Mechanical Sub-System Engineer

Alstom; East Midlands; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stable long-term career

Competitive benefits

Pension and health coverage

25 days annual leave

Job summary

Alstom Derby is seeking a Mechanical Subsystem Engineer to define and deliver mechanical subsystems across projects, ensuring QCD targets are met and supplier performance is validated.

You will specify TPS, manage supplier development, lead cross-functional teams, and contribute to catalogue enrichment from field experience while applying ECODESIGN and weight management practices throughout the lifecycle.

Qualifications

• Degree level in Mechanical and/or Electrical Engineering.
• Experience leading others and cross-functional teams.
• Strong mechanical engineering fundamentals and standards.
• Knowledge of ECODESIGN, weight management, and materials.

Responsibilities

• Specify subsystems per project requirements and monitor supplier selection.
• Develop TPS and validate supplier documentation.
• Ensure QCD objectives across quality, cost, and delivery.
• Lead design reviews and validation via mock-ups or simulations.
• Support FAI and FMR with Quality team.

Skills

Mechanical engineering

Leadership

Cross-functional teamwork

Technical documentation

FMEA/FMECA

Education

Degree in Mechanical and/or Electrical Engineering

Tools

Catia V5

BOM management

SAP

Job description

Salary: circa £46,000 DOE with excellent benefits

Location: Derby

Appointment Basis: Permanent

At Alstom, we understand transport networks and what moves people. From high-speed trains, metros, monorails, and trams, to turnkey systems, services, infrastructure, signalling and digital mobility, we offer our diverse customers the broadest portfolio in the industry. Every day, 80,000 colleagues lead the way to greener and smarter mobility worldwide, connecting cities as we reduce carbon and replace cars.

Your future role

As a Mechanical Subsystem Engineer, you will be responsible for specifying one or more subsystems according to project requirements; supervising and validating subsystem supplier selection; managing subsystem development with the supplier; and contributing to catalogue enrichment based on return-of-experience. Your role includes adhering to quality, cost, and delivery (QCD) objectives, while consistently applying relevant mechanical engineering standards, processes, and tools throughout the project lifecycle.

We’ll look to you for:

Performing mechanical engineering activities in compliance with QCD commitments:

• Quality - Specifying products considering project requirements (performance, manufacturability, serviceability, testing, etc). Working to a high standard and applying design rules, processes and tools to achieve acceptance by the customer within committed limits.
• Cost - Working to an agreed budget.
• Delivery - Self-governance of committed deliverables on project considering applicable instructions/processes and other specific Customer (internal or external) requirements.

Technical:

• This role will require you to work closely with multiple suppliers to define – and achieve customer acceptance on - one or more proprietary mechanical subsystems, considering project, customer and regulatory requirements (performance, manufacturability, serviceability, testing, etc.).
• You will be required to create Technical Purchase Specifications (TPS) detailing all relevant requirements relating to your subsystem whilst respecting allocated volumes/interfaces (no clashes) and considering critical design elements such as weight, gauge, acoustics, eco design, ergonomics, aerodynamics, installation strategy and maintenance strategy.
• You will be required to validate supplier technical documentation and assess impact of changes – challenging where necessary.
• You will support Quality team for first article inspection (FAI) and first mounting review (FMR).

Planning/Reporting:

• This role will require you to contribute to project plan and budget creation. You will be asked to report on progress, anticipating issues (capacity, skills, rule applicability, etc.) and alerting if needed. You will partake in regular cross-functional team reviews for your scope during concept phase, working closely with Mechanical Integration, Procurement, Industrialisation and Manufacturing teams during both design phase and production ramp-up.
• You will be responsible for your own deliverables with self-governance being critical. You will be expected to mitigate potential delays effectively and communicate risks and/or blocking points.

Leadership

• As a Mechanical Subsystem Engineer, you will be required to lead multiple scopes, often across multiple projects. You may be supported as required by engineers both onshore and offshore. You will be responsible for ensuring the subsystem solution complies with technical, project and customer expectations. You will contribute to design reviews and verify the design via mock-ups and/or simulations as required.

All about you:

We value passion and attitude over experience. That’s why we don’t expect you to have every single skill. Instead, we’ve listed some that we think will help you succeed and grow in this role:

• Qualified to Degree level or equivalent experience in Mechanical and/or Electrical Engineering.
• Experience in leading others and working as part of a cross-functional team.
• A broad engineering knowledge, including:
  • Translating customer requirements into compliant engineering solutions.
  • Detailed technical document creation.
  • Clear and effective communication skills, dealing with both internal and external stakeholders.
  • Checking and approval and/or challenging supplier technical documentation submissions.
  • Performing product Failure Mode, Effects, and Criticality Analysis (FMECA) where necessary.
  • Material selection (steel, aluminium, composites, rubber) and mechanical jointing techniques including bolting, welding, and bonding.
  • Understanding of material properties, including risks such as bimetallic corrosion.
  • Clash detection and resolution, structural compliance, and an appreciation of weight management.
  • Familiarity with ECODESIGN principles, including fire & smoke requirements and ergonomics.
  • Root cause analysis and fault finding using methodologies such as 5 Why and fishbone analysis.
  • Strong time management, with a clear sense of urgency and prioritisation.
  • A structured, organised, and hands‑on approach to engineering tasks.

• SAP
• 3D parametric modelling using Catia V5 or comparable high‑end CAD systems
• Bill of Material (BOM) creation and management

Things you’ll enjoy

Join us on a life‑long transformative journey – the rail industry is here to stay, so you can grow and develop new skills and experiences throughout your career.

• Enjoy stability, challenges and a long‑term career free from boring daily routines
• Collaborate with transverse teams and helpful colleagues
• Contribute to innovative projects
• Utilise our dynamic, inclusive, and safety‑focused working environment
• Steer your career in whatever direction you choose across functions and countries
• Benefit from our investment in your development, through award‑winning learning
• Benefit from a fair and dynamic reward package that recognises your performance and potential, plus comprehensive and competitive social coverage (life, medical, pension)
• Up to 52 weeks full maternity and adoption pay
• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays, with the opportunity to buy or sell holiday
• A wide range of flexible benefits that you can tailor to suit your lifestyle

You don’t need to be a train enthusiast to thrive with us. We guarantee that when you step onto one of our trains with your friends or family, you’ll be proud. If you’re up for the challenge, we’d love to hear from you!

Equal opportunity statement:

Alstom is an equal opportunity employer committed to creating an inclusive working environment where all our employees are encouraged to reach their full potential, and individual differences are valued and respected. All qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by local law.

As a 'Disability Confident' employer, we will interview all disabled job applicants who match the essential criteria of the job description or specification. We will consider flexible working requests for all roles unless operational requirements prevent otherwise.