Senior Project Engineer

Manpower UK; Kilmarnock; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Manpower UK is recruiting a Senior Project Engineer for a site-based role in Kilmarnock. You will lead on refurbishment, repair, and modification activities for a rolling stock life extension programme, acting as the primary engineering presence on site.

The role requires degree-level engineering experience, strong stakeholder management, and the ability to coordinate with contractors and technical specialists to ensure work meets standards. Salary is negotiable depending on experience.

Qualifications

• Degree in engineering or equivalent industry experience.
• Experience in rolling stock refurbishment, overhaul, heavy maintenance, fleet life extension, or vehicle modification programmes.
• Strong knowledge of engineering assurance, inspection, quality control, and acceptance processes.
• Experience managing contractors and overseeing engineering activities within depot, manufacturing, or heavy engineering environments.

Responsibilities

• Act as on-site engineering representative and principal interface with refurbishment contractor.
• Monitor refurbishment, repair, and modification activities for compliance with engineering standards, safety requirements, and quality procedures.
• Review vehicle condition after strip-down and coordinate specialist engineering support.
• Assess and manage engineering deviations and Approved As Worked (AAW) requirements.
• Carry out inspections through all refurbishment stages and verify completion prior to vehicle acceptance.
• Support technical decision-making related to structural repairs and corrosion treatment.
• Coordinate with subject matter experts to resolve technical challenges and support programme delivery.
• Produce inspection reports, technical documentation, and acceptance recommendations.
• Support programme governance, stakeholder engagement, progress reporting, and risk management.
• Contribute to development and continuous improvement of inspection and repair processes for consistency and efficiency.

Skills

Rolling stock refurbishment

Stakeholder management

On-site engineering

Engineering drawings

Education

Degree in Engineering

Job description

This contract position as Senior Project Engineer is based in Kilmarnock, working 40 hours weekly, Monday through Friday, on a site-based basis. The role supports a rolling stock life extension programme, acting as the primary engineering presence throughout delivery. Responsibilities include overseeing refurbishment, repair, and modification activities, coordinating with contractors, technical specialists, and project stakeholders to ensure work meets required standards. Candidates should demonstrate strong engineering project experience, ideally within rail or heavy industry, alongside effective communication and stakeholder management abilities. Salary for this Senior Project Engineer post is negotiable depending on experience and suitability.

Senior Project Engineer - Rolling Stock Refurbishment Programme Kilmarnock 40 Hours per Week | Monday to Friday | Site-Based

Manpower Engineering is recruiting on behalf of a leading engineering consultancy for an experienced Senior Project Engineer r to support the delivery of a major rolling stock life extension programme based in Kilmarnock. This is a fantastic opportunity for an experienced engineering professional to play a key role in the refurbishment and modernisation of a rail fleet, acting as the primary engineering presence on site throughout the delivery of the programme.

Working closely with contractors, technical specialists, and project stakeholders, the successful candidate will be responsible for ensuring that all refurbishment, repair, and modification activities are completed safely, efficiently, and in line with approved engineering standards.

The Role

The Resident Engineer will provide hands-on technical oversight throughout the refurbishment process, with a particular focus on the early vehicles within the programme. The position will be instrumental in establishing inspection, acceptance, and repair procedures that will support the successful delivery of the wider fleet programme.

Key Responsibilities

• Act as the primary engineering representative on site and principal interface with the refurbishment contractor.
• Monitor refurbishment, repair, and modification activities to ensure compliance with engineering standards, specifications, safety requirements, and quality procedures.
• Review vehicle condition following strip-down activities and coordinate specialist engineering support where required.
• Assess and manage engineering deviations and Approved As Worked (AAW) requirements.
• Carry out inspections throughout all stages of refurbishment and verify completion of works prior to vehicle acceptance.
• Support technical decision-making relating to structural repairs, corrosion treatment, and overall vehicle condition.
• Coordinate with subject matter experts to resolve technical challenges and support programme delivery.
• Produce inspection reports, technical documentation, and acceptance recommendations.
• Support programme governance, stakeholder engagement, progress reporting, and risk management activities.
• Contribute to the development and continuous improvement of inspection and repair processes to drive consistency and efficiency across the programme.

About You

Applicants should be degree qualified in an engineering discipline or possess equivalent industry experience.

• Experience within rolling stock refurbishment, overhaul, heavy maintenance, fleet life extension, or vehicle modification programmes.
• Strong knowledge of engineering assurance, inspection, quality control, and acceptance processes.
• Experience managing contractors and overseeing engineering activities within depot, manufacturing, or heavy engineering environments.
• Ability to interpret engineering drawings, specifications, repair instructions, and technical documentation.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Strong technical problem-solving and decision-making abilities.
• The ability to work independently on site while coordinating support from wider engineering teams.
• Desirable Experience Structural repair and corrosion remediation experience.
• Knowledge of railway standards and rolling stock approval processes.