Drain jetting engineer jobs: the responsibilities involved

At Lanes, our drain jetting jobs involve both reactive and pre-planned maintenance works at domestic, commercial and industrial sites from across our broad customer base.

The work involves the use of van-mounted jetting or jet vacuuming equipment to carry out the necessary unblocking, a process that may require the establishment of a safe zone and careful management of the risks associated with the use of high-powered equipment of this kind. As such, jetting engineers and their assistants are relied upon to deliver a high standard of work within a small timeframe, while meeting the necessary health and safety requirements. 

Flexible working patterns are a significant part of this role, as drain jetting jobs often require early starts. Engineers should also expect to be part of an out-of-hours callout rota - including weekend shifts - to support our year-round 24/7 service model.

Just as importantly, all of our staff in jetting jobs will be expected to demonstrate strong communication skills, both to facilitate teamwork and to make sure the customer is always informed on the progress of the maintenance work. Drainage and flooding problems can cause considerable stress to those affected, so here at Lanes, we make an effort to ensure that customers are always handled with empathy and patience.

Salary and working conditions

Lanes Group accommodates a wide variety of shift patterns, with pay rates scaling according to experience levels, and opportunities for overtime work available, depending on depot workload. This means that wherever you’re based in the UK, staff in drain jetting jobs can access a competitive salary, with prospects for earning more.

However, this only scratches the surface in terms of the range of available benefits for becoming a member of the Lanes family. All of our staff can count on regular training, access to an optional company-wide health scheme, a workplace pension and childcare vouchers; we also provide free car parking available across 80% of our network of depots and offices, and full corporate uniforms for employees. 

Jetting engineers in particular can benefit from access to several courses, including in-house City & Guilds-accredited qualifications developed by the Water Jetting Association to bolster their operational skills and safety in line with accepted industry standards. This ensures they will always have the right tools, competency and confidence to carry out their work effectively, regardless of their background or previous experience.
 

Skills, qualifications and experience

The ideal candidate for a drain jetting engineer job will have certified experience in the use of high-pressure jetting equipment, including knowledge of how to operate a push rod camera. A New Roads and Street Works Act (NRSWA) training qualification in signing, lighting and guarding may also enhance your application, as will an updated Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card.

However, prior experience with wastewater and drainage is not a requirement, as training can be provided to bring those with suitable basic skills up to speed with the demands of the job. The only essential qualifications are a full UK driving licence with no more than three penalty points, and an aptitude for working safely and efficiently to diagnose and deliver solutions for practical problems, while delivering the highest standard of customer service.

As such, this could be an ideal role for veterans and reservists who may be able to bring transferable skills developed during their military careers to this role. Lanes Group is a forces-friendly employer, meaning we welcome applicants from this background who can get and look forward to being involved in manual work on a day-to-day basis.

Those applying for jetting assistant jobs require less previous expertise, as they will have opportunities to learn on the job while operating as part of a two-person team. For individuals looking to take their first step towards a new career, this could be the perfect opportunity.

Gender is no barrier to a long and successful career at Lanes, and we employ a large number of women in the field of engineering. Discover the work we do with female engineers here at Lanes.

Future prospects

Lanes Group prides itself on offering workers the opportunity to build a long, successful career, rather than a series of one-off gigs. By taking on one of our jetting engineer jobs, you’ll be able to work your way along a defined long-term training pathway, learning best practice from experienced engineering mentors and developing your skills.

The chance to offer this kind of long-term career planning and job security is largely thanks to Lanes Group’s status as the UK’s largest independent specialist drainage contractor, with more than 2,200 people employed across our 25 regional offices and utility hubs throughout England, Scotland and Wales. This geographic reach also allows our staff to move around the UK without having to leave the Lanes family.

What’s more, we pride ourselves on being an equal opportunities employer, and welcome applications from underrepresented areas of the community - meaning no applicant will ever face unnecessary barriers to a fruitful, happy career with Lanes.