Senior Project Engineer [System Safety]

Network Rail; Manchester, York and North Yorkshire; On-site; GBP 56,000 - 68,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

28 days annual leave

Pension schemes

75% travel discount for you and family

Private Healthcare

Flexible working options

Job summary

Network Rail is seeking a Portfolio System Safety Engineer to lead safety and interoperability activities across NPR ES2/ES3 programmes. You will work with engineering managers and safety specialists to assure delivery of CSM-RA products in line with PACE and regulatory obligations.

You'll manage NRAP applications, coordinate with SRPs, and drive strategy for ES4 and beyond while ensuring safety is embedded across portfolios and programmes.

Qualifications

• 8+ years experience in senior System Safety Roles.
• Detailed knowledge of applicable standards and procedures.
• Knowledge of operational principles and standards.
• Experience managing teams, technical interfaces and meetings.
• Member of a relevant professional institution and/or educated to degree level.

Responsibilities

• Provide guidance and oversight for NPR ES2/ES3 System Safety activities.
• Lead strategy for System Safety/Interoperability for ES4+.
• Manage NRAP applications and CSM-RA significance/authorisation.
• Coordinate with NRAP/SRP panels representing NPR.
• Formalise exit strategies with NRAP/SRP and PAS endorsement.
• Produce Portfolio CSM-RA deliverables including safety plans and documents.
• Oversee appointment of Assessment/Approved/Designated Bodies.
• Drive change management and system-wide integration.
• Maintain Portfolio Hazard Record aligned with NPR scope.

Skills

Senior System Safety

Team leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Interoperability knowledge

Regulatory compliance

Education

Degree level

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 from Manchester or York.

Job Purpose

To direct and lead all Common Safety Method for Risk Evaluation and Assessment (CSM-RA) and Interoperability activities across a major multifunctional portfolio. To include management of the delivery of CSM-RA products within the development phase of the portfolio providing assurance that it complies with the requirements of Project Acceleration in a Controlled Environment (PACE), relevant standard and regulatory obligations are ultimately capable of acceptance back onto the network safely and on time.

You will work closely with multiple engineering managers, safety specialist and colleagues across all functions, leading and advising engineers, sponsors and programme managers on the delivery of Safety.

Key Accountabilities

• Provide guidance and oversight to ensure a consistent approach to the delivery of System Safety and Interoperability activities for all NPR ES2 and ES3 programmes.
• Lead on confirming the Strategy and approach for System Safety and Interoperability for ES4 and onwards.
• Manage Network Rail Assurance Panel (NRAP) applications and CSM-RA significance, authorisation under Railways (Interoperability) Regs.
• Manage formalised engagement with and attend NRAP and relevant System Review Panels (SRPs) representing NPR.
• Formalise and co-ordinate ES3 System Safety / Interoperability exit strategy with NRAP / SRP - including endorsement of Programme Project Authorisation Strategies (PASs) by NRAP.
• Produce and maintain all Portfolio Level CSM-RA deliverables. Including but not limited to Project Authorisation Strategy, System Safety Plan, System Definition Document, and System Safety Hazard Management Procedure
• Manage appointment of Assessment Body and when appropiate appointment of Approved Body and Designated Body (from ES4).
• Lead on incorporation of new programmes, management of change and support and assurance of system-wide integration activities.
• Management of the Portfolio Hazard Record to align with current NPR scope.
• Continued engagement with NRAP, SRP and AsBo.
• Develop (and execute) a strategy for managing System Safety at the portfolio / system-wide level (i.e. making sure the combination of options in adjacent programmes don't have a negative impact on safety) - this will include updating our Portfolio System Definition Document and undertaking Hazard Identification (HAZID) workshops.

Essential Criteria

• 8+ years experience in senior System Safety Roles.
• Member of a relevant professional institution and/or educated to degree level
• Detailed knowledge of applicable standards and procedures.
• Knowledge of operational principles and standards
• Experience managing teams, technical interfaces and meetings.

Desirable Criteria

• Experience of working on complex multi-disciplinary rail programmes or portfolio, particularly the early stages (e.g. PACE Stages ES2 Feasibility / ES3 Option Selection).
• Broader knowledge of NR Systems Engineer and System Compatibility Competences.

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.

Network Rail welcomes applications regardless of age, disability, marital status (including civil partnerships), pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation, transgender status, sex (or gender), employment status, trade union affiliation, or other irrelevant factor.

We are a Disability Confident Leader employer! We will interview all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria.

We are here to support you through every step of the recruitment process and to enable you to perform to the best of your ability. If you require any adjustments or modifications please contact Mark Holt (Resourcing Business Partner) at [e-mail]. You can also visit Evenbreak's Career Hive for advice on accessibility support if you're unsure of the options available.

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: £55,595 to £67,813 per annum.

• Employees will be entitled to a 75% discount off leisure travel, this includes off peak and super off peak tickets*
• Some of our roles require face to face Drugs & Alcohol testing. Further details will be shared with you as part of your formal offer.****

Closing date: 16th 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

Here are a few of the benefits we offer

• 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

Our aim is to ensure your candidate experience is as positive as possible. If you require reasonable adjustments at any point, simply let us know and we'll do our best to assist you.

Some of our roles require face to face Drugs & Alcohol testing. We will share further details with you as part of your formal offer.

All offers of employment are conditional upon satisfactory completion of pre-employment checks. Click here for more information.

Your Experience And Skills

• Have a good understanding of the role of Portfolio System Safety Engineer.as defined in NR/L2/RSE/02009¿
• Be able to challenge consultants,¿standards¿and ways of working and proactively support and engage in continuous improvement.¿
• Be able to¿identify, promote and progress value engineering,¿sustainability¿and innovation opportunities.¿
• Have a good understanding of the¿appropriate level¿of detail and associated risks for various Engineering Stages and associated risks.¿
• Be able to develop good relationships with stakeholders¿within¿the¿Network¿Rail¿Routes¿and Regions.¿
• Undertake management of¿consultants¿ensuring efficient engineering delivery¿and¿appropriate level¿of¿development relevant to the current programme engineering stage.¿
• Undertake progressive assurance and reviews of engineering¿deliverables.¿
• Support to the Lead Discipline Engineer [Systems] and Sponsorship Team¿with engagement with SRP and NRAP.
• Support the LDE with responses to Technical Queries and Requests for Information.¿
• Undertake Safety Conversations with¿consultants¿and colleagues and promote Safety by Design and sustainability.¿
• Be able to assess¿the suitability of CRE and Specialist nominations.¿
• Be able¿to sumarise technical detail to both a technical and non-technical audience.