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Maintenance Engineer Interview Questions

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Indeed’s Employer Resource Library helps businesses grow and manage their workforce. With over 15,000 articles in 6 languages, we offer tactical advice, how-tos and best practices to help businesses hire and retain great employees.

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Whether you are preparing to interview a candidate or applying for a job, review our list of top Maintenance Engineer interview questions and answers.

  1. What skills do you think are the most important for a Maintenance Engineer? See answer
  2. Tell me about your work experience and background in maintenance engineering. See answer
  3. Describe a challenging maintenance task you completed and how you overcame it. See answer
  4. What would you do if you could not find the exact cause of an equipment malfunction? See answer
  5. How do you make sure you follow all safety procedures on a job site? See answer
  6. How would you grade your ability to work with other maintenance employees in a team setting? See answer
  7. How do you stay informed about current safety and performance regulations? See answer
  8. If a Senior Maintenance Engineer is reluctant to work with you, what would you do? See answer
  9. How do you communicate a technical concept to non-technical clients during meetings or presentations? See answer
  10. Describe how you manage your time during fast-paced engineering projects. See answer
  11. What is your idea of a successful maintenance team? See answer
  12. As a Maintenance Engineer, how do you ensure accuracy and prevent mistakes? See answer
  13. What changes would you suggest to improve our maintenance strategy? See answer
  14. Why are you pursuing a career as aMaintenance Engineer?
  15. As a Maintenance Engineer, what educational qualifications do you have?
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Our mission

Indeed’s Employer Resource Library helps businesses grow and manage their workforce. With over 15,000 articles in 6 languages, we offer tactical advice, how-tos and best practices to help businesses hire and retain great employees.

Read our editorial guidelines

15 Maintenance Engineer Interview Questions and Answers

Why are you pursuing a career as a Maintenance Engineer?

The goal of this question is to learn whether a candidate is passionate about maintenance engineering and what specific tasks excite them. An applicant's answer can also help you identify which of your projects or teams may align with their interests. Look for the following in an answer:

  • Enthusiasm for maintenance engineering
  • Specific reasons they enjoy working as a Maintenance Engineer
  • Examples of previous maintenance engineering projects

Here is an example of a successful answer:

Example:

"Ever since I was a child, I've loved fixing things. When I was young, I would repair my broken toys. In high school, I realised that maintenance engineering was a career I could pursue after assisting my technology education teacher. Today, some of my favourite projects to work on are in the food manufacturing industry."

 As a Maintenance Engineer, what educational qualifications do you have?

This question can help you determine whether an applicant has the educational background to perform their duties effectively. It can also give applicants an opportunity to expand on the education listed on their resume. What to look for in an answer:

  • Post-secondary school education
  • Desire to continue learning
  • Industry-specific knowledge

Here is an example of a successful answer:

Example:

"Four years ago, I completed my bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering. After my undergraduate studies, I pursued a master's degree in project management. As an active member of the Aircraft Maintenance Engineers of Canada, I am eager to apply my extensive maintenance engineering education to this position by improving machine efficiency and operations."

What skills do you think are the most important for a Maintenance Engineer?

Maintenance Engineers need to have a combination of hard and soft skills to perform their duties effectively. By asking this question, you can assess whether an applicant knows what the most important skills for their role are. What to look for in an answer:

  • Hard skills, such as the ability to read system schematics
  • Soft skills, such as clear and concise communication
  • A desire to learn new skills and technologies

Here is an example of a successful answer:

Example:

"I believe Maintenance Engineers should have excellent management skills and advanced knowledge of plumbing, mechanical, electrical, and heating systems. These skills can help Maintenance Engineers oversee projects and teams effectively. Understanding the specific systems they work with can also improve their critical-thinking, problem-solving, and analytical abilities."

Tell me about your work experience and background in maintenance engineering.

Asking candidates to discuss their background in maintenance engineering can help you develop a deeper understanding of the tasks they performed in previous roles. This can help you determine if they are a good fit for your organisation. What to look for in an answer:

  • Work experience as a volunteer, intern, or employee in a related field
  • Lessons learned from their work experience
  • Industry-specific knowledge

Here is an example of a successful answer:

Example:

"I have five years of experience working in maintenance engineering. During my summer holidays as an undergraduate, I volunteered at a maintenance shop and learned how to apply various maintenance concepts to product development. I also completed an internship at a top maintenance firm, where I learned to collabourate with other Engineers and Designers to develop prototypes."

Describe a challenging maintenance task you completed and how you overcame it.

Most maintenance engineering tasks involve analytical and problem-solving skills. The goal of this question is to understand how an applicant solves maintenance issues. Look for the following in an answer:

  • Experience overcoming engineering challenges
  • A clear problem-solving strategy
  • A positive attitude

Here is an example of a successful response:

Example:

"In my previous role, I worked with a technical team to maintain aircrafts for an airline. After six months of daily maintenance work, the aircraft broke down. As the Senior Maintenance Engineer on the team, I had to identify the root cause of the problem, fix it, and figure out how to prevent it from happening again. I spoke with the airline owners and several Systems Engineers to identify the issue accurately and develop a more rigorous maintenance routine that prevented future problems."

What would you do if you could not find the exact cause of an equipment malfunction?

An applicant's response to this question reveals how they may handle difficult situations. A good maintenance engineer can develop creative solutions and overcome challenges efficiently. What to look for in an answer:

  • Critical-thinking skills
  • Ability to collabourate with a team
  • Strong communication skills

Here is an example of a successful answer:

Example:

"As a Maintenance Engineer, I am confident in my troubleshooting and critical-thinking skills. If I can't find the cause of an equipment malfunction after doing my research and running routine tests, I would reach out to a Senior Maintenance Engineer or another member of my team to get a second opinion. If this professional also struggles to find the reason for the malfunction, I would focus on the most probable cause and contact the stakeholders before implementing the solution that is the most likely to work."

How do you make sure you follow all safety procedures on a job site?

Maintenance Engineers must follow all safety procedures at work to mitigate risks and prevent accidents. The goal of this question is to determine whether an applicant understands safety and engineering best practises. What to look for in an answer:

  • Knowledge of maintenance safety procedures
  • Experience using personal protective equipment
  • Management and leadership skills

Here is an example of a successful answer:

Example:

"I am familiar with the Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) standards in Canada. As a Maintenance Engineer, I make sure I use the required personal protective equipment for each task. I also schedule routine safety checks with my team to make sure our environment and the machines we work on are safe."

How would you grade your ability to work with other maintenance employees in a team setting?

Maintenance Engineers typically work with maintenance technicians, maintenance supervisors, and other professionals. By asking this question, you can determine whether an applicant's working style aligns with your organisation's culture. What to look for in an answer:

  • Ability to work with a team
  • Interpersonal and relationship-building skills
  • Strong communication skills

Here is an example of a successful answer:

Example:

"I enjoy collabourating with others, so I would give myself an excellent grade in this area. My working style is idea-oriented and I appreciate working with team members who are detail-focused, logical, and supportive. Working with others is a great way to learn new concepts and share ideas. I also feel motivated when working with a team."

How do you stay informed about current safety and performance regulations?

Maintenance Engineers must stay up-to-date with developments in their field to perform their duties and responsibilities effectively. Asking this question can help you determine whether an applicant is open to learning new things and honing their skills. What to look for in an answer:

  • A desire to learn new concepts and technologies
  • Knowledge of current safety and performance regulations
  • Ability to adapt to new engineering processes

Here is an example of a successful answer:

Example:

"I review research papers and journals about maintenance engineering regularly. I also participate in a Slack channel for Maintenance Engineers. In my free time, I enjoy reading articles that my colleagues have written about maintenance engineering. I also get frequent updates about changes in the industry as a member of the International Maintenance Association."

If a Senior Maintenance Engineer is reluctant to work with you, what would you do?

While Maintenance Engineers often work in groups, Senior Maintenance Engineers may be reluctant to work with a new hire who has little experience. The goal of this question is to understand how an applicant handles difficult situations and resolves conflict. What to look for in an answer:

  • Communication skills
  • People management skills
  • Conflict-resolution skills

Here is an example of a successful answer:

Example:

"I would reach out to the Senior Maintenance Engineer directly to understand where their reluctance is coming from and if there is anything I can do to improve our working relationship so we can achieve the organisation's goals. If the situation escalates, I would reach out to management for additional guidance."

How do you communicate a technical concept to non-technical clients during meetings or presentations?

Maintenance Engineers often need to communicate complex engineering concepts in a way that's easy to understand. Asking this question can help you assess how comfortable a candidate is working with clients. What to look for in an answer:

  • An in-depth understanding of engineering concepts
  • Clear and concise communication
  • Customer service experience

Here is an example of a successful answer:

Example:

"I start by defining the concept in simple terms. Next, I give practical examples and analogies to help the client understand. I also actively listen to my clients and ask if they have any questions to ensure I provide all the information they need."

Describe how you manage your time during fast-paced engineering projects.

Maintenance Engineers often have strict deadlines they must adhere to. By asking this question, you can determine whether an applicant can handle urgent projects. Look for the following in an answer:

  • Time management skills
  • Ability to work in a fast-paced environment
  • organisation

Here is an example of a successful answer:

Example:

"I enjoy working in a fast-paced environment because I believe it helps me grow as a Maintenance Engineer. I manage my time by creating a list of each task I need to complete for a specific maintenance project. Next, I prioritise tasks based on their deadlines and set a personal deadline for myself. This gives me time to make any necessary corrections before the final deadline."

What is your idea of a successful maintenance team?

The goal of this question is to understand which personality traits an applicant expects their teammates to have. By asking this question, you can also determine the right team to place an applicant on. What to look for in an answer:

  • Understanding of good team qualities
  • Teamwork skills
  • People management skills

Here is an example of a successful answer:

Example:

"In my previous roles, I worked with several Maintenance Engineers, supervisors and specialists. My idea of a successful team is one with a goal-oriented mindset. I enjoy working with people who are committed to their roles and open to learning new concepts. I believe members of a successful team should share a core set of values and be able to brainstorm solutions."

As a Maintenance Engineer, how do you ensure accuracy and prevent mistakes?

Making mistakes as a Maintenance Engineer may have serious consequences for an organisation. This question reveals how carefully candidates perform their duties and the precautions they take to avoid mistakes. What to look for in an applicant's answer:

  • organisational skills
  • Understanding of safety regulations
  • Keen attention to details

Here is an example of a successful answer:

Example:

"Before beginning a maintenance procedure, I double-check to ensure all maintenance tools are in good condition. I perform my duties meticulously, even when working at a fast pace. After completing a maintenance procedure on a piece of equipment, I make sure it works effectively and have another person, such as a manager or the client, confirm that everything is running smoothly."

What changes would you suggest to improve our maintenance strategy?

The goal of this question is to determine whether an applicant researched your company before the interview. Look for the following in an answer:

  • Research skills
  • Ability to evaluate maintenance strategies
  • Communication skills

Here is an example of a successful answer:

Example:

"While reviewing your corporate website, I discovered you have many teams, which makes it easy for your organisation to complete several maintenance projects at the same time. Although this seems very effective, I noticed these teams primarily focus on preventative maintenance. I suggest you implement a predictive maintenance strategy as well to improve your accuracy and decrease breakdowns."

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