About Network Rail

At Network Rail, we’re part of a large family serving millions of passengers and freight users throughout the UK every day. Our service impacts millions of people and we strive to become more efficient as we enhance, maintain, and operate our network.

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. Watch our video to find out more!

The Wales & Western region includes more than 2,700 miles of railway and we serve communities and businesses of Wales, the Thames Valley, West of England, and the Southwest Peninsula. Our ambition to be responsive to passengers and freight users drives us every day and we're empowered to do the right thing for those who use the rail network. We actively challenge unsafe practices and take responsibility for addressing risks, resolving issues, and protecting safety and wellbeing.

About our people and the recruitment process - We’re an inclusive employer of choice and we welcome applications from everyone! 

As a Network Rail employee, you will enjoy a wide range of benefits!  

• Privileged staff travel - Leisure travel discount of 75% on all leisure travel and includes family members.
• A subsidy of up to 75% on rail and underground season tickets if you travel to work on the train.
• GWR ticket alliance – Heavily discounted all day passes for you and up to 3 friends and family to use across the GWR network.
• Benefits package including healthcare offers, a cycle to work scheme, discounted healthcare club membership, and a discounted offers and benefits including childcare, healthcare and online shopping site.
• A range of Pension schemes to choose from
• Effectively manage work-life balance with a 35hrs per week contract, hybrid working, and enhanced family friendly support.
• 5 days paid volunteering leave.
• 2 weeks paid reserve