Construction Planning Engineer

East West Rail Company; Milton Keynes; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A key infrastructure program organization in Milton Keynes seeks a Construction Planning Engineer to provide technical construction planning advice and support design development for the East West Rail initiative. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in major project delivery and a solid background in engineering principles. We offer a competitive salary, benefits, and a commitment to diversity and inclusion in the workplace.

Benefits

Competitive base salary

Up to 12% employer’s pension contribution

36 days holiday a year

Employee Assistance Programme

Access to benefits on the Perkbox platform

Advanced learning and development programs

Flexible working opportunities

Enhanced family-friendly policies

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in complex 'Major Project' Infrastructure Delivery.
• Good understanding of industry standards and construction methodologies.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical construction planning advice and support design development.
• Ensure delivery in accordance with the EWR Delivery Plan.
• Collaborate with the Programme Development Teams to develop end-to-end schedules.
• Produce reports on constructability and logistics assessments.

Skills

Construction planning of large-scale railway or highway infrastructure

Application of CDM 2015 and Safe by Design principles

CSM-RA process and governance

Assessing and improving constructability of complex engineering designs

Understanding of engineering principles and railway systems

Proactive and curious behavioral traits

Good verbal and written communication skills

Education

Chartered Status in a relevant engineering field or equivalent

Job description

Construction Planning Engineer

Application Deadline: 9 December 2025

Department: Delivery

Employment Type: Permanent

Location: Milton Keynes

Description

A little bit about us:

East West Rail (EWR) is an infrastructure programme linking communities between Oxford and Cambridge. The area is currently let down by a lack of transport choices, and we have a once in a generation opportunity to fix that – improving prosperity for people and places along the way.

East West Railway Company (that’s us) was created by the Department for Transport (DfT) to oversee the delivery of East West Rail from construction through to wheels in motion, making sure the railway comes together in the right way.

At East West Railway Company, we’re committed to building an inclusive railway for all. We believe that to do that, we must nurture a diverse team that represents the UK communities that we impact. Our approach is simple – to create an environment where everyone is welcome and able to be themselves. We celebrate diversity and are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We encourage applications of all backgrounds and experiences.

Role Summary:

This role will provide technical construction planning advice, review, challenge and add development to the route wide works programme. To support design development, deliverability, constructability, schedule development, optimisation, and associated risk identification & mitigation.

Function:

The Delivery function is accountable for delivering an asset which aligns to the Sponsor requirements, establishing a safe, reliable and integrated railway. This will demonstrate delivery excellence through technical innovation compliant design, underpinned by mature programme controls to maximise the benefit of project delivery in relation to public spending. The Delivery function will act as an intelligent and informed integrated team, that uses a network of third-party strategic suppliers to leverage the capabilities required to deliver the asset.

Key Responsibilities

• Ensure delivery is accordance with the EWR Delivery Plan and Construction & Logistics Strategy.
• Promote and implement construction best practice.
• Promote and implement the EWR Safe and Secure approach including embedding CDM 2015 and Safety by Design principles.
• Promote and implement innovative solutions including the use of ‘Modern Methods of Construction’.
• Promote and implement sustainable solutions aligned with the EWR environmental strategy.
• Provide constructability & logistics advice and guidance to the Programme Development Teams.
• Work with the Programme Development Teams and Technical Partner to develop a robust integrated end-to-end schedule which supports the programme’s strategic outcomes, delivers to target cost and minimises stakeholder impacts.
• Collaborate with EWR Subject Matter Experts to identify and assess potential C&L issues and recommend solutions for improved constructability.
• Review and assess the constructability & logistics methodologies, providing independent challenge and feedback of the Technical Partner’s proposals.
• Produce conceptual phasing and staging of work including on-network possession and access strategies.
• Evaluate and implement Value Engineering options. • Prepare and present detailed reports on Constructability & Logistics assessments, including risk identification and mitigation.
• Support and conduct site visits and inspections to validate design decisions and assumptions.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of industry standards, innovative construction practices, and regulatory requirements to inform design and C&L approaches.
• Take responsibility of your own and others’ health and safety by adopting and working to the EWR Co Health and Safety principles.
• Support commercial reviews and demonstrate a cost-conscious mindset, keeping taxpayers’ money at the forefront of all decisions.

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

Extensive experience in complex ‘Major Project’ Infrastructure Delivery including:

• Demonstrable construction planning oflarge-scale railway or highway infrastructure.
• Demonstrable application of CDM 2015 and Safe by Design principles.
• Demonstrable CSM-RA process and governance.
• Proven track record of successfully assessing and improving the constructability of complex engineering designs.
• Good understanding of engineering principles, railway systems and industry standards, construction methodologies and construction industry best practices.
• Preferably both on-network and off-network construction planning knowledge.
• Proactive and curious behavioural traits.
• Good verbal and written communication skills.

Education and qualifications: Chartered Status in a relevant engineering field or equivalent.

Benefits

What we offer:

• Competitive base salary
• Up to 12% employer’s pension contribution
• 36 days holiday a year (including bank holidays) + up to 2 days to buy
• Life assurance
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Access to a range of benefits on the Perkbox platform
• On-the-spot and annual awards
• Advanced learning and development programmes
• Great work-life balance and flexible working opportunities
• Enhanced family-friendly policies
• Exceptional IT tools

EWR Co strives to embrace a flexible working environment, where a degree of flexibility is maintained to accommodate both the needs and preferences of employees and what is required to achieve business objectives. EWR Co will always work with any individual to assess and accommodate an individual’s work life balance and style.

Diversity and Inclusion

To discover the best solutions, it’s important we embrace diversity of thought. That’s why we aim to ensure our colleagues feel included, engaged and valued. Inclusiveness is not a buzzword, but a way of being. Our approach to diversity is simple – a workplace where everyone is welcome and everyone is encouraged to be themselves. It helps fuel our innovation and connects us with the customers and communities we serve.

We are open to secondments through the Rail Industry Talent Exchange Programme.