Maintenance Fitter
Salary £ 42,000
South Crofty Mine, Pool, TR15 3QT
Vacancy listed 02/02/2026
Application deadline 02/03/2026
Details
The Company

Cornish Metals is an AIM listed Company working towards re-opening the 100% owned and fully permitted South Crofty underground tin mine in Pool, Cornwall.  

In March 2025, we raised £57.4 million, anchored by the UK’s National Wealth Fund and Vision Blue Resources to advance South Crofty towards tin production once again.  Tin is essential for electronics, renewable energy, and modern technology and demand is projected to increase by 30% in the next decade.

We are committed to ethical, responsible and domestic tin production and are proud to have strong local and national support.

Role purpose

We are seeking an enthusiastic and proactive individual to carry out general preventative maintenance, repairs, and statutory inspections on our fixed and mobile plant across both the surface site and active underground workings. This is a shift-based role, working a combination of day and night shifts.

The ideal candidate will have completed a relevant apprenticeship or training qualification and will bring broad engineering knowledge, including experience in maintaining electro‑hydraulic and pneumatic systems, hoists, pumps, and both light and heavy plant. Familiarity with computerised maintenance management systems is also desirable.

Cornish Metals is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace, and reasonable adjustments will be provided as required. A copy of our Diversity, Equality and Inclusion Policy is available on request.

Applicants must have the right to work in the UK at the time of application. Unfortunately, we are unable to offer sponsorship for this position.

Principle responsibilities/role tasks

Specific duties as part of the role include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Conduct scheduled preventive maintenance and servicing on mechanical equipment to ensure reliable operation.
  • Respond rapidly to equipment breakdowns and emergency faults to minimize production downtime.
  • Assemble, align, install, and commission new mechanical equipment, including pumps, motors, valves, and associated systems.
  • Diagnose mechanical issues, identify root causes, and repair or replace faulty components.
  • Use the Computerised Maintenance Management System (CMMS) for planning, scheduling, and closing out maintenance work.
  • Maintain accurate maintenance records, follow Health & Safety regulations, and uphold a clean, safe working environment.
  • Ensure all personal tools, equipment, and safety gear are properly maintained and compliant with standards.
  • Comply with all health, safety, and environmental requirements while contributing to a strong safety culture.
  • Mentor and support Mechanical apprentices through on-the-job training and skill development.
  • Participate in Maintenance Task Development activities, including FMECA and Root Cause Analysis sessions.
  • Perform additional duties as required that align with safety guidelines and the technical requirements of the role.

Working Environment 

This is an on‑site role based at the South Crofty Mine and will involve working both on the surface and underground. From time to time, you may also be required to work in external third‑party workshops, carrying out tasks such as stripping down mine equipment or witnessing Factory Acceptance Tests (FATs).

The Maintenance Fitter will be required to operate hand tools and mobile plant such as telehandlers, Light Vehicles and other underground mining equipment, as well as working manually with their hands. Cornish Metals Ltd will supply you with all the necessary PPE required to work safely and do all it reasonably can to protect you from risk of injury and ill health, including completion, and maintenance of, risk assessments and implementing systems of work designed to protect your health and safety. Despite this, you will hold a significant amount of personal responsibility for the health and safety of yourself and your colleagues and the nature of the role and the physical environment in which you will work means that you will be exposed to uncomfortable conditions regularly. 

Conditions

  • Lighting is limited; headlamps are often the only light source.
  • Conditions are wet and muddy, including water from above and slippery, uneven ground underfoot.
  • Close contact with muddy and ochre‑stained equipment and rock is common.
  • Temperatures vary significantly: as low as 2°C in shallow areas and up to 30°C in deep workings.
  • High humidity (up to 100%) and frequent draughts due to Terrain includes steep gradients, loose ground, and confined spaces.
  • The environment is often very noisy, requiring regular hearing protection.
  • Work may involve heavy, vibrating handheld tools and manual handling up to 20kg.

Access & Underground Movement

  • Main access is via an 8‑person cage in an 800m‑deep shaft.
  • A secondary emergency “bullet cage” (4-person, 800mm diameter) is also used.
  • Spaces can be narrow with restricted height, requiring comfort in confined areas.

Physical & Safety Requirements

  • Ability to climb ladders in dark, wet conditions.
  • Good level of physical fitness for manual handling and movement across difficult terrain.
  • Ability to ride in small, confined shaft cages.
  • Must wear and operate fall‑arrest harnesses and restraint equipment.
  • Frequent work at height, including on ropes and fall‑restraint systems.
  • Required participation in regular health assessments.

Key relationships

The role will report to the Mechanical Foreman, but there will be frequent interaction with the Mechanical Engineer. The role will also involve working closely with the technical staff, including the engineers and project managers involved in the dewatering and re-accessing of the mine, as well as ongoing exploration activities.

 External relationships will include suppliers, external contractors, training providers and regulatory bodies. 

Skills and experience

The key skills and experience which are expected for this role are:

Essential

  • Relevant mechanical engineering qualification such as NVQ Level 3, HNC, or HND (or an equivalent technical certification).
  • Recognized apprenticeship in mechanical engineering or plant maintenance. 
  • Minimum of 5 years’ experience in a similar role within a heavy engineering environment—ideally mining, tunnelling, or processing plants. 
  • Competence in mechanical fitting both in workshop conditions and on-site working areas. 
  • Ability to interpret hydraulic and pneumatic schematics and effectively troubleshoot system faults. 
  • Working knowledge of engineering maintenance techniques and familiarity with Computerized Maintenance Management Systems (CMMS). 
  • Proficiency in the use of hand and power tools, mechanical diagnostics, and basic understanding of electrical and hydraulic systems. 
  • Strong troubleshooting and problem‑solving skills to quickly diagnose and resolve equipment failures. 
  • The ability to understand, follow, and enforce strict Health & Safety guidelines, including safe work practices, risk assessments, and compliance with relevant regulations.

Desirable

  • Previous experience of working in a company in the extractive, construction or industrial sectors 
  • Experience with fixed plant or mobile plant, particularly electro-hydraulic systems, pumps and associated infrastructure 
  • Previous experience in safety critical roles

Hours of work and work location 

Hours of work will initially be a working cycle of 11-hour shifts on four consecutive days, followed by 4 consecutive days off, in accordance with the shift rota. During the course of a year, you will average 38.5 hours a week.

Based at the South Crofty Mine site. The role will require you to provide “on-call” engineering cover to support ongoing mining activities outside of your normal working hours. The on-call rota will be agreed with you in advance

Benefits

• Health & Dental Cashback
• Life Insurance
• Enhanced parental leave and sick pay
• Income protection insurance
• Enhanced pension contributions
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Personal days

This vacancy has now been closed