Senior Engineer [Geotechnics]

Network Rail; Birmingham, Manchester, Milton Keynes; On-site; GBP 56,000 - 68,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

28 days annual leave and option to buy

Pension schemes

Rail season ticket discount

Staff travel benefits

Season ticket loan

Hybrid working where possible

Healthcare offers

Volunteer leave

Flexible working

Job summary

Network Rail is seeking an experienced Geotechnical Engineer, Civil Engineer or Geologist to join the NW&C regional geotechnical team. The role focuses on assurance, coordination and technical leadership across the region, driving continuous improvement through investigations, competence development and new tools.

The successful candidate will manage reporting, risk-based decisions and actions from investigations, reviews and assurance activities.

Qualifications

• A degree in civil engineering, geotechnical engineering, geology or related discipline.
• Membership of a relevant technical body.
• Broad technical experience in geotechnical engineering, earthworks or asset management.

Responsibilities

• Provide expert input for services for customers and suppliers.
• Lead designated engineering discipline and professional leadership.
• Input to technical investigations and policy standards development.
• Support development of technical capability and training materials.
• Assist with risk assessments and technical assurance activities.
• Represent Network Rail externally as required.

Skills

Geotechnical engineering

Earthworks

Risk assessment

Education

Bachelor's degree in civil/geotechnical/geology

Job description

Who We Are

Join Our Team at Network Rail!

Are you ready to make a difference in people's lives? At Network Rail, we connect passengers and freight customers, ensuring safe and efficient transportation across the country. We're an organisation where people truly matter, and when you join us, you matter to us and millions of others.

You will be part of the North West & Central Region (NW&C) which consist of three routes - North West, Central and West Coast South - and a regional team supporting Regional Major Programmes & Professional services. You can learn more about our region here: North West & Central region - Network Rail.

In the North West & Central Region, we're proud to be building a workforce that reflects the diverse communities we serve. We know that inclusive teams make better decisions, drive innovation, and help us create a safer, more accessible railway for everyone. Even if you don't meet every single requirement, we encourage you to apply. If you're passionate about making a difference and believe you have the skills or potential to thrive in this role, we'd love to hear from you. We're committed to creating an open, supportive environment where everyone feels they belong. Your unique perspective and experience could be exactly what we need to keep Britain moving safely and sustainably.

We are also a Disability Confident Leader employer and we'll try our best to adapt the process and offer a reasonable alternative to help support people with disabilities access, apply and interview for roles.

About The Role

We are looking for an experienced Geotechnical Engineer, Civil Engineer or Geologist to join our regional geotechnical team. The role provides assurance, coordination and technical leadership across the region, supporting the safe and effective management of earthworks assets. A key focus will be driving continuous improvement through assurance activities, competence development, and the implementation of new tools and processes. The successful candidate will use structured geotechnical data, insight and clear reporting to support risk-based decision making, provide constructive challenge, and ensure actions arising from investigations, reviews and assurance activities are effectively managed. The role also supports the region in enhancing resilience to adverse weather and climate related challenges.

Package: £55,596 - £67,813 Depending on experience

Location: The successful candidate can be based in Birmingham, Manchester or Milton Keynes

As this is a role in a regional team, travel across NW&C is required. Candidates should be comfortable with frequent travel to sites, regional offices, or other business locations as needed.

What's In It For You

• 28 days annual leave - with the opportunity to buy and/or sell up to 5 days


• Access to a range of contributory pension schemes


• The potential to top up your competitive salary with a bonus


• A subsidy of up to 75% on rail and underground season tickets if you travel to work on the train


• Privileged staff travel - Discretionary leisure travel discount of 75%


• We can offer you a season ticket loan, annual season tickets are discounted.


• A 35-hour-per-week contract with flexible working options available to help support your work-life balance


• Hybrid working where possible and enhanced family-friendly support


• Take advantage of healthcare offers (including discounted healthcare club membership), discounted cycle hire, and online shopping sites


• 5 days of paid volunteering leave


• 2 weeks paid reserve leave for the Armed Forces community

Your Experience And Skills

What you'll be doing:

Provide expert advice input and support associated with the provision of services for our customers and suppliers. Support professional leadership for a designated engineering discipline. Provide expert advice, support and input to technical accident and incident investigations. Support 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 the competence framework and effective training materials. Provide the technical input to the development of the standards, specifications, means of compliance and KPIs for Asset Management, including system risks. Support engineering analysis and risk assessment, including assessment of applications for derogations and non-compliance. Discharge Network Rail's CDM related duties as required by company process. Support the development of strategy, technology and assets across functions and with industry partners. Liaise with product manufacturers, including external stakeholder e.g. TOC and provide input into the acceptance processes. Proactively research and respond to changes in the internal and external requirements and practice which impact upon policy and standards. Identify opportunities for technical and business process improvement and innovation, developing business cases and Investment Papers where required. Support Engineering Verification activities. Act as Delivery Manager for delivery of a specific project or portfolio of projects and deliver projects to time, cost and quality. Represent Network Rail externally to the industry as required. Integrate and co-ordinate activity across different engineering disciplines and contribute to the development of engineers within the practice.

What You'll Have

• A degree or equivalent experience in civil engineering, geotechnical engineering, geology or another relevant discipline.


• Membership of a relevant technical body


• Broad technical experience in geotechnical engineering, earthworks or civil engineering asset management, including the provision of engineering assurance and technical advice.


• Experience of managing technical projects, programmes or improvement activities including developing technical capability and sharing knowledge across engineering teams.

We would also like but it isn't crucial to have/to be:

• Management or supervisory experience


• Strong analytical skills, with experience interpreting technical or asset data and presenting clear conclusions


• Chartered status


• Proven ability in managing commercial, contractual and financial issues


• Knowledge of the railway industry and understanding of railway infrastructure

You can visit Evenbreak's Career Hive for advice on accessibility support if you're unsure of the options available. Should you require any reasonable adjustments/modifications, please add a note to your application.

What does our recruitment process look like?

• Once you have applied, our Recruitment Specialist will look at your CV.


• If your experience matches what we're looking for, you'll be invited to an interview in Birmingham with the hiring manager.