Who We Are
At Network Rail, our passengers and freight users are at the heart of everything we do. We help connect people to their friends and families and get goods to their destination safely and efficiently. We're an organisation where people matter. Watch our video to find out more!
Scotland's Railway is part of this large family and it covers a large geographical area from the Borders to Thurso at the far tip of the North East of Scotland, accounting for almost 20 per cent of the UK rail network. We provide rapid access along busy commuter routes to our seven cities, servicing the varied needs of our business and leisure commuter services, including cross border services and rural services. We have up to 50 freight services operating every day and we are steadily building capacity for this to grow. Our ambition to be responsive to passengers and freight users, drives us every day and we're empowered to do the right thing for those who use the rail network. We actively challenge unsafe practices and take responsibility for addressing risks, resolving issues and protecting safety and wellbeing.
Our colleagues are encouraged to work flexibly as we know that busy lives don't always fit around a traditional working pattern, if you need flexibility to complete your role just let us know and we will do our upmost to help you to invest in your career with us while balancing other aspects of your life.
We're 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.
We want to help deliver a railway which is safe, reliable, affordable and that provides great customer service to everyone. For more information about Network Rail click here.
About the role
As part of Scotland's Railway, the team are responsible for ensuring the safety and functionality of a varied asset portfolio across the length and breadth of the country. The asset portfolio includes bridges, viaducts (including iconic structures such as the Forth & Tay Bridges), tunnels, coastal defences, retaining walls and culverts.
We are recruiting for an Assistant Asset Engineer for a 12-month period within the East Area Team. The team are responsible for the day-to-day management of the various structures across the country, from urban environments in Glasgow & Edinburgh to rural locations in Wick & Kyle. In addition, you will support the application of the structures asset management processes in accordance with functional policy and standards to deliver a safe and reliable railway for our customers.
We are looking for proactive, ambitious people with a desire to develop themselves and help deliver a safe, reliable and efficient railway for our customers. Strong communication and numerical skills alongside a flexible and enthusiastic approach to working within a busy team would be advantageous. In return, you will benefit from a truly rewarding role with excellent opportunities for development and progression.
Please note this is a FTC position
Salary: The salary for this position is £34,000.
Closing date: Midnight of 29th May 2026. Late applications will not be accepted.
Please note proof of all essential qualifications will be required.
To submit your application, click apply now. For tips to help you prepare and apply click here
If you work in a function that has gone live with Employee Self-Service please click 'Apply' to login and submit your CV/Application Form online. If not, please email your Application Form to scotlandresourcing@networkrail.co.uk quoting the IRC number of the vacancy in your application.
We're dedicated to creating an inclusive environment and we welcome applications from everyone.
Network Rail is a Disability Confident Leader 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.
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 contact Scotland Resourcing Enquiries, ScotlandResourcingEnquiries@networkrail.co.uk
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 demonstrate your personal dedication to safety within your application.
Your experience and skills
Key Accountabilities
- Evaluate and risk assess examination reports for a varied asset portfolio in accordance with functional policy, systems and standards, to ensure their continued safety and performance.
- Determine, specify and prioritise actions to address defects, risks, comments and other issues raised in these reports, in accordance with standards and functional policy, for inclusion in work plans.
- Schedule examinations, inspections, monitoring and assessment of assets.
- Oversee the development, implementation and handover of prioritised maintenance work items to enable the required outputs to be realised. Produce route specific and asset type management regimes.
- Develop asset specific renewal requirements, ensuring these are correctly interpreted and any changes are agreed. Assist with the approval in principle of designs and support acceptance of detailed design certification.
- Determine and implement mitigation measures required following the structural assessment of the asset or where proposed management actions are deferred.
- Engage with internal and external stakeholders to ensure the optimal risk management solution is identified and implemented.
- Determine and implement mitigation actions necessary to reduce the impact of adverse weather on the performance of the assets.
- Maintain accurate asset data and information within the company systems and processes.
- Monitor and evaluate asset condition and capability trend data, and failure precursors to inform examination, maintenance, strengthening, risk mitigation and renewal plans to efficiently achieve corporate objectives.
- Provide engineering support and participate in investigations of incidents.
- Provide support to the specification and development of enhancement schemes and manage the interface with network capability programmes.
- Assist with the review proposals from other disciplines or external organisations that could impact on the region / route assets and/or programmes of work to identify potential synergies or conflicts.
- Support the application of the asset management processes in accordance with functional policy to achieve financial and output targets.
- Undertake engineering analysis and risk assessments of assets or asset components to support the asset management process and scheme development.
- Engage in the development and implementation of technology to improve the how we safely and efficiently manage our assets.
Job Skills, Experience and Qualifications
Essential
- HNC/HND or equivalent qualification in relevant engineering discipline
- Significant experience in relevant engineering discipline
Desirable
- Incorporated Engineer
- Knowledge of relevant engineering policies and standards
- An understanding of safety management systems and risk assessment techniques