Principal Engineer [Telecoms]

Network Rail; Manchester, York and North Yorkshire; Hybrid; GBP 85,000 - 104,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension schemes

Private Healthcare

Rail travel discount

28 days annual leave

Gym access

Job summary

Network Rail is seeking a Lead Discipline Engineer to provide technical leadership for the telecoms/SCADA discipline within the NPR portfolio. This role can be based in Manchester or York and requires coordinating across multiple programmes while maintaining safety, standards and governance.

A strong background in railway telecoms and FRMCS/FTNx is essential. You will report to the Senior Programme Engineering Manager and may undertake fast-track studies and reviews, with flexible working

Qualifications

• Chartered Engineer with leadership experience in railway/complex programmes.
• Knowledge of safety management and risk assessment processes.
• Experience coordinating telecoms across large multi-programme portfolios.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership for NPR telecoms/SCADA discipline.
• Lead discipline engineering activities across NPR programmes and routes.
• Coordinate integration across NPR components and other programmes.
• Manage engineering verification and governance documentation.

Skills

Engineering leadership

Railway industry knowledge

Safety management

Education

University degree in electrical engineering or relevant discipline

Membership of relevant engineering institution

Tools

FRMCS

FTNx

Job description

Who We Are

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 behaviour

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

About The Role

Following the UK Government's policy announcement on Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR), Network Rail is growing its team to develop this multi-billion-pound rail investment, which will improve rail connectivity in the North of England.

Northern Powerhouse Rail spans from Liverpool, through Manchester and on to Leeds, Bradford, Sheffield and York, and builds on the benefits planned from the Transpennine Route Upgrade programme.

This job is one of several exciting opportunities to join the growing NPR team in this early stage of development. You will be part of the challenge and innovation required to drive efficiency and value for money for the UK taxpayer. It is important that our product is an affordable and sustainable railway that brings our passengers and freight users more frequent, faster, greener trains, running on a better, cleaner and more reliable railway.

We recognise that flexibility is necessary for helping our people excel, both professionally and personally. At Network Rail we have a flexible working policy which allows up to 40% of our working hours, to be completed from home. Alongside this, most of our team benefit from some form of individual working arrangement including reduced or compressed hours, to balance business and individual needs. We recognise the importance of flexibility in attracting and retaining great people to work on NPR and are very happy to consider proposals to meet individual needs.

This role can be based in Manchester or York.

Job Purpose

Reporting to the Senior Programme Engineering Manager (SPEM), this role represents and leads the engineering discipline across multiple levels, and multiple programmes.

The role is responsible for providing discipline leadership and coordination across the NPR portfolio. To that end, you are required to support integration across NPR component programmes and, with route, regional and national technology upgrade programmes (e.g. FRMCS etc).

This role includes the responsibilities associated with the Lead Discipline Engineer (LDE) role as defined in NR/L2/RSE/02009 for the range of Network Rail's involvement on the development of NPR.

You are also required to undertake the responsibilities of the discipline Senior Project Engineer on a number of programmes. This includes fast track engineering studies/ reviews prior to any mobilisation for full design and development.

The Principal Aspects Of The Role Include

• Provide technical leadership for the discipline within NPR including experience in the design and application of FRMCS and FTNx, lineside and commercial telecoms systems
• Undertake all duties associated with the Lead Discipline Engineer role as defined in national and local standards including provision of competence assessments, cascading changes in standards, and leading on technical investigations.
• Produce portfolio documentation including governance, template contracts, specifications and guidance for the consistent application of discipline design, development and assurance across NPR
• Review assumptions, risks, requirements at the Portfolio / Systemwide level
• Undertake portfolio-wide assessments for decision-making on alignment, trade offs, and work allocation between geographical programmes
• Provide direction on the coordination of engineering details for Telecoms, across NPR programmes so that they are reasonable and aligned, facilitating integration at Systemwide/ network level.
• Lead liaison between NPR and engineering teams at route, regional and national level, to support integration with other non-NPR programmes.
• Perform as discipline Project Engineer for Systemwide Programme and any other geographical based programmes including fast track studies and reviews, as directed by the SPEM
• Contribute to continuous improvement, through changes to governance, assurance and local systems.

