Assistant Design Engineer [B&C][Civils]

Network Rail; Manchester; On-site; GBP 31,000 - 37,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

28 days annual leave

Pension schemes

Rail travel discount

Volunteer or carers leave

Rail and Underground travel subsidy

Gym access

Job summary

Network Rail in Manchester seeks engineers to contribute to a range of railway infrastructure projects. You will review project remits, collaborate with engineers and stakeholders, assess safety, reliability and constructability, and contribute to the early design lifecycle.

You'll prepare technical reports, support option selections, mentor junior engineers and help deliver safe, sustainable rail solutions.

Qualifications

• IRSE Designer licence or equivalent for non-signalling assets.
• Strong evaluation and decision-making skills.
• Working knowledge of rail engineering and related disciplines.
• Ability to work and communicate effectively in a team context.
• Appreciation of all lifecycle stages of rail infrastructure.
• Construction design management, risk assessment and external audit competencies.

Responsibilities

• Involves a variety of engineering development activities shaping railway infrastructure projects.
• Review project remits and meet with engineers, PMs and stakeholders to challenge requirements and identify risks.
• Assess engineering options considering safety, reliability, operability, maintainability and constructability.
• Prepare and review technical reports, support option selection activities, and develop engineering solutions.
• Mentor and support junior engineers and trainees to develop future engineering talent.

Skills

IRSE Designer licence

Decision-making

Rail engineering knowledge

Team communication

Lifecycle awareness

CDM and risk assessment

Education

Engineering degree or equivalent

Engineering professional institution membership

Job description

Join Network Rail ! Where People and Connections Matter

At Network Rail, we're dedicated to keeping passengers and freight moving safely and efficiently across the country. When you join us, you're not just part of a team- you're part of something that matters to millions. We believe that 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. To discover more about our ED&I commitments click here . We value flexibility and understand the importance of a healthy work-life balance. As a Disability Confident Leader, we'll do everything we can to accommodate any needs throughout the recruitment process.

Safe behaviouris a requirement of working for Network Rail. Applicants should be able to demonstrate their awareness of our safety vision .

• 28-day annual leave with the option to buy and sell days
• Choice of pension schemes
• 75% discount of leisure travel for you and your family
• 5 days paid volunteer or carers leave
• Up to 75% subsidised Rail and Underground travel
• Gym Pass -access to gyms across UK
• My Benefits platform- giving national and local retail discount

Our aim is to ensure your candidate experience is as positive as possible. If you require reasonable adjustments at any point, simply let us know and we'll do our best to assist you.

Some of our roles require face to face Drugs & Alcohol testing. We will share further details with you as part of your formal offer.

• Location: Manchester Square One. This role is a full-time opportunity, flexible working patterns will be considered.
• Band & Salary:Band 5 £30,904 - £37,106

No two days are quite the same in this role, but you can expect to be involved in avariety of engineering development activities that help shape and deliver railway infrastructure projects.

You might start your day reviewing project remits and meeting with engineers, project managers and stakeholders to challenge requirements, identify risks and explore opportunities to add value. Working collaboratively across disciplines, you'll assess engineering options, considering factors such as safety, reliability, operational performance, maintainability and constructability.

As projects progress, you'll analyse technical data, review compliance with industry standards, and participate in risk assessment workshops to ensure proposals are robust and fit for purpose. You'll work closely with colleagues from different engineering disciplines to manage interfaces, resolve technical queries and maintain effective change control, assessing the impact of any proposed changes on cost, programme and performance.

Throughout the day, you'll prepare and review technical reports, support option selection activities, and develop engineering solutions through the early project lifecycle. You'll also contribute to engineering assurance activities, carry out cross-discipline design reviews, and help prepare the information required to take projects into detailed design.

Alongside your project responsibilities, you'll share your expertise with junior engineers and trainees, providing guidance, mentoring and support to help develop the next generation of engineering talent.

This is an opportunity to combine technical expertise, problem-solving and stakeholder collaboration to deliver safe, innovative and sustainable rail solutions.

About the team..

Engineering Services Delivery is a function within Engineering Services in Route Services. We sit as a central team to provide national skills and activities which enable regions and industry partners to deliver the railway for our customers.
As a large central functional team which focuses on engineering delivery, we have many roles, ranging from pure engineering to project management. We design and influence every part of the railway, including structures, lifts and escalators, track, traction power, level crossings, signalling and accessibility schemes which are essential to keep our stations moving.

Your experience and skills

• IRSE Designer licence or equivalent for non-signalling assets.
• Strong evaluation and decision-making skills.
• A working knowledge of rail engineering; relevant successful experience working in the principal discipline and an adequate understanding of all other related disciplines.
• An ability to work and communicate effectively in a team context.
• An appreciation of all the life cycle stages of rail infrastructure.
• Construction design management, risk assessment and external audit competencies.

Please see attached job description for full details.

• An engineering degree or equivalent industry-recognised training qualification.
• Membership of a relevant engineering professional institution.
• Experience in design, installation and maintenance.
  

Additional information:

Closing date: Friday 30th October 2026 . On occasions, we may need to close the advert early based upon application volumes. Late applications may not be accepted.

Safe behaviour is a r equirement of working for Network Rail. Applicants should be able to demonstrate their awareness of our Safety Vision

To find out more explore Working for Network Rail . Our aim is to ensure your candidate experience is as positive as possible. If you require reasonable adjustments at any point, simply let us know and we'll do our best to assist you.

Some of our roles require face to face Drugs & Alcohol testing. We will share further details with you as part of your formal offer. All offers of employment are conditional upon satisfactory completion of pre-employment checks. Click here for more information

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Key Information

Number of Positions:

1

Contract Type:

Permanent

Hours:

Full Time

Geographical Area:

North West England

Closing Date:

30-OCT-2026

Job Category:

Engineering and Asset Management

Function:

Route Services