Senior Rail Systems Lead | Hybrid, Growth & Impact

WSP in the UK & Ireland; Leeds; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Flexible hours

Chartered Engineer support

Job summary

WSP in the UK & Ireland is seeking an Associate/Associate Director – Systems to provide senior technical leadership across rail systems delivery, integration, and multidisciplinary coordination on complex infrastructure programmes in the UK. You will act as a trusted advisor to clients including Network Rail and HS2, guiding projects from early concept through to construction and commissioning.

This role blends technical leadership, stakeholder engagement and delivery oversight, ensuring system

Qualifications

• Experience in UK rail, metro or light rail infrastructure.
• Strong systems engineering, integration or design assurance track record.
• Experience across design, construction and commissioning.
• Experience working with major UK clients (Network Rail, HS2).
• Client-facing skills to influence senior stakeholders.
• Leadership of multidisciplinary teams on large projects.
• Knowledge of rail standards and UK governance.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication.
• Strong multidisciplinary coordination and interface management.
• Commercial awareness balancing quality, risk and delivery.
• Collaborative leadership with team development focus.

Responsibilities

• Lead systems engineering and integration across UK rail & metro programmes.
• Provide technical leadership and assurance across design, integration, delivery.
• Act as trusted advisor to clients including Network Rail and HS2.
• Oversee definition and integration of system requirements across teams.
• Coordinate interfaces across rail systems, civils, MEP, rolling stock, operations.
• Promote systems engineering best practice, including digital/model-based approaches.
• Lead technical reviews, assurance processes and governance.
• Manage stakeholder relationships with clients, contractors, regulators.
• Identify and manage technical risks and opportunities for delivery.
• Contribute to business development, bid activities, and growth.
• Mentor and develop high-performing teams and future leaders.

Skills

Rail systems engineering

Systems integration

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Education

Chartered Engineer

INCOSE ASEP Certification

Job description

WSP in the UK & Ireland is seeking an Associate/Associate Director – Systems to provide senior technical leadership across rail systems delivery, integration, and multidisciplinary coordination on complex infrastructure programmes in the UK. You will act as a trusted advisor to clients including Network Rail and HS2, guiding projects from early concept through to construction and commissioning.

This role blends technical leadership, stakeholder engagement and delivery oversight, ensuring system