Network Rail
Design Engineer
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Who We Are
Network Rail operates and maintains the railway infrastructure. 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. When you're part of our team, you matter to us and you matter to millions.
In the North West & Central Region, we're proud to be building a workforce that reflects the diverse communities we serve. We know that inclusive teams make better decisions, drive innovation, and help us create a safer, more accessible railway for everyone. Even if you don't meet every single requirement, we encourage you to apply. If you're passionate about making a difference and believe you have the skills or potential to thrive in this role, we'd love to hear from you. We're committed to creating an open, supportive environment where everyone feels they belong. Your unique perspective and experience could be exactly what we need to keep Britain moving safely and sustainably. Discover more about our commitment to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at Network Rail Equity, diversity and inclusion - Network Rail.
About Our Route
Central Route is the Heart of Britain's Railway. More than a million people rely on our route every week, and we help transport nearly a million tonnes of freight every month. But we are more than just tracks and trains, we are a catalyst for jobs and opportunities, a connection to leisure and time with family and friends, and a foundation for communities and neighbourhoods.
We are a key part of the national network, with Birmingham New Street - the busiest station outside of London and the hub of the railway - connecting England, Scotland and Wales, with hundreds of services arriving and leaving every day.
About The Role
What will you be doing?
The Works Delivery Internal Design Team (IDT) provide in-house design services to the Work Delivery Civils Contractor. Although based in the Central Route we operate over the Northwest and Central Region which extends from London Euston up to Gretna Green on the Scottish border. We work on prestigious rail structures including Ribblehead, and Stockport Viaducts, the Mersey Rail Tunnels and on the scenic Settle to Carlisle and Cumbrian Coastal Lines.
We are involved in a great variety of work including:
- Bridge Design, Maintenance and Strengthening
- Retaining structures Design, Maintenance and Strengthening
- Geotechnics. Soil and Rock Cutting stabilisation
- Scour Protection and Sea Defence
- Culvert lining and replacement
- Tunnel maintenance and strengthening
- Embankment and cutting stabilisation
- Drainage Design
- Design of Lineside structures
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Our base is in Heaton Mersey in South Manchester and the team currently has 15 members of staff. We have a healthy bank of work and would like to expand. We are therefore looking for a Design Engineer. As we have a variety of work, for the right person there will be the opportunity to specialise depending on your interests and the work bank requirements. This could be Civils, Structures or Geotechnics.
As a Design Engineer you will be responsible for the design of your own schemes from remit to completion. Senior Engineers will give guidance where required. You will work with the in-house contractor throughout the process and are always encouraged to visit site.
Every day will be different, and you will be involved in the following:
- Meeting and discussing scheme remits with the Internal Client and looking for ways to deliver the necessary work to the highest standard and with the greatest value for money
- Visiting sites, surveying and carrying out inspections to assist with your designs
- Carrying out option feasibility with input from the client, contractor.
- Designing schemes using hand calculations and design software including Slide, Geo5, Robot and Lusas.
- Working closely with the CAD team and our in-house contractor to ensure buildability in your designs
- Assisting with site design queries and getting to see your designs come to life!
We have produced a short video highlighting our work.
https://youtu.be/GVN6vMEtXh4?si=r_UWR6PJ160QHu3X
Your Experience And Skills
We're looking for someone who is motivated by making a real impact and thrives in a dynamic, fast-paced environment. To succeed in this role, you'll bring:
- An engineering degree or equivalent industry-recognised training qualification.
- IRSE Principles Designer licence or equivalent for the asset.
- A demonstrable aptitude for option development.
- Strong evaluation and decision-making skills.
- A working knowledge of rail engineering; relevant successful experience working in the principal discipline and an adequate understanding of all other related disciplines.
- An ability to work and communicate effectively in a team context.
- An appreciation of all the life cycle stages of rail infrastructure.
- CDM, Auditing and risk assessment competencies.
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Alongside this, it would be great if you also have:
- Membership of a relevant engineering professional institution.
- Experience in design, installation and maintenance.
- Formal qualifications in risk identification and assessment.
- Six Sigma Green Belt.
- Minimum 3 years' relevant post-graduate experience
- Knowledge of the railway and railway engineering
- Live locally to South Manchester or be willing to relocate
- Full UK Driving Licence
How to apply
Salary: starting from £43,588 raising to £53,167 per annum. Network Rail adheres to a structured pay framework, any salary offered will be within the pay range advertised.
Hours: 35 Hours per week, Work from Heaton Mersey office 3 days per week
Closing date: 21/10/26. Late applications will not be accepted.
Want to find out more about what fantastic benefits we offer? Click here
All offers of employment are conditional upon satisfactory completion of a range of pre-employment checks. Click here for more information
We're 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.
Safe behaviour is a requirement of working for Network Rail. Applicants should be able to demonstrate their awareness of our safety vision http://www.networkrail.co.uk/safety.
We're continuing to build a more diverse and inclusive organisation representative of the passengers we serve. Applicants should be able to demonstrate their understanding of our Equity, Diversity & Inclusion vision Equity, diversity and inclusion - Network Rail.
Our Drugs and Alcohol Standard is changing as of 16.01.2023. All prospective candidates who have not been offered a conditional role by 16.01.2023 will be required to undergo and pass a drugs and alcohol test. Your application will be rescinded if you record a positive test. All positive drugs and alcohol test results for prospective candidates will be securely held on Sentinel database and a 5 year suspension from applying for a safety critical role, a role which requires PTS certification or a Key Safety role on Network Rail Managed Infrastructure will be enforced.
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