Senior Project Engineer (CDE)

Who We Are

Join Network Rail ! Where People and Connections Matter

At Network Rail, we're dedicated to keeping passengers and freight moving safely and efficiently across the country. When you join us, you're not just part of a team- you're part of something that matters to millions. We believe that our people are at the heart of what we do, and every role plays a vital part in building a better, more connected railway.

We're committed to creating a diverse, inclusive workplace that reflects the communities we serve. To discover more about our ED&I commitments click here. We value flexibility and understand the importance of a healthy work-life balance. As a Disability Confident Leader, we'll do everything we can to accommodate any needs throughout the recruitment process.

Safe behaviour is a requirement of working for Network Rail. Applicants should be able to demonstrate their awareness of our safety vision.

About The Role

The Eastern Routes Capital Programmes Enhancements team is an exciting place to be. Our organisation defines requirements, leads procurement, and assures safe compliant delivery of major multi-disciplinary projects and programmes across the Eastern Region that include the East Coast, North & East, East Midlands and Anglia routes.

Having successfully embedded our new operating model known as Agile Client Eastern, our more agile and efficient ways of working present us with a phenomenal opportunity to support the rail industry and make a huge impact on the UK's infrastructure for the future. This team not only has the opportunity to work on the most challenging and rewarding projects in the business, but also to make the biggest difference. SPEED is business as usual for our team; we work collaboratively, embrace new technologies and innovate. And the ways in which we use SPEED to make the right decisions for our clients, customers and our people will help shape the future for our business.

Our portfolio comprises numerous large-scale projects over the eastern region that include the Power Supply upgrade of the East Coast main line, new stations at Thorpe Park and Haxby, and station upgrade schemes at Leeds, Middlesbrough and many more.

In the Senior Project Engineer role, you will lead and manage the use of appropriate engineering standards in relation to design and construction, on all projects within the national programme so they comply with legislation, Railway Group and Network Rail company standards. To monitor whether suitably qualified and experienced staff are employed to control Distribution & Plant engineering aspects of projects.

Role

The role will role model and embed Eastern Region's culture principles - Show We Care, Listen Learn Improve, Better Together and Keep It Simple - by:

• Creating an environment of psychological safety and accountability where people can challenge and improve working practices
• Driving collaboration across teams and partners to deliver whole-system outcomes
• Promoting continuous improvement and learning from performance output
• Ensuring clear, simple and focused governance and decision-making

The post sits in the Head of Engineering team, within the Enhancements North delivery portfolio, and will require a minimum of 3 days a week based in York.

Network Rail is committed to supporting all employees to achieve their potential. You will create a Personal Development Plan which will be supported in a number of ways including mentorship arrangements, Network Rail's training packages and in-role development opportunities afforded by our diverse Enhancements portfolio.

Key Accountabilities

• 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.

Essential Criteria

• Significant experience in E&P (Distribution and Plant) engineering, ideally with involvement in construction and design projects across multi discipline areas
• Technical qualifications to at least HNC level or equivalent in E&P (Distribution and Plant) engineering
• Membership of a relevant professional institution (ICE, IMechE, IET)
• Experience of contracting including alliancing
• Knowledge of structuring safety cases in support of projects
• Knowledge of safety management and quality assurance
• Understanding of the arrangements required for the independent assessment of works
• Accident investigation experience
• Demonstrable skills in initiating and building positive working relationships with customers, their team and stakeholders.
• Demonstrable experience of creating opportunities for development for themselves and others/their team,
• Demonstrable experience of challenging self and others to improve services and approaches.
• Demonstrable experience of supporting the physical and mental well-being and safety of themselves and colleagues and of challenging business and safety related risks.
• Demonstrable ability to work proactively through complex issues.

Desirable Criteria

• Application of engineering assurance on NR projects including the CDE ACE dispositioning models, through fulfilment of a CRE, CEM, DPE or PE role
• Chartered status or equivalent in E&P (Distribution and Plant) engineering
• Appreciation of environmental issues in engineering works

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.

Closing date: 1st September 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

Your Experience And Skills

We are looking for someone with experience in fast-paced multidisciplinary project delivery, with a detailed understanding of the relevant Network Rail and Railway Industry standards. You must have excellent stakeholder management skills, be able to work collaboratively within both traditional contract and alliance environments and be willing to challenge existing standards and processes to achieve cost and programme efficiencies. A strong team ethic is essential, with a clear focus on safety and wellbeing.

While you will be expected to be available to support work on site for key commissioning activities, there is a possibility for flexible working to help promote a healthy work life balance.