Senior Rail Design Manager

Joining Arup

Arup’s purpose, shared values and collaborative approach have set us apart for over 80 years, guiding how we shape a better world.

Our Rail business brings together multidisciplinary experts to deliver some of the UK's most significant rail infrastructure programmes. From route upgrades and station transformations to signalling, electrification and major infrastructure renewal projects, we help clients deliver safer, more sustainable and better-connected transport networks.

We are looking for an experienced Senior Rail Design Manager to join our growing Rail team and lead the delivery of complex multidisciplinary rail projects across the UK. Working on major programmes for clients including Network Rail, train operators, contractors, local authorities and national transport bodies, you'll play a pivotal role in ensuring projects are delivered safely, efficiently and to the highest technical standards.

The Opportunity

As a Senior Rail Design Manager, you will lead the coordination, integration and assurance of multidisciplinary design services across a portfolio of complex rail projects. Acting as a Contractor's Engineering Manager (CEM) or equivalent, you will establish and implement engineering management and assurance approaches, ensuring technical excellence, compliance and effective collaboration across project teams. You will lead design delivery from feasibility through to detailed design and construction support, managing technical interfaces, requirements, risk, change and assurance activities while maintaining focus on programme, quality and commercial outcomes. Working closely with clients and delivery partners, you will build trusted relationships, resolve complex engineering challenges and provide leadership across multidisciplinary teams.

The role also offers opportunities to contribute to business growth through bid leadership and work winning activities, while helping develop the next generation of Design Managers, CEMs and CREs through mentorship and knowledge sharing. You will influence the continued development of Arup's rail design management capability while supporting the successful delivery of some of the industry's most challenging projects.

At Arup, you belong to an extraordinary collective in which we encourage individuality to thrive. Our strength comes from how we respect, share and connect our diverse experiences, perspectives and ideas. You will have the opportunity to do socially useful work that has meaning to Arup, to your career, to our members and to the clients and communities we serve.

Is this role right for you?

We are looking for people who:

• Have significant experience leading multidisciplinary rail design delivery across feasibility, scheme and detailed design stages, with responsibility for quality, programme and commercial outcomes.
• Chartered status and full corporate membership of a relevant professional engineering institution (e.g. ICE, IET, or CIHT).
• Have proven experience operating as a CEM-D (Contractor's Engineering Manager - Design), CEM, or equivalent engineering manager on rail infrastructure projects, with responsibility for engineering governance, assurance, and compliance.
• Possess a thorough understanding of Network Rail and major infrastructure design assurance processes, including design reviews, interdisciplinary coordination and engineering assurance requirements.
• Demonstrate strong leadership, stakeholder management and communication skills, with experience managing client relationships and leading multidisciplinary teams.
• Are passionate about technical excellence, continuous improvement and developing others through mentoring and knowledge sharing.

Not ready to apply just yet or have some questions? Contact Drina Zupanovic at [email protected] - Please note, to ensure we remain GDPR compliant do not send your CV directly to us via this email.

What we offer you

At Arup, we care about each member’s success, so we can grow together.

Guided by our values, we provide an attractive total reward package that recognises the contribution of each of our members to our shared success. As well as competitive, fair and equitable pay, we offer a career in which all of our members can belong, grow and thrive – through benefits that support health and wellbeing, a wide range of learning opportunities and many possibilities to have an impact through the work they do.

We are owned in trust on behalf of our members, giving us the freedom, with personal responsibility, to set our own direction and choose work that aligns with our purpose and adds to Arup’s legacy. Our members collaborate on ambitious projects to deliver remarkable outcomes for our clients and communities. Profit Share is a key part of our reward, enabling members to share in the results of our collective efforts.

We also provide Private medical insurance, Life assurance, Accident insurance and Income protection cover. In addition, you’ll have access to flexible benefits to help you look after all aspects of your wellbeing and give you the freedom and flexibility to find the best solutions for you, your family, and your individual needs.

Different people, shared values

Arup is an equal opportunity employer that actively promotes and nurtures a diverse and inclusive workforce. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, regardless of age (within legal limits), gender identity or expression, marital status, disability, neurotype or mental health, race or ethnicity, faith or belief, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, and whether you’re pregnant or on family leave. We are an open environment that embraces diverse experiences, perspectives, and ideas – this drives our excellence.

Guided by our values and alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, we create and contribute to equitable spaces and systems, while cultivating a sense of belonging for all. Our internal employee networks support our inclusive culture: from race, ethnicity and cross-cultural working to gender equity and LGBTQ+ and disability inclusion – we aim to create a space for you to express yourself and make a positive difference. Discover more about life at Arup at www.arup.com/careers/your-life-at-arup.

We are committed to making our recruitment process and workplaces accessible to all candidates. Please contact [email protected]

Our Application Process

To understand what to expect next, please visit https://www.arup.com/careers/recruitment-process/

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