Senior Project Engineer [Track]

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

Benefits offered by this job

28 days annual leave

Pension schemes

Rail travel discount

Private Healthcare

Volunteer/Carers leave

Job summary

Network Rail is seeking a Senior Project Engineer [Track] to lead and manage safe design and development of railway infrastructure across NPR projects from inception to an approved delivery option. You will ensure compliance with legislation and NR standards, guiding staff and consultants across multiple disciplines.

The role supports the NPR expansion with a focus on value for money and delivering a greener, more reliable railway.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in Track Engineering across design and construction projects.
• Qualification to at least HNC level in Civil or Mechanical Engineering.
• Membership of a relevant professional institution (RailEI, ICE, IMechE, IET).
• Knowledge of safety management and QA.

Responsibilities

• Implement NR systems and procedures for cost-effective, safe design and construction.
• Monitor competence of project engineers within the Track discipline.
• Apply engineering controls to ensure compliance with standards.
• Advise on construction activities, testing and site supervision to meet CDM regulations.
• Review design and construction activities, supporting safety and quality.

Skills

Track engineering

Safety management

Accident investigation

Continuous improvement

Education

HNC Civil/Mechanical Eng

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 attracting and retaining great people to work on NPR and are very happy to consider proposals to meet individual needs.

We have 2 roles available. These can be based in York or Manchester.

Job Purpose

In the Senior Project Engineer [Track] role, you will be responsible for the safe design and development of railway Infrastructure enhancement projects throughout the early project lifecycle from inception to the development of a robust single option for delivery. This ensures compliance with relevant legislation, Railway Group and Network Rail standards and to meet client requirements including programme, cost and quality and Network Rail business plan commitments. To lead and manage the use of appropriate engineering standards in relation to design and construction, on all projects within the national programme so they comply with legislation, Railway Group and Network Rail company standards. To monitor whether suitably qualified and experienced staff are employed to control Track engineering aspects of projects. You'll work closely with supplier CREs and multidisciplinary colleagues, influencing project design and monitoring design progression. We're looking for a motivated team player who takes ownership of their work and thrives in a collaborative environment.

Key Accountabilities

• Implement Network Rail systems and procedures to deliver a cost effective, high quality and safe approach to design, construction, commissioning and other technical activities on relevant projects. Review all relevant legislation and liaise with relevant governmental departments.
• Support the Lead Discipline Engineer [Track] to monitor and assess the competence of all Project Engineers working on projects within the Track discipline and provide functional guidance, direction and briefing.
• Apply engineering controls and procedures to all projects so all design and construction contracts include reference to appropriate Railway Group and Network Rail standards applicable to the Track discipline.
• Support the programme with Common Safety Method - Risk Evaluation as required. Monitor all projects for compliance with National Technical Specification Notices, Railway Group, Railway Industry and Network Rail standards and Network Rail project control procedures.
• Advise project and programme management in respect of all construction activities, testing and commissioning, and site supervision. Monitor whether the design and construction elements meet the requirements of legislation, including Construction Design Management (CDM) regulations.
• Monitor the competency of consultants' design, construction and specialist personnel.
• Undertake reviews of Track design and construction activities. Support audits of consultants to monitor whether safety and quality of design, construction testing and commissioning and management systems are adequate.
• Undertake the duties of Project Engineer [Track] as per the requirements of NR/L2/RSE/02009 and NR/L2/TRK/2500.

Essential Criteria

• Significant experience in Track Engineering, ideally with involvement in construction and design projects across multi discipline areas
• Technical qualifications, or equivalent experience, to at least HNC level or equivalent qualification in Civil or Mechanical Engineering
• Membership of a relevant professional institution (RailEI, ICE, IMechE, IET)
• Knowledge of safety management and quality assurance
• Understanding of the arrangements required for the independent assessment of works
• Accident investigation experience

Desirable Criteria

• Incorporated or Chartered Engineer status or equivalent.
• Appreciation of environmental issue and sustainability for engineering works
• Experience of technical contract requirements management.
• Incident or root cause analysis or close call investigation experience.
• Hold Network Rail Track Project Engineering competencies and Authority to Work.
• Feasibility studies, option selection, and/or early project development 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.

External How To Apply

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: £55,596 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: 12th 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

The Ideal Candidate:

• Have a good understanding of the role of Project Engineer [Track] as defined in NR/L2/RSE/02009 and NR/L2/TRK/2500
• Be able to challenge consultants, current standards and ways of working and proactively support and engage in continuous improvement
• Be able to identify, promote and progress value engineering, sustainability or innovation opportunities.
• Have a good understanding of the appropriate level of detail for various Engineering Stages and associated risks
• 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 [Track] and DPE in the production of Contract Requirements - Technical documentation
• Support the DPE 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 nominations