More Information
Salaries And Costs
Pay varies by discipline and clearance. Technicians in assembly or test often land £26,000 to £35,000, with overtime or shift premiums pushing take home higher. Graduate electronics engineers tend to start around £30,000 to £35,000, rising to £40,000 to £55,000 for mid level design, firmware or verification, and £60,000 plus where leadership, safety critical domains or SC clearance is in play. Temp rates for skilled PCB rework or SMT operators often sit at £13 to £18 per hour, and contractor day rates for embedded or FPGA specialists can range from £350 to £550. Agency costs vary by role and scarcity, with permanent recruitment fees often 12 percent to 20 percent, and temp margins reflecting pay rates, statutory on costs and scarcity. Electronics recruitment agencies can benchmark salaries, pay rates and recruitment fees against current adverts, helping local employers set realistic offers that cut dropouts.
Common Job Roles Agencies Recruit For
Recruitment agencies and staffing agencies in Lancashire place electronics design engineers, firmware and embedded software engineers, test development engineers, RF and EMC engineers, hardware verification, quality and reliability, as well as PCB assemblers, SMT operators, inspectors and rework specialists. Employment firms also fill production planners, buyers with component knowledge, and operations roles where electronic sub assemblies move through IPC classed processes. For candidates, this means routes into permanent, contract work and temp assignments that fit skills and shift patterns.
Qualifications And Training
Hiring managers often look for HND or degree level electronics or mechatronics for design and development, with hands on exposure to oscilloscopes, logic analysers and EDA tools. On the shop floor, IPC A 610 and J STD 001 certificates matter for acceptability of electronic assemblies, with ESD awareness and microscope soldering skills common asks. Aerospace facing employers may work to AS9100, NADCAP or similar quality systems, and roles linked to defence can need SC clearance. Recruitment consultants will flag any DBS checks, export control limits or non disclosure steps well before start dates, so onboarding runs smoothly for both sides.
Regional And Commuter Links
Lancashire’s commuter links make cross county hiring practical. The M6, M55, M61 and M65 tie Preston, Chorley, Blackburn, Burnley and the Fylde Coast together, with rail corridors feeding talent from Manchester and Merseyside. Business parks near Whitehills, Hillhouse and along the M65 give quick access to production units, and the University of Central Lancashire’s Engineering Innovation Centre in Preston keeps a steady stream of graduates and research links in play. For employers, that means a wider labour market within a sensible commute. For jobseekers, it opens up more choices on shift times and contract work.
Local Hiring Challenges
Component knowledge changes fast, and many businesses need people who can move from through hole repair to fine pitch SMT without a long ramp up. Clearance times can slow hiring in defence, and that makes early engagement with recruiters important, so temp cover and interim test engineers can bridge gaps. Retention improves when pay bands match nearby competitors, overtime is predictable, and progression paths are clear, that could be IPC trainer status, L3 to L4 technician moves, or senior engineer routes.
Hard To Fill Positions
FPGA and high speed digital roles, EMC test engineers, and power electronics specialists are often tight. Avionics test with DO 160 or similar is another pinch point. On the shop floor, experienced rework technicians for BGA or QFN packages, and AOI or ICT programmers can be tough finds. Electronics recruitment agencies track who is finishing projects or contracts, so local businesses can hire staff before notice periods bite. Candidates with IPC, boundary scan, or safety standards can expect quicker calls and stronger pay.
Contracts And Workforce Options
Lancashire employers mix permanent hires for core engineering with temps and contractors for spikes, new product introduction or rework campaigns. Temp agencies can staff full SMT lines, with operators, inspectors and test techs across day, back and night shifts. Executive search comes into play for heads of engineering, quality leaders and operations managers where succession or site expansion is on the table. Jobseekers can register with an agency for alerts on permanent moves, or for short runs that fit childcare or study.
Entry Routes, Roles And Progression
Technician routes often start with college programmes or apprenticeships in electronics manufacture or mechatronics, moving into test or SMT programming. Graduates can step into junior hardware, firmware or verification, then grow into senior engineer, project lead or functional safety paths. Production staff can take IPC trainer courses, step into line leadership, and move into quality or NPI coordination. Recruiters can map each route against local vacancies, so both employers and candidates see a clear pathway.
Quick Facts And FAQs
Do Lancashire businesses use recruitment agencies for electronics hires.
Yes, recruiters help fill permanent, temporary and contract roles across Preston, Burnley, Fylde and Lancaster.
What documents should a candidate prepare.
A clean CV with skills, IPC certificates, any clearance status, plus references.
How fast can temp cover start.
For shop floor roles, same week starts are common when right to work and induction are ready.
Can agencies help with salary setting.
Yes, they compare current adverts and recent offers so salaries and pay rates match the local job market.
Where should employers post shift based roles.
Agencies tap into jobseekers near the M65 corridor and the Fylde Coast, keeping travel times sensible.
How do I register with an agency.
Send your CV, confirm shifts and locations you can do, then book a short call to set targets.
Do electronics recruitment agencies handle executive search.
Yes, where leadership or niche skills are needed for growth or succession.
How This Page Helps
Agency Central lists electronics recruitment agencies working in Lancashire, so local employers can find employees without losing time, and candidates can register with an agency that knows their kit and commute. Whether you need permanent hires, contract work or temp cover, you can speak with recruiters who understand the county’s factories, labs and test bays.