Porterbrook
Senior Project Engineer
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About Us
At the heart of the rail network for over three decades, Porterbrook is the UK's leading rolling stock financier and asset management company with 4000 vehicles in our diverse portfolio of passenger and freight trains.
By working together with our partners, we deliver high-quality, agile rolling stock solutions that ensure the railway remains safe, reliable, sustainable and fit for the future.
We don't just provide trains - we provide a customer-focused platform for long-term success. Since 1994, Porterbrook has invested over £4bn in new rolling stock including £1bn of capital in new trains, fleet upgrades, traction innovation and rail infrastructure in the last five years.
With our strategic and empathetic funding solutions, we're actively looking to invest a further £1bn in the years ahead.
About The Team
We provide comprehensive engineering, project management and asset management services to ensure our assets deliver industry leading levels of performance and passenger satisfaction for our customers.
About The Role
A great opportunity for an exceptional Senior Project Engineer, to join the Porterbrook team.
Key responsibilities:
Safe Operation of Porterbrook-Owned Rolling Stock
- Ensure vehicles are suitable for safe operation on the railway system, with due consideration to Porterbrook's lease obligations
- Support in required output actions for National Incident Reports identified as affecting applicable rolling stock and coordinate the implementation of remedial actions as necessary
- Effective delivery of maintenance specifications to ensure that no undue risk is imported on to the running railway. Feedback to Fleet colleagues any issues identified during HM delivery
- Ensure the recording of vehicle modifications or resulting corrections raised through the course of the overhaul event follow the engineering change process
- Lead the engineering input into heavy maintenance projects, ensuring compliance with industry standards, safety requirements, and contractual obligations
- Provide engineering oversight for heavy maintenance activities, including major component overhauls, structural repairs, and modifications
- Review and approve technical documentation, engineering instructions, and work scopes, ensuring compliance with railway standards, safety legislation, and company policies
- Monitor engineering deliverables from the supply chain, ensuring design and maintenance instructions are technically robust and properly implemented
- Act as the technical point of contact for heavy maintenance events assigned to you, ensuring timely responses and closeout. Additionally supporting your direct reports with addressing any technical queries throughout the event lifecycle resolving issues in real time
Project Delivery
- On those maintenance events directly assigned to you, support the planning and execution of heavy maintenance events, including preparation of specifications, scopes of work, support with budgets, and schedules
- Coordinate engineering inputs into project plans, ensuring critical technical milestones are met
- Monitor progress of maintenance activities, tracking performance against quality, cost, and time requirements
- Undertake inspections, audits, and acceptance checks to ensure work has been completed to the agreed standard
- Contribution to lessons learned exercises and the continuous improvement of maintenance delivery processes
- Support the Project Manager in contract review meetings
- Support the management of contract variations ensuring that such variations are applicable and offer an acceptable value for money for the business
- Compile engineering change requests where applicable to support contract variations
- Conduct thorough input and output asset inspections
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Maintenance
- Co-ordinate and manage day to day issues on heavy maintenance contracts as required in support of your assigned events and that of your direct reports
- Monitor quality of engineering activities at suppliers' sites, ensuring that the requirements of both Porterbrook and customers are met and raising issues where necessary
- Support the Porterbrook audit plan as required, manage closure of Corrective Action Requests.
- Monitor condition of Porterbrook rolling stock assets, provide condition reports to the operator and inform the Fleet Asset Manager of any issues identified
- Use of and adherence to the Management of Change process
Residual Asset Value Protection
- Ensure asset deterioration (e.g. corrosion) is addressed as part of maintenance/overhaul programmes in a cost-effective manner as appropriate
- Ensure that heavy maintenance projects are delivered to protect the residual value of the asset
- Coordinate with the Asset Protection Team to share information on unit condition, supporting their inspection process and knowledge
- Share learning across the business on asset protection issues from heavy maintenance e.g. corrosion and ongoing vehicle condition to support the whole life maintenance plan
Team Management
- Lead your team of Engineers to deliver a comprehensive technical support service to the Maintenance Services team
- Conduct regular 1-2-1 sessions with your direct reports
- Set annual objectives for your team. Monitor performance through the year and at end of year, conduct six-month reviews in accordance with company process
- Ensure that the competence management process is implemented across all direct reports
- Support with the creation of personal development plans for your team
- Coordinate and monitor the activities of your team to ensure effective deployment across the respective areas of responsibility. Ensure that the output being achieved is at an acceptable level to resolve any areas of under-performance that may emerge
- Work closely with the Head of Maintenance Services to ensure that the team resources are allocated and utilised effectively to meet the overall business objectives
- Provide a supporting role to your direct reports during periods of absence, ensuring continued technical support is provided across each of the heavy maintenance events being delivered
Other Duties
- Support the Commercial team in dealing with fleet maintenance, engineering and technical issues
- Assist in providing general engineering services to the company as and when required by the Head of Maintenance Services
- Support the Senior Project Manager with engineering resource as required to support in the delivery of L5 HM events
About You
General requirements are for an engineer with rail background, who can deal with customers and contractors in a commercial environment, having in depth technical knowledge of UK rolling stock.
Skills / Experience
What you'll need to have:
- Minimum of 10 years railway engineering knowledge, ideally possessing or working towards Chartered Status
- Degree, HNC or equivalent in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering
- Experience of leading a team desirable
- Extensive knowledge of railway industry rolling stock, organisation and rail stakeholders
- Basic knowledge of contractual obligations and operating lease agreements
- Awareness of safety cases, certification issues, railway risks and group standards
- Ability to understand and comment upon engineering instructions and drawings
- Knowledge and understanding of vehicle maintenance and overhaul requirements
It would be great if you also had:
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- Demonstrated leadership skill, having led a team previously
- Project planning skills
- Report writing and presentation skills
- Financial and budgeting awareness
- Organisational skills
- Negotiation skills
- Interpersonal skills
- Commercial/contractual awareness
- Investigative skills
A great place to work
We have a collaborative work ethic with our team members across the company, and with our customers and suppliers. In Derby, London and the Long Marston Rail Innovation Centre we have the right people, with the right skills, in the right jobs, all striving to drive excellence through strong partnerships that create value for all.
We promote a high-performing culture where everyone is supported to achieve their goals, both personally and professionally. We have a close-knit, diverse team that looks out for each other, and supports our colleagues, communities and the next generation of the railway family.
In recognition of this we have been awarded:
- Investors in People Gold accreditation
- Investors in People 'We Invest in Wellbeing' Gold accreditation
- Engineering and Safety Award Railway Innovation 2025
These accolades reflect the company's dedication to creating a supportive and inclusive workplace where employees are empowered to thrive.
To learn more about why Porterbrook is a great place to work please visit our website and follow us on social media.
Our Benefits
We are seeking the very best talent to join the team, and offer an excellent salary, along with bonus and benefits. This is a fantastic opportunity to join a great organisation with outstanding people and a road map for the future to grow and develop the business. Some of our benefits are listed below:
- 1.5x employer contributory pension scheme
- Financial wellbeing support
- Flexible working
- Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption pay
- Enhanced Armed Forces policies
- Ongoing support with professional and personal development
- Long service awards
- Porterbrook Star awards
- Healthcare cash plan
- 25 days' annual leave + Bank Holidays + option to buy and sell up to 5 days' additional leave
- Additional days annual leave for long service
- Free parking and electric vehicle charging are available at our Derby office
- Season ticket loan
- Cycle to Work scheme
Should you be suitable for the role, the full benefits package will be discussed in more detail during your screening call.
Equal Opportunities
We aspire to have a diverse and inclusive workplace and strongly encourage suitably qualified applicants from a wide range of backgrounds to apply and join us on our journey.
Accessibility
We're committed to helping you perform at your best throughout the recruitment process. If you have a disability or need any reasonable adjustments during the application and selection stages, please get in touch with us at recruitment@porterbrook.co.uk We'll be happy to discuss how we can assist.
To apply
Please follow the link at the top of this page to send your CV and a covering email with full details of why you would be a great addition to the Porterbrook team, along with details of your current salary and notice period.
This vacancy may close at any time once sufficient applications have been received. Early submission of your application is therefore encouraged.
What happens next?
Once your application has been reviewed, our recruitment team will be in contact.
Our interview process is typically two stages to ensure a thorough evaluation while providing a chance for you to showcase your skills and fit for our team.
This approach allows us to engage in meaningful discussions, assess your qualifications more comprehensively, and ensure a mutual
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