Fire & Security Engineer

Serco: Yarl’s Wood Immigration Centre, Bedford, MK44 1FD
Permanent, Full Time (Mon-Fri  8:00-16:30pm – on call roster)

Up to £37,000 per annum + £160 per week for on call duties (with travel expense and overtime payment for any time on site)

Ready to impact a better future?

As a Fire & Security Engineer in our UK&E Justice and Immigration Facilities Management team, you’ll help keep people safe by maintaining the systems that protect our sites. You’ll work across fire detection, life safety and security systems to ensure they’re well‑maintained, compliant and performing at their best.

Your work will have a direct and positive impact — helping safeguard colleagues, visitors and the wider community. By ensuring essential safety systems are reliable, you’ll support secure, resilient environments and contribute to a safer future for everyone on site.

What you’ll do as a Fire & Security Engineer

You’ll be entrusted to:

• Carry out reactive and preventative maintenance across fire detection, life safety and security systems.  
• Work safely and in line with Health and Safety legislation at all times.
• Keep planned maintenance schedules up to date and complete.
• Install, test, commission and service systems including CCTV, access control, intruder detection and fire alarms.  
• Prioritise workload, work to tight timescales and use your own initiative to solve problems effectively.
• Participate in material ordering and procurement processes.
• Support the wider FM team through multi‑trade assistance when required.
• Carry out fault‑finding, defect rectification and equipment investigations, producing recommendations where necessary.
• Maintain accurate records of tools and escort contractors in line with written procedures.

Does this sound like you?

You’ll be a great fit for this role if you have…

• Proven experience installing, testing, commissioning and servicing fire and security systems.  
• Strong IT skills, including Microsoft Office and database systems.
• Technical knowledge across standards such as BS EN 50131 (Alarm Systems), BS EN 50132 (CCTV), BS EN 50133 (Access Control) and BS5839 (Fire Detection).
• A minimum ONC‑level electrical/electronics qualification or equivalent.
• The ability to communicate clearly and work effectively with colleagues at all levels.  
• A proactive, self‑motivated approach and the ability to stay composed in challenging environments.  

Vetting and checks
This role requires Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) clearance, which involves verifying your identity, employment history, nationality, and criminal record to meet government security standards. In addition, depending on the nature of the role, you may need to obtain formal Security Clearance (such as CTC or SC), which includes more detailed background checks on employment, criminal record, and financial history to ensure suitability for working in secure environments. Please note that UK residency requirements may apply for certain levels of clearance. You will also complete an Occupational Health Questionnaire so we can identify and provide any support you may need to undertake the role effectively.

Discover all you need to keep growing
We’re one of the top 1% of international employers, so you can have confidence you’ll be part of a highly supportive culture with leaders you can count on to help you achieve your goals. From mentoring and training to our focus on internal progression, we’re proud to offer clear development opportunities – and the support and tools to help you seize them.

What we offer

• 25 days plus bank holidays
• Up to 6% contributory pension scheme
• Free on-site parking
• Over 1,100 internal courses available, funding for qualifications and apprenticeships (including L3 Team Leader and L5 Operations Manager apprenticeships), mentoring opportunities, and a focus on internal progression
• Employee Assistance Programme, Bupa Anytime HealthLine, wellbeing app, 30% off at Serco‑managed leisure centres, and 24/7 access to a virtual GP service
• Discounts across around 1,000 retailers, from food and clothing to days out, entertainment and travel
• Paid volunteering day, tax‑free charitable giving through Payroll Giving Scheme, donate your pennies from your monthly pay to the Serco People Fund Charity
• Our networks support inclusion and connection by providing spaces for collaboration, learning, and belonging. They represent and empower all our colleagues including LGBTQIA+ employees, women, parents and carers, people with disabilities, veterans, and people from all cultural backgrounds.

Let’s impact a better future, together. Apply today.

About Serco
At Serco, not only is the nature of the work we do important, everyone has an important role to play, from caring for vulnerable people to managing complex public services.  We are a team of 50,000 people responsible for delivering essential public services around the world in areas including defence, transport, justice, immigration, healthcare and citizen services. We are innovators, committed to redesigning and improving public services for the benefit of everyone.

By joining Serco you will have unlimited access to our Global Employee Networks – SercoInspire (Gender), SercoEmbrace (Multicultural), SercoUnlimited (Disability) and In@Serco (LGBT & Networks). Serco Employee Networks, led by colleagues who are passionate about diversity, inclusion and belonging. 

Apply
Please click on the apply button to complete your application. Occasionally we receive a large volume of applications for our roles and when that happens we sometimes bring the closing date forward, so please apply promptly to avoid disappointment. 

At Serco, we see people first and foremost for their performance and potential. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive organisation that supports the needs of all. As such we will make reasonable adjustments at interview through to employment for our candidates and strongly encourage applications from a diverse candidate pool. We are open to discussions around flexibility and flexible working. We operate a hybrid work structure in many of our business areas. We are proudly Disability Confident Leader employers and holder of the Gold Inclusive Employer Standard. Disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the job will be given the opportunity to demonstrate their abilities at an interview.  For help with your application please contact 0345 010 4000.
 

At Serco we support fair access to employment for those with unspent criminal convictions through the ‘Ban the Box’ pledge (some may be exempt due to the nature of the role and the security clearance required). Please contact our recruitment team directly on 0345 010 4000 to discuss.