Key Accountabilities

• Lead the provision of expert advice, input and support associated with the provision of services for our customers and suppliers.
• Provide professional leadership for the development of engineers aligned to the engineering discipline and undertake professional mentorship of engineers in support of their achievement of professional registration to their relevant Engineering Council.
• Lead the technical input to accident and incident investigations and Designated Competent Person for safety verification.
• Lead the setting of policy and standards, operational processes and systems. Manage the design and delivery of programmes for the development of technical capability required within Network Rail, including competence frameworks and effective training materials
• Lead the technical input to the development of the standards, specifications, means of compliance (including applications for derogations and non-compliance) and KPIs for capital delivery, including system risk and Product Acceptance process and vehicle/infrastructure interface.
• Set strategy within the technical engineering area in liaison with experts internally and externally including regulatory bodies.
• Proactively research and respond to changes in the internal and external requirements and practice, which impact upon policy and standards
• Carry out duties of Senior Project Engineer for delivery of a portfolio of projects as directed by the Senior Programme Engineering Manager
• Identify opportunities for technical and business process improvement and innovation, developing business cases and Investment Papers where required.
• Manage Engineering Verification activities.
• Integrate and co-ordinate activity across different engineering disciplines and contribute to the development of engineers within the Practice.
• Support the development and implementation of competency frameworks and specify the engineering discipline training needs.

Essential Criteria

• Chartered Engineer with relevant successful experience of Engineering Management within the Railway Industry or other complex industries/projects.
• University degree in electrical engineering, or relevant discipline for railway infrastructure projects
• Membership of relevant engineering institution
• Significant experience of the Telecoms discipline in the context of the UK rail industry
• A sound knowledge of applicable policies, standards and national legislation
• Knowledge of the safety management and risk assessment process

Desirable Criteria

• Extensive experience of working on major railway infrastructure investment programmes relevant to the discipline
• Experience of early programme development stages and application of minimum viable product
• Experience of coordinating technology-based transformations for the discipline on a portfolio-wide scale (e.g. signalling re-control to Rail Operating Centres, FRMCS, FTNx, SCADA and ECR re-control, etc)
• Accident investigation experience

Please note: Applicants must provide proof of essential qualifications and/or competencies where required, or demonstrate active progress toward obtaining them, or evidence their applicable experience as a condition of employment.

We positively embrace flexible working, recognising that employees may wish to balance work with their family and home life.

Network Rail Benefits - To find out about what benefits we offer, click here

Network Rail is required to comply with UK Government standards when carrying out pre‑employment checks for all new starters; this includes a basic criminal record check. In addition to the basic criminal record check, in accordance with the UK Government we are also required to verify your identity, right to work in the UK and previous three years employment history.

All offers of employment are conditional upon satisfactory completion of pre‑employment checks. Click here for more information. Please ensure you have the appropriate Right to Work status when applying for this role.

Keeping people safe on the railway is at the heart of everything we do, safe behaviour is therefore a requirement of working for Network Rail. You should be able to demonstrate your personal commitment to safety and awareness of our safety vision.

Network Rail can offer you a rewarding career with competitive pay and excellent benefits including a choice of contributory pension schemes, a generous annual leave package, a bonus scheme and an annual 75% subsidy on season tickets costing up to £3,333 (to a maximum amount of £2,500). You will also be entitled to 28 days annual leave

Salary: £85,395 to £104,160 per annum.

Car allowance: £6,000 per annum.

Please note, interviews invites will be issued prior to the festive break & interviews will take place week commencing 11th January 2027.

Closing date: 17th November 2026. Late applications will not be accepted. We retain the right to close the advert before the listed closing date based on application volumes.

What's In It For You

• 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
• Private Healthcare
• 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

Your Experience And Skills

• Have experience of leading the Telecoms/ SCADA discipline across a significant sized multi-disciplined programme or portfolio, with complex interfaces to other programmes/ projects that follow a long term implementation strategy across a substantial footprint.
• Have experience in supporting nationwide coordination of capital programmes based on technological transformation
• Have functional leadership experience for the discipline, especially with matrix based resourcing
• Be willing to challenges established practise where appropriate, and to promote improvements, innovation, efficiencies, and learning.