Electrical Technician / Test Engineer – LV Switchgear

Electrical Technician / Test Engineer – LV Switchgear

Location: Kane Engineering Ltd, Glenford Road, Newtownards, BT23 4AU
Hourly rate: Starting at £16.19
Job Type: Full-time, Permanent
Date Posted: 18 August 2026

About Kane Engineering:

With over 55 years of industry experience, Kane Engineering Ltd. is a trusted leader in the design, manufacture, and assembly of low-voltage electrical switchboards and control panels. Our products are supplied throughout the UK and Ireland, supporting the construction industry as well as specialist sectors including telecommunications, electricity substations, and EV charging infrastructure.

As a company, we are proud of our continued growth and our commitment to investing in people. We believe in developing talent from within, providing clear career pathways for individuals who are eager to learn and build a long-term career with us. Many of our current senior managers, Project Engineers and Production Team leaders began their journey as apprentices with Kane Engineering, some joining us as young as 16 years old. Their success reflects the opportunities available to those who are motivated, committed, and ready to grow.

Our work involves the manufacture of bespoke electrical assemblies to meet individual customer requirements, engineering specifications and applicable industry standards. As a manufacturer, we place a strong emphasis on quality, electrical safety, accuracy, testing and reliable delivery.

We are now looking to strengthen our manufacturing team with an experienced and motivated Electrical Technician / Test Engineer.

This is a hands-on technical position suited to someone who enjoys working with electrical equipment, reading drawings, fault-finding and testing completed assemblies to a high standard.

The Opportunity

As an Electrical Technician / Test Engineer, you will play an important role in the final stages of manufacturing.

You will be responsible for inspecting and testing completed LV switchgear and control panel assemblies before they are released for delivery or commissioning.

You will work closely with our production, engineering and quality teams, helping to ensure that every panel leaving our facility is correctly assembled, fully tested, safe to operate and meets the required specification.

This is not a domestic installation role. The successful candidate will ideally have experience in an industrial, manufacturing, switchgear, control panel or electrical engineering environment.

You will be working with electrical drawings and schematics, control circuits, power circuits, protective devices, switchgear, control equipment and associated electrical components.

Key Responsibilities

Electrical Testing

• Carry out routine and final electrical testing of LV switchgear and control panel assemblies.
• Perform insulation resistance testing.
• Carry out continuity testing and protective conductor checks.
• Perform functional testing of control and power circuits.
• Carry out high-voltage/dielectric testing in accordance with company procedures.
• Verify correct operation of electrical and control equipment.
• Test completed assemblies against approved drawings, specifications and test procedures.
• Identify and record test results accurately.
• Ensure all required testing is completed before equipment is released.

Inspection & Verification

• Inspect completed switchgear assemblies for correct workmanship and installation.
• Verify wiring against electrical schematics and wiring diagrams.
• Check component installation and identification.
• Check cable routing, termination and labelling.
• Verify that components have been installed in the correct locations and in accordance with drawings.
• Identify discrepancies between the physical assembly and the engineering documentation.
• Ensure completed panels meet the required quality standards.

Fault-Finding & Rectification

A significant part of the role will involve identifying and diagnosing faults discovered during testing.

You will be expected to:

• Systematically trace electrical faults.
• Read and interpret control and power circuits.
• Identify incorrect wiring, component faults and installation errors.
• Use appropriate electrical test equipment to assist diagnosis.
• Determine the root cause of failures.
• Work with production and engineering colleagues to resolve problems.
• Carry out retesting following corrective action.
• Provide feedback where recurring issues or improvements are identified.

We are looking for someone who can do more than simply identify a failed test — you should be able to investigate the problem and help find the solution.

Drawings & Technical Information

The successful candidate will be comfortable working from electrical engineering documentation.

This will include:

• Electrical schematic drawings
• Wiring diagrams
• Panel layouts
• Circuit diagrams
• Component schedules
• Test documentation
• Customer specifications
• Manufacturing/engineering instructions

You will need to confidently follow drawings and use them to verify the physical construction and electrical functionality of completed assemblies.

Commissioning & Site Work

Although the majority of the role will be based within our Newtownards manufacturing facility, there may be opportunities and requirements to support site commissioning and testing activities.

This may involve:

• Supporting commissioning of LV switchgear.
• Carrying out electrical checks and functional testing on site.
• Assisting with fault diagnosis.
• Working with customers, contractors and engineering personnel.
• Providing technical support during installation and commissioning.

A valid driving licence and flexibility to work on site when required are therefore essential.

Team & Production Responsibilities

This position is not purely an individual testing role.

The successful candidate will work as part of our wider manufacturing operation and will be expected to communicate effectively with team leaders, production staff, engineering and quality personnel.

You may be required to:

• Provide clear technical direction to team members.
• Highlight issues that could affect production schedules.
• Monitor work to ensure required quality standards are maintained.
• Assist in prioritising testing and corrective work.
• Communicate technical issues clearly and professionally.
• Help ensure production and delivery targets are achieved.
• Support less experienced members of the team where appropriate.

We are therefore looking for someone who is confident, practical and able to take ownership of their work.

Quality & Continuous Improvement

Quality is fundamental to our manufacturing process.

Every LV switchgear assembly leaving our facility needs to meet the required technical and customer specifications.

You will be expected to:

• Follow company testing and quality procedures.
• Complete test documentation accurately.
• Maintain clear and traceable test records.
• Report non-conformances and quality issues.
• Support corrective actions.
• Identify recurring manufacturing or wiring issues.
• Suggest improvements to testing and manufacturing processes.
• Work with engineering and production teams to improve first-time quality.

We value technicians who don’t simply find problems but help prevent those problems from happening again.

About You

You will ideally have experience working within an industrial electrical, switchgear, control panel or electrical manufacturing environment.

You should be a practical, methodical technician who takes pride in the quality of their work and is comfortable taking responsibility for electrical testing.

Essential Requirements

• Level 3 Electrical / Engineering qualification.
• Minimum 2 years’ electrical wiring experience.
• Practical experience of electrical testing.
• Ability to test electrical assemblies in accordance with procedures.
• Strong ability to read and interpret electrical schematics.
• Good electrical fault-finding and diagnostic ability.
• Ability to work independently and manage your own workload.
• Ability to communicate technical information clearly.
• Ability to give clear direction to team members.
• Ability to monitor quality, performance and delivery requirements.
• Good attention to detail.
• Strong commitment to electrical safety and quality.
• Valid driving licence.
• Flexibility to work on customer sites when required.

Desirable Qualifications & Experience

• C&G 2391 Inspection & Testing – 2391-50, 2391-51 or 2391-52.
• BS7671 18th Edition Wiring Regulations.
• Previous experience working with LV switchgear.
• Previous experience working with control panels.
• Experience testing manufactured electrical assemblies.
• Experience with commissioning.
• Experience working in an industrial electrical manufacturing environment.
• Experience with fault-finding control circuits.
• Experience with routine and final inspection/testing.

What Makes This Role Different?

This is an opportunity to join a company where electrical equipment is designed and manufactured in-house, rather than simply installed on site.

You will see the complete manufacturing process and work with the finished equipment through its final inspection and testing stages.

Your work will directly contribute to ensuring that our LV switchgear is:

Correctly manufactured → Correctly wired → Thoroughly tested → Safe → Fit for purpose → Ready for customer delivery and commissioning.

For the right person, the role offers the opportunity to develop further technical knowledge across LV switchgear manufacturing, electrical testing, fault-finding, commissioning and quality assurance.

Working Hours

39 hours per week

• Monday to Thursday: 8:00am – 5:00pm
• Friday: 8:00am – 1:00pm

Lunch break: 1:00pm – 1:30pm (Monday to Thursday)

Holiday

29 days’ annual leave per year, inclusive of statutory days.

Benefits

• Company pension
• Free parking
• On-site parking
• Monday–Friday working
• 39-hour working week
• Permanent full-time position
• Technical and varied manufacturing environment
• Opportunity to develop specialist LV switchgear knowledge

Location

Kane Engineering Ltd
Glenford Road
Newtownards
BT23 4AU

Applicants must be able to reliably commute to Newtownards or plan to relocate before starting the role.

How to Apply

If you are an experienced Electrical Technician, Test Engineer, Switchgear Technician, Control Panel Technician or Electrical Test Technician looking for an opportunity within an established LV switchgear manufacturing environment, we would like to hear from you.

Please apply through via clicking the apply icon with your CV outlining your relevant electrical testing, switchgear, control panel and fault-finding experience.

Kane Engineering Ltd is an equal opportunities employer.