Senior Project Engineer [Systems]

Who We Are

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.  

In the Senior Project Engineer [Systems] 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 meets client requirements, including programme, cost, quality, and Network Rail business plan commitments. You will work closely with supplier CEMs and multidisciplinary colleagues, influencing project design and monitoring design progression. We're looking for a pragmatic, motivated team player who takes ownership of their work and thrives in a collaborative, goal-oriented environment.

Please note, there are 4 roles available. These can be based in Manchester or York. 

Key Accountabilities:  

Reporting to Project Delivery Engineering Manager, you will; 

1. 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.  
2. Monitor and assess the competence of all Project Engineers / Senior Project Engineers working on multi-discipline projects and provide functional guidance, direction and briefing.  
3. Apply engineering controls and procedures to all projects so all design and construction contracts include reference to appropriate Railway Group and Network Rail Company standards.  
4. 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 Company standards and Network Rail project control procedures.  
5. 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.  
6. Monitor the competency of consultants' design, construction and specialist personnel.  
7. Undertake reviews of multi-discipline 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.  
8. Undertake the duties of Designated Project Engineer (DPE) as per the requirements of NR/L2/RSE/02009.  

Essential Criteria:  

• Significant experience Engineering disciplines, 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 Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Systems Engineering etc.  
• 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  

Desirable Criteria:  

• Incorporated or Chartered Engineer status or equivalent.  
• Appreciation of environmental issues in engineering works  
• Experience of technical contract requirements management.  
• Incident or root cause analysis or close call investigation experience.  
• Hold Network Rail Project Engineering competencies and Authority to Work  
• Hold Systems Integration 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 mark.holt@networkrail.co.uk. 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: 16^th 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 will have - 

• Have a good understanding of the role of Designated Project Engineer as defined in NR/L2/RSE/02009  
• Be able to challenge consultants, current standards and ways of working and proactively support and engage in continuous improvement  
• Be able to manage the following; 
• Managing requirements.  
• Non-compliances.  
• Progressive assurance of Engineering deliverables.  
• Chairing Interdisciplinary Reviews.  
• Document Review Notices.  
• Technical Queries.  
• Requests for Information.  
• Engineering / specialist nominations and appointments.  
• Production of Engineering Compliance Certificates.  
• Chairing Engineering Milestone Reviews.  
• Production of MVP Step Up Diagrams.  
• Key inputs into the Option Development and Selection Process.  
• Input into Option Selection Reports / Feasibility Reports.  
• Maintaining Options Lists.  
• 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  
• Manage the key tripartite relationship between the DPE, Sponsor and Project Manager.  
• Undertake management of consultants ensuring efficient engineering delivering and appropriate level of development relevant to the current programme engineering stage  
• Author / produce of Contract Requirements - Technical documentation.  
• Undertake Safety Conversations with consultants and colleagues and promote Safety by Design and sustainability.  
• Be willing to support the PEM / PDEM in implementing processes and initiatives across a large team of Engineers / Specialists across NPR and its consultants.  
• Have line management experience.