability, energy efficiency, and performance of utility systems.

Contract type: Permanent

Working hours: 24/5 Shift Pattern - consists of 3 crews of 12-hour shifts of either: 6.00 am to 6.00 pm; and 6.00 pm to 6.00 am, Monday to Friday rota. Attendance is 40 hours per week on average, including a 30-minute unpaid break plus a 15-minute unpaid break to be taken during the shift.

Base location: Debden

Basic Salary: £57,300 per annum. Upon successful completion of a 6-month probation period, this will rise to £58,286 per annum.

Skills, Qualifications & Experience

• Time-served apprenticeship or HNC/HND in Mechanical, Electrical, or Building Services Engineering
• Hands-on experience maintaining industrial utilities (compressed air, chilled water, pumps, effluent, HVAC, etc.).
• Strong practical fault-finding and diagnostic skills.
• Experience in secure, print, chemical, process, or manufacturing environments (Desirable)
• Knowledge of chemical handling, waste-water systems, filtration, or dosing systems (Desirable)
• Familiarity with controlled-environment ventilation or air-quality systems (Desirable)
• Experience using CMMS systems and improving maintenance plans (Desirable)

About De La Rue

De La Rue is a leading supplier of currency solutions and a long-standing trusted partner to central banks and governments worldwide. Our products underpin the integrity of economies and trade, enabling businesses and citizens to participate securely in their respective economies.

With a heritage spanning over 200 years, we remain a global leader in advancing security and integrity for currency solutions, supplying 54% of the world’s central banks and manufacturing in the UK, Europe & Asia. We produce fully finished banknotes, polymer substrate, security and currency services.

Benefits

• 17 days annual leave + bank holidays
• Contributory pension scheme (De La Rue pay 1.5x the employee’s contribution – employee contributions up to a maximum of 6%, with employer contributions up to a maximum of 9%)
• Life assurance - 4x your annual salary
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Subsidised Gym Memberships
• Various other perks and Employee Assistance packages
• Enhanced family friendly policies (e.g., four weeks paid paternity leave)