Permanent Way Engineer: Track Reliability & Lifecycle

Etihad Rail Operating Companies; Al Fayah; On-site; AED 360,000 - 540,000; Full time

Job summary

Etihad Rail Operating Companies is seeking a Track & Permanent Way Engineer to ensure integrity, safety and lifecycle performance of permanent way assets across the UAE rail network. You will support track inspection, maintenance strategy and condition monitoring, using geometry data, ultrasonic testing and visual inspections to drive renewals and improvements.

Responsibilities include defining inspection regimes, optimizing tamping and track renewal plans, and performing root-cause analyses of

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering, Railway Engineering or related discipline.
• 8+ years experience in railway-related track/ permanent way.
• Professional engineering membership or certification.
• Experience with track inspection, asset management and renewals.
• Experience with tamping, rail grinding, reballasting and track renewal programmes.
• Strong experience with rails, sleepers, ballast, switches and crossings.
• Experience interpreting track geometry and condition-monitoring data.
• Heavy-haul or high axle-load rail experience advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Maintain the engineering integrity of permanent way assets, including rails, sleepers, ballast, switches and crossings, welds, fastening systems and track geometry.
• Ensure track assets comply with approved engineering specifications, railway standards, maintenance requirements and applicable operational and safety limits.
• Provide specialist permanent way engineering advice to Operations, Maintenance, Projects and other stakeholders throughout the asset lifecycle.
• Establish and review technical criteria, intervention limits and engineering requirements, and recommend improvements to track safety, reliability, availability and asset life.
• Define and review permanent way inspection regimes based on standards, asset criticality, condition, traffic loading and operational requirements.
• Develop and optimize tamping, rail grinding, rail replacement, reballasting and track renewal strategies.
• Establish maintenance priorities and intervention thresholds based on track geometry, asset condition, degradation trends and identified risks.
• Support the development and continuous improvement of preventive, predictive and condition-based maintenance strategies.
• Analyze track condition and measurement data from geometry cars, ultrasonic testing, video/visual inspections and other monitoring technologies.
• Identify track defects, deterioration patterns and emerging degradation trends and translate findings into appropriate maintenance and engineering interventions.
• Analyze historical condition and performance data to support asset-health assessment, lifecycle planning and future maintenance and renewal requirements.
• Investigate track defects, permanent way failures, abnormal deterioration and conditions presenting potential derailment or operational risks.
• Perform root-cause analysis of failures and recurring defects, defining and monitoring appropriate corrective and preventive actions.
• Provide specialist engineering support during significant track defects, failures and safety-related incidents, recommending interventions based on severity and risk.
• Provide engineering support for track renewal, reballasting, rail replacement, switches and crossings replacement and other permanent way improvement programmes.
• Develop and review scopes, technical specifications, designs, methodologies and contractor submissions for track maintenance and renewal works.
• Participate in inspections, testing, commissioning, technical acceptance and handover of renewed or modified permanent way assets.
• Maintain accurate asset registers, condition and inspection records, technical specifications, drawings, as-built information and lifecycle documentation.
• Support configuration management, engineering change control and long-term asset replacement and renewal planning based on condition, performance, risk and residual asset life.
• Ensure permanent way activities comply with applicable safety, technical and regulatory requirements; identify and mitigate engineering risks and support audits, risk assessments, investigations and engineering assurance activities.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Technical problem solving

Detail oriented

Safety mindset

Communication skills

Report writing

Collaboration

Multi-priority management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering

Job description

Etihad Rail Operating Companies is seeking a Track & Permanent Way Engineer to ensure integrity, safety and lifecycle performance of permanent way assets across the UAE rail network. You will support track inspection, maintenance strategy and condition monitoring, using geometry data, ultrasonic testing and visual inspections to drive renewals and improvements.

Responsibilities include defining inspection regimes, optimizing tamping and track renewal plans, and performing root-cause analyses of