Signalling & Communications Engineer

Etihad Rail Operating Companies; Al Fayah; On-site; AED 180,000 - 360,000; Full time

Job summary

Etihad Rail Operating Companies seeks a Signalling & Communications Engineer to ensure the integrity, reliability, safety and lifecycle performance of railway signalling, interlocking, telecommunications and ETCS Level 2 systems across the network. You will provide technical engineering support across asset maintenance, fault investigation and renewals.

The role requires a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical/Electronics/Telecommunications/Railway Engineering and 8+ years in technical engineering

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant engineering field.
• 8+ years of technical engineering experience (signalling and telecoms preferred).
• Experience with ETCS Level 2 / ERTMS is highly desirable.
• Practical experience in signalling, interlocking, train control and telecommunications systems.
• Familiarity with FAT, SAT, system integration and safety-case processes.
• Understanding of railway standards and engineering requirements.

Responsibilities

• Own and maintain engineering integrity of signalling, interlocking, telecommunications and ETCS Level 2 systems across the railway network.
• Ensure signalling and communications systems comply with technical specifications, standards, safety requirements and procedures.
• Provide technical expertise across signalling, train control, interlocking, ETCS and telecoms systems.
• Review asset and system performance to improve reliability, availability, maintainability and safety.
• Investigate failures, defects and incidents; support during service‑affecting faults.
• Perform root‑cause analysis and implement corrective and preventive actions; monitor effectiveness.
• Analyze failure trends and recommend engineering interventions to improve reliability.
• Develop and maintain maintenance specifications, standards, maintenance instructions and engineering requirements.
• Support optimization of maintenance strategies based on asset condition and OEM recommendations.
• Define technical requirements for critical spares and lifecycle management.
• Support asset obsolescence management and long‑term renewal strategies.
• Contribute to renewal planning and system assurance documentation.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Technical problem solving

Safety-focused decisions

Technical report writing

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical / Electronics / Telecommunications / Railway Engineering or related field

Job description

Position Overview

The Signalling & Communications Engineer is responsible for ensuring the engineering integrity, reliability, safety and lifecycle performance of railway signalling, interlocking, telecommunications and ETCS Level 2 systems. The role provides technical engineering support across asset maintenance, fault investigation, system assurance, renewals and upgrade projects, ensuring that signalling and communications assets remain compliant with applicable railway standards, safety requirements and approved engineering configurations.

Roles and Responsibility

• Own and maintain the engineering integrity of signalling, interlocking, telecommunications and ETCS Level 2 systems across the railway network.
• Ensure signalling and communications systems comply with applicable technical specifications, railway standards, safety requirements and engineering procedures.
• Provide technical expertise and engineering support across signalling, train control, interlocking, ETCS and telecommunications systems.
• Review asset and system performance to identify opportunities to improve reliability, availability, maintainability and safety.
• Investigate signalling and communications failures, defects, incidents and recurring issues, including support during complex or service‑affecting faults.
• Perform root‑cause analysis and define corrective and preventive actions, monitoring their implementation and effectiveness.
• Analyze failure trends and performance data and recommend appropriate engineering interventions to improve system reliability.
• Develop, review and maintain maintenance specifications, technical standards, maintenance instructions and engineering requirements.
• Support optimization of preventive, predictive and corrective maintenance strategies based on asset condition, performance, risk and OEM recommendations.
• Define technical requirements for critical spares and support effective spare‑parts planning and management.
• Manage technical aspects of asset obsolescence and support lifecycle, replacement and long‑term renewal strategies.
• Support asset condition assessments and contribute to medium‑ and long‑term renewal planning.
• Provide engineering inputs into signalling and communications renewals, modifications, enhancements and upgrade projects.
• Liaise with project management team to ensure requirements are properly taken into account; T&C is planned in advance and review hand‑over of signalling and telecommunication assets
• Review technical designs, specifications, drawings, interface requirements and contractor or vendor submissions.
• Participate in testing, commissioning, technical acceptance and handover of new or modified systems and assets.
• Support preparation and review of safety cases, engineering assurance documentation and system assurance evidence.
• Ensure modifications and new installations are technically compatible with existing infrastructure, operational requirements and approved configurations.
• Support contractor and OEM management to ensure they properly manage restriction solving, DNP and operational failures and root cause analysis, with a view to immediate remediation and long‑term technical problem solving.
• Maintain accurate asset documentation, drawings, configuration baselines, system records and as‑built information.
• Support engineering change control and configuration management, ensuring changes are properly reviewed, approved and documented.
• Identify and manage technical and safety risks, participate in audits, engineering reviews and risk assessments, and support closure of assurance findings while promoting a strong engineering safety culture.

Desirable qualifications, skills and experience

Academic Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Electronics Engineering, Telecommunications Engineering, Railway Engineering or a related engineering discipline.

Experience:

• 8+ years of experience in technical engineering (signalling and telecommunication ideally).
• Relevant engineering experience within the railway, metro, heavy rail or similar safety‑critical transportation environment.
• Practical experience with railway signalling, interlocking, train control and telecommunications systems.
• Experience with ETCS Level 2 / ERTMS systems is highly desirable.
• Experience in signalling and communications maintenance engineering, fault investigation and root‑cause analysis.
• Experience supporting railway system renewals, upgrades, testing and commissioning.
• Exposure to FAT, SAT, system integration, engineering assurance and safety‑case processes.
• Experience in asset lifecycle management, maintenance strategy, spares management and obsolescence management is preferred.
• Railway signalling and interlocking systems.
• ETCS Level 2 / ERTMS architecture and interfaces.
• Railway telecommunications and communications systems.
• Signalling and communications fault diagnosis and root‑cause analysis.
• Asset maintenance and lifecycle management principles.
• Configuration and engineering change management.
• Testing, commissioning, FAT and SAT processes.
• System assurance and railway safety principles.
• Technical specifications, engineering drawings and as‑built documentation.
• Understanding of applicable railway standards and engineering requirements.

Other Skills:

• Strong analytical and technical problem‑solving capability.
• High attention to detail and engineering accuracy.
• Safety‑focused approach to technical decision‑making.
• Ability to investigate complex technical failures systematically.
• Strong communication and technical‑report‑writing skills.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with Operations, Maintenance, Projects, Safety, contractors and system suppliers.
• Ability to manage multiple engineering priorities in an operational railway environment.
• Proactive approach to asset reliability, technical risk and continuous improvement.