Senior Project Engineer (CDE)

At Network Rail, we're dedicated to keeping passengers and freight moving safely and efficiently across the country. When you join us, you're part of something that matters to millions. We believe our people are at the heart of what we do, and every role plays a vital part in building a better, more connected railway. We're committed to creating a diverse, inclusive workplace that reflects the communities we serve and value flexibility to support a healthy work-life balance. As a Disability Confident Leader, we accommodate needs throughout the recruitment process.

About The Role

The Eastern Routes Capital Programmes Enhancements team defines requirements, leads procurement, and assures safe compliant delivery of major multi-disciplinary projects and programmes across the Eastern Region, including the East Coast, North & East, East Midlands, and Anglia routes. Our new operating model, Agile Client Eastern, enables agile and efficient ways of working, presenting a phenomenal opportunity to support the rail industry and impact the UK's infrastructure. This team works on challenging and rewarding projects, embracing new technologies and innovation through our SPEED principles (collaboration, new technologies, and proactive decision-making).

Our portfolio includes large-scale projects such as the Power Supply upgrade of the East Coast main line, new stations at Thorpe Park and Haxby, and station upgrade schemes at Leeds, Middlesbrough, and others.

As a Senior Project Engineer, you will lead and manage the use of appropriate engineering standards in design and construction, ensuring compliance with legislation, Railway Group, and Network Rail company standards. You will monitor the competence of staff controlling Distribution & Plant engineering aspects of projects and embed Eastern Region's culture principles: Show We Care, Listen Learn Improve, Better Together, and Keep It Simple.

The role sits within the Head of Engineering team, in the Enhancements North delivery portfolio, and requires a minimum of 3 days a week based in York. Network Rail supports employee development through mentorship, training packages, and in-role opportunities.

Responsibilities

• Implement Network Rail systems and procedures to deliver cost-effective, high-quality, and safe approaches to design, construction, commissioning, and other technical activities on relevant projects.
• Review relevant legislation and liaise with governmental departments.
• Monitor the competence of all Project Engineers working on projects within the Distribution & Plant discipline and provide functional guidance, direction, and briefing.
• Apply engineering controls and procedures to ensure all design and construction contracts reference appropriate Railway Group and Network Rail Company standards for the Buildings & Civil discipline.
• Apply techniques and procedures of quantified and qualitative risk assessment and HAZOP analysis to all projects.
• Ensure environmental aspects of all projects are managed in accordance with Network Rail Environmental Policy.
• Monitor all projects for compliance with Railway Group and Network Rail Company standards and project control procedures.
• Advise project and programme management on construction activities, testing, commissioning, and site supervision.
• Monitor whether design and construction elements meet legislative requirements, including Construction Design Management (CDM) regulations.
• Monitor the competency of contractors' design, construction, and specialist personnel to assure quality of supply chain outputs.
• Undertake duties of nominated design and construction/design construction engineer, including reviews of Distribution & Plant design and construction activities.
• Arrange audits of contractors to monitor safety and quality of design, construction, testing, commissioning, and management systems.
• Carry out duties of designated project engineer (DPE) to fulfil Network Rail engineering management standards and procedures.
• Undertake accident investigations to identify root causes, corrective actions, and disseminate learning.
• Undertake project categorisation for engineering to determine the level of engineering assurance required.

Requirements

• Significant experience in Buildings & Civil engineering, ideally with involvement in construction and design projects across multi-disciplinary areas.
• Technical qualifications to at least HNC level or equivalent in Buildings & Civil engineering.
• Membership of a relevant professional institution (e.g., ICE, IMechE, IET).
• Experience of contracting, including alliancing.
• Knowledge of structuring safety cases in support of projects.
• Knowledge of safety management and quality assurance.
• Understanding of arrangements required for independent assessment of works.
• Accident investigation experience.
• Demonstrable skills in initiating and building positive working relationships with customers, teams, and stakeholders.
• Demonstrable experience in creating development opportunities for self and others.
• Demonstrable experience in challenging self and others to improve services and approaches.
• Demonstrable experience in supporting the physical and mental well-being and safety of self and colleagues, and challenging business and safety-related risks.
• Demonstrable ability to work proactively through complex issues.

Qualifications

• Application of engineering assurance on Network Rail projects, including CDE ACE dispositioning models, through roles such as CRE, CEM, DPE, or PE (desirable).
• Chartered status or equivalent in Buildings & Civil engineering (desirable).
• Appreciation of environmental issues in engineering works (desirable).

Benefits

• 28 days annual leave with the option to buy and sell days.
• Choice of contributory pension schemes.
• 75% discount on leisure travel for you and your family.
• Private healthcare.
• 5 days paid volunteer or carers leave.
• Up to 75% subsidised Rail and Underground travel.
• Access to gyms across the UK via Gym Pass.
• My Benefits platform offering national and local retail discounts.

Pay

£55,596 to £67,813 per annum.

Schedule

Minimum of 3 days a week based in York. Flexible working options available to promote a healthy work-life balance, with support for key commissioning activities on-site as needed.