About the role
Overview
Provide specialist fire safety advice across a diverse rail portfolio, providing technical expertise, reviewing designs, developing standards, supporting assurance activities and using data to inform safe, effective decision-making. This role is more than that of a fire safety engineer for conventional building assets. It has long-term ownership of assets, rather than short term transactional engagement, for everything across the network (e.g. buildings, tunnels, overhead lines).
We're looking for a qualified Fire Safety Engineer with strong technical expertise and a passion for solving complex engineering challenges. You'll be confident working within a complex operational environment, influencing a wide range of stakeholders and collaborating across multidisciplinary teams.
A proactive and innovative mindset is essential, along with the ability to apply fire engineering principles, analyse data to support decision-making, and drive continuous improvement through learning and technology.
Your Main Responsibilities will be to
- Develop and produce policy, fire risk control arrangements (including standards, procedures and codes of practice) and fire safety training requirements.
- Undertake fire safety inspection and risk assessment of high risk or other specialist elements of the property portfolio and Network Rail controlled infrastructure.
- Identify and develop appropriate engineering controls for reducing the risk of fires.
- Provide design advice and technical review for proposed alterations to the property portfolio and Network Rail controlled infrastructure support new developments, alterations, and ongoing maintenance.
- Review fire safety aspects of the ROGS applications of train operating companies.
- Provide effective fire safety advice and support to Network Rail line management.
- Undertake regular liaison arrangements with local rail industry managers and staff and officers of the Fire Authorities, the safety regulator and other relevant bodies to safeguard Network Rail's interests, with regard to fire safety.
- Direct the technical investigation of significant fires affecting the property portfolio or Network Rail controlled Infrastructure if required as part of a Network Rail investigation into an incident.
What does the average day look like?
Given the diverse nature of the role and our asset portfolio, every day is different which provides exciting opportunities for personal and professional development in working within an infrastructure environment, which presents unique challenges and requires a solution orientated mindset.
A typical day will often include working with operational and engineering teams in helping manage risk and contributing to creating practical solutions. This can include a wide spectrum of activities such as reviewing and supporting the provision of fire risk assessments, analysing data to identify trends, to writing, reviewing and contributing to the development of standards and guidance documents.
As a subject matter expert the role will also often include providing design advice to project teams, and reviewing fire safety designs as part of new developments and changes to existing infrastructure.
Whilst the role is predominantly desk based, it will involve some visits to assets located across the region, and may occasionally require going trackside.
The role will help support Network Rail's ongoing national Fire Safety Programme, delivering various workstreams to embed a culture of fire safety into the DNA of Network Rail, and enhance our management of fire safety across the Network Rail.
A little bit about the team...
The role resides in Directorate of Engineering and Asset Management which is responsible for planning, preparing and preserving our infrastructure, balancing cost, performance and risk with intelligent asset management and technical engineering decisions to support. Reporting will be to the Principal Engineer (Fire Safety), who acts as the Regional Fire Engineer.
The role is part of Network Rail's national team of fire engineers who are based in the routes, regions, and technical authority, and has a Head of Profession within the Technical Authority.
A significant function of the role is engagement with the routes and functions within the region in helping promote and contribute to the effective deployment of fire safety from both an operational and engineering perspective, discharging the function of Route Fire Engineer. The role will work alongside the route-based Workforce Health, Safety and Environment Advisers (Fire Safety) who support local fire safety management with their respective routes.
Pay and Rewards
Salary: This role is a Band 3.C. £55,596 - £67,813 per annum.
As a Network Rail employee, you will enjoy a wide range of benefits!
- Privileged staff travel - Leisure travel discount of 75% on all leisure travel and includes family members.
- A subsidy of up to 75% on rail and underground season tickets if you travel to work on the train.
- GWR ticket alliance, Heavily discounted all day passes for you and up to 3 friends and family to use across the GWR network (48 passes per year)
- Benefits package including healthcare offers, a cycle to work scheme, discounted healthcare club membership, and a discounted offers and benefits including childcare, healthcare and online shopping site.
- A range of Pension schemes to choose from
- Effectively manage work-life balance with a 35hrs per week contract, hybrid working, flexible working, flexible leave, and enhanced family friendly support.
- 5 days paid volunteering leave.
- 2 weeks paid reserve leave for the Armed Forces community.
- In Wales and Western region, you will have the opportunity to join PROUD, our reward and recognition scheme where you can say thanks and recognise colleagues across the region who have demonstrated outstanding values and behaviours.
To find out more about the benefits at Network Rail, click here.
More about the role and your application
Closing date: 22nd September 2026. Late applications will not be accepted. This vacancy is also being advertised externally.
This role requires working in the office for a least 60% of the working week
To submit your application, click apply now. For tips to help you prepare and apply click here
We want to ensure everyone has an equal opportunity. Therefore, should you require any reasonable adjustments/modifications, please do let us know by contacting Elisabeth Holmes on 07395 387432
Should you wish to have a chat about this role, please contact Stephen Underhill on 07860 684461