Fleet Graduate Engineer

East Midlands Railway; East Midlands; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

32 days' holiday

First Class travel on EMR network

Discount leisure travel (EMR)

Job summary

East Midlands Railway invites applications for a Fleet Graduate Engineer. This structured development program, guided by the Fleet Standards Manager and a mentor, is designed to build technical and leadership capabilities toward Chartered status.

You will rotate through depot operations, engineering leadership, project management, and commercial functions. The role emphasizes learning on the job, collaboration across Fleet teams, and personal development within a supportive “One Team” culture.

Qualifications

• Educated to degree level in engineering, with a qualification accredited by the Engineering Council.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills and ability to engage stakeholders.
• Capable of working independently and as part of the Fleet Engineering Team.
• Proven analytical skills and a process-driven approach to tasks and challenges.
• Excellent problem solving and ability to deliver effective solutions.

Responsibilities

• Attend training sessions and maintain a personal development log.
• Collaborate with Fleet function teams to gain operational understanding.
• Identify opportunities for process improvement and support implementations.
• Assist the Fleet Engineering Team with projects and objectives.
• Engage in upskilling opportunities and support knowledge sharing.
• Build relationships across the business to support collaborative working.

Skills

Stakeholder engagement

Analytical skills

Problem solving

MS Office

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering (Engineering Council accredited)

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

We are proud to be One Team at East Midlands Railway (EMR). We are passionate about keeping people safe, delighting our customers, doing the right thing and putting customers at the heart of our sustainable railway for the East Midlands. With over 2,600 employees, our people are the reason we are so successful. Ten times accredited as a Top Employer, we value our people and are dedicated to making sure that everybody feels empowered to bring their authentic self to work.

We have an exciting opportunity to join #TeamEMR as an Fleet Graduate Engineer.

At EMR we want to proactively embrace diversity across our workforce and recognise that we are under-represented in terms of females and ethnic minority groups. We’re therefore taking positive steps to promote a positive and inclusive culture; we welcome applications from those that identify with these groups to better represent our communities.

This Graduate Engineering role offers a structured pathway to becoming a future leader in the railway industry. Guided by the Fleet Standards Manager and a dedicated mentor, you will follow a tailored development programme covering key areas such as depot operations, engineering leadership, project management, commercial functions, and more. The role is designed to build technical, leadership, and professional skills while supporting your progression toward Chartered or Incorporated status in line with Engineering Council UK standards.

Hear directly from hiring manager Sebastian Chromiak, as he talks about the role and what you can expect in the video below.

What is in for you:

• Training & Development: Attend mandatory and recommended training sessions, maintaining a personal development log to track progress and learning.
• Fleet Function Exposure: Collaborate with various departments within the Fleet function—such as Depot Production, Operations, Line of Route Engineers, and Safety Representatives—to gain comprehensive operational understanding.
• Process Improvement: Use your growing expertise to identify opportunities for improvement and support the implementation of procedural and operational changes.
• Project Support: Assist the Fleet Engineering Team with assigned projects, contributing to the successful delivery of team objectives.
• Upskilling & Knowledge Sharing: Engage in the development management scheme and support upskilling opportunities for the wider team where appropriate.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Build strong relationships across the business to support collaborative working, effective communication, and joint problem-solving. There will also be engagement with wider stakeholders across the industry to ensure alignment, share best practices, and drive value through collaboration.
• Technical Support: Assist in resolving technical maintenance issues related to specific trains and fleets within the organisation.
• Mobility & Flexibility: Be prepared to work across different areas of the business, including travel to and working from other locations as needed.
• Structure Learning and Mentorship: As part of your professional development, you will be allocated a Chartered Engineer as a mentor to guide your technical growth, support structured learning, and help you progress towards professional accreditation where applicable.

What we need from you:

• A strong willingness and ability to learn on the job and adapt in a dynamic engineering environment.
• Educated to degree level in engineering, with a qualification accredited by the Engineering Council
• Sound theoretical and practical understanding of engineering principles.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to engage stakeholders.
• Capable of working independently and collaboratively as part of the Fleet Engineering Team.
• Strong computer literacy, with proficiency in Microsoft Office and other digital systems.
• A self-starter with the ability to build relationships and positively influence stakeholders across the business.
• Proven analytical skills and a process-driven approach to tasks and challenges.
• Excellent problem-solving skills, with the ability to assess issues and deliver effective solutions.

As well as a competitive salary, we’ll also offer you:

• 32 days’ holiday per year, rising to 34 after 2 years
• Free First Class duty travel on the EMR network
• Free standard leisure travel on the EMR network and Train Operating Companies under Transport UK & LNER
• 75% discount on national leisure travel (inc partner and dependants)
• Friends and Family discounted tickets on the EMR network
• Employee benefits portal with access to generous discounts, Cycle 2 Work Scheme …and many more!

Find out more about the role and recruitment process

Our information session has now concluded, but you can still watch the full recording at a time that suits you. The session provides an overview of the role, explains what to expect from the recruitment process, and highlights what we are looking for in applicants. If you’re considering applying, the recording is a great opportunity to learn more and help you prepare for your application.

Watch the information session recording here: Information Session for Graduate Engineer vacancy

Important Notice to Candidate: AI Use Monitoring

Please be advised that all responses to questions on this application form will be carefully monitored for indications of AI assistance. It is important to us that you are being your authentic self so please base your answers on your personal knowledge and experience.

Any detected use of AI-generated content will result in disqualification from the application process. We value integrity and transparency in all applications and appreciate your cooperation in maintaining these standards.

If you're successful in this role, you'll be expected to support our frontline colleagues at some points throughout the year. This might be undertaking safety critical work, for which you'll receive training, but it could just be helping out with Customer Service when our stations are busy. We're One Team, and that means our managers step up for the frontline, not just manage from a distance. Supporting frontline colleagues is part of our DNA at EMR.