Engineering Graduate Trainee

Application Deadline: 21 February 2025

Department: Fleet Services

Location: Derby

Description

About us
Porterbrook is the UK's leading rolling stock financier and asset management company, and a partner that adds value to the railway today and for the future. We've been at the heart of the rail network for over three decades and own a quarter of the national passenger rail fleet, with 4,000 vehicles in our diverse portfolio of passenger and freight rolling stock. Porterbrook mobilises private finance to drive growth and deliver a safe, efficient and sustainable railway. Sustainability is embedded in our decision making, and we innovate to deliver greener and smarter rail solutions.

About the team
The successful candidate will be joining the Fleet function, a small multi-disciplinary team that supports corporate and project governance, risk management and audits of Train Operating Companies, suppliers and internal Porterbrook processes. The team is part of the Operations Directorate reporting to the Chief Operating Officer.

Key Responsibilities

Role Purpose
To support engineering and project delivery activities within the business. To gain experience and knowledge of traction and rolling stock systems and the wider rail industry through a series of placements (internal and external). To gain IMechE/IET competence through direct experience of engineering tasks which support safe, reliable, high quality and cost-effective rolling stock for Porterbrook's customers.

Responsibilities

• Follow processes to support the management of projects so that Porterbrook owned vehicles allow safe operation on the railway system
• Provide general support for technical investigations to continuously improve safety including National Incident Reports, Porterbrook's supplier accreditation process, audits and subsequent corrective action requests
• Working with Project Managers, to provide technical support to project delivery so that our projects are delivered to time, cost and quality objectives
• Provide project reports on your work to give sufficient visibility of progress, issues, costs, risks and opportunities within your projects
• Share all relevant information with the wider business to make sure that information about project schedules and other critical information is kept up to date
• Update the Project Execution Plan (PEP) workbook for your projects real time such that the workbook reflects the actual position of the project
• Support the Management of Change process to review the technical risks associated with any vehicle changes
• Support vehicle inspection and supplier visits when required
• Support the development of maintenance specifications, particularly any updates that are required during a project
• Support the audit of suppliers of maintenance/overhaul activities to ensure all necessary compliance is achieved
• Support technical investigation work requested by the Heads of Fleet Services, to provide support to customers on all technical issues affecting the vehicles that they lease that arise from projects. Ensure that these matters are appropriately prioritised and addressed
• Support the Head of Digital Engineering with the development and integration of new Digital Technology across our asset base

Other Duties

• Assist in providing general engineering services to/across the business as and when required
• Work towards either Incorporated or Chartered Engineer status through IMechE and IET accredited monitored professional development scheme (MPDS), keeping all eMPDS documentation up to date

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

General Requirements
Porterbrook graduates' benefit from an IMechE accredited monitored professional development scheme (MPDS) which all entrants would join. This leads to either Incorporated Engineer or Chartered Engineer status. The scheme's proven track record will provide a wide range of training and experience, both within Porterbrook and at other railway companies, leading to a responsible appointment within the company and a wider awareness of engineering management within the rail industry. General requirements for this scheme are an MEng in mechanical or electrical related discipline (or a BEng with commitment to further learning). The role is based in Derby or London (Derby preference) but will require the person to be able to travel and work off site with reasonable expenses paid for.

Qualifications

• Working towards MEng or BEng degree in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering
• Associate Membership of Engineering Institution desirable but not essential

Knowledge

• Knowledge to be developed during the graduate scheme
• Railway industry rolling stock, organisation and rail stakeholders
• Contractual obligations and operating lease agreements
• Project management tools
• Ability to understand and comment upon engineering instructions and drawings
• Understanding of vehicle maintenance and overhaul requirements

A great place to work
We are seeking the very best talent to join the team, and offer an excellent salary, along with bonus and benefits. This is a fantastic opportunity to join a great organisation with excellent people and a road map for the future to grow and develop the business. Some of our benefits are listed below:

• Excellent pension scheme
• Financial wellbeing support
• Flexible working
• Enhanced family friendly policies
• Adoption & Shared Parental Leave benefits
• Enhanced Armed Forces policies
• Ongoing support with professional and personal development
• Long service awards start at 1 year, with an additional day of annual leave every 5 years. You'll also receive a generous gift for these milestones
• Porterbrook Star awards
• Life assurance
• Healthcare cash plan
• 25 days' annual leave + Bank Holidays + option to buy and sell up to 5 days' additional leave
• Additional days annual leave for long service
• Season ticket loan
• Cycle to work scheme
• Free parking at our Derby and Long Marston sites

Should you be suitable for the role, the full benefits package will be discussed in more detail during your screening call.

To apply
Please follow the link at the top of this page to send your CV and a covering email with full details of why you would be a great addition to the Porterbrook team, along with details of your current salary and notice period. If you have a disability or need any reasonable adjustments during the application and selection stages, please let us know. We're committed to building an inclusive culture where everyone can develop to their full potential. This vacancy may close at any time once sufficient applications have been received. Early submission of your application is therefore encouraged.

Please note we are not accepting approaches from recruitment agencies for this role.