Refrigeration Engineer
Summary
Maintains and repairs transport refrigeration units, diagnosing faults, handling refrigerants per F-Gas rules, and ensuring temperature performance for cold-chain logistics.
Key Responsibilities
Refrigeration Maintenance & Repair
- Carry out planned preventative maintenance, servicing, inspections, and repairs on refrigeration units and associated temperature-control equipment.
- Diagnose and rectify refrigeration, electrical, electronic, and control system faults using appropriate diagnostic equipment.
- Undertake leak detection, refrigerant recovery, evacuation, charging, and pressure testing activities in accordance with environmental and legislative requirements.
- Perform repairs and replacement of refrigeration components including compressors, condensers, evaporators, expansion devices, sensors, controllers, and electrical systems.
- Complete all repairs to manufacturer specifications and Company quality standards.
- Ensure refrigeration systems achieve required temperature performance and operational standards following repair.
- Support emergency breakdown and call-out activities where required.
- Assist with commissioning and testing of new refrigeration equipment and installations.
- Ensure all work is completed to a "Right First Time" standard..
Refrigeration System Performance
- Ensure refrigeration systems consistently achieve specified temperature performance requirements.
- Verify refrigeration units are capable of maintaining customer temperature specifications before vehicles are returned to service.
- Conduct temperature performance testing and operational validation following repairs.
- Investigate and resolve recurring refrigeration faults and temperature-control issues.
- Support the protection of customer products through effective refrigeration system maintenance and repair.
- Monitor refrigeration reliability trends and recommend corrective actions to improve performance.
Regulatory & Environmental Compliance
- Ensure compliance with F-Gas regulations, environmental legislation, and refrigerant handling requirements.
- Maintain accurate records relating to refrigerant recovery, leak testing, refrigerant usage, and environmental reporting.
- Promote environmentally responsible refrigerant management and leak prevention practices
Compliance & Documentation
- Ensure all service, maintenance, inspection, and repair documentation is completed accurately and on time.
- Accurately complete job sheets and record labour times against work completed.
- Correctly record and account for all parts used during repairs and maintenance activities.
- Ensure all vehicle inspections are completed in accordance with company and legal requirements.
Workshop Operations
- Manage individual workload effectively and prioritise work assignments in conjunction with Workshop Management.
- Communicate proactively with the Workshop Foreman or Manager regarding work in progress, delays, additional repairs required, and vehicle status.
- Use workshop equipment, tools, and diagnostic equipment safely and correctly.
- Maintain workshop housekeeping standards and ensure work areas remain clean, organised, and safe.
- Supply and maintain personal tools as specified by the Company.
Health, Safety & Compliance
- Adhere to all Company Health & Safety policies, procedures, and safe systems of work.
- Wear and maintain appropriate PPE at all times.
- Report hazards, unsafe conditions, accidents, incidents, and near misses promptly.
- Contribute to a culture of safety and continuous improvement within the workshop environment.
Continuous Improvement & Development
- Maintain knowledge and competence in line with current vehicle technologies, diagnostic systems, legislation, and industry developments.
- Participate in training and development activities as required.
- Support apprentices and less experienced colleagues where appropriate.
- Contribute ideas and recommendations to improve workshop efficiency, fleet reliability, and service delivery.
Measures of Success
Refrigeration Performance
- Achievement of refrigeration equipment availability targets.
- Reduction in refrigeration-related vehicle downtime.
- Reduction in repeat refrigeration faults and warranty returns.
- Achievement of temperature performance standards following repair.
- Successful completion of refrigeration preventative maintenance schedules.
Cold Chain Integrity
- Zero avoidable temperature-control failures.
- Minimal customer product loss attributable to refrigeration defects.
- High levels of refrigeration reliability across the fleet.
- Positive customer feedback relating to refrigeration equipment performance.
Environmental Compliance
- 100% compliance with F-Gas regulations.
- Accurate refrigerant tracking and reporting.
- Successful completion of environmental audits.
- Zero avoidable refrigerant release incidents.
Technical Excellence
- High first-time fix rate for refrigeration repairs.
- Accurate diagnosis of refrigeration and control system faults.
- Effective support provided to workshop teams and operational colleagues.
Skills, Knowledge & Experience:
Essential
- Recognised refrigeration and air conditioning qualification.
- F-Gas Category 1 Certification.
- Strong knowledge of refrigeration principles and systems.
- Experience working with transport refrigeration equipment.
- Excellent electrical and fault-finding skills.
- Full UK Driving Licence.
- Effective verbal and written communication skills.
- Strong planning, organisation, and problem-solving capability.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
- Experience using diagnostic software and equipment.
Desirable
- Experience with Carrier Transicold, Thermo King, Hubbard, or similar transport refrigeration systems.
- Knowledge of telematics and remote monitoring systems.
- HGV or commercial vehicle maintenance experience.
- City & Guilds Level 3 Refrigeration & Air Conditioning qualification.
- Experience of training apprentices.
- Knowledge of transportation and logistics operations.
- Strong PC literacy.
- Electrical qualifications (18th Edition or equivalent).
- Hydrocarbon and alternative refrigerant experience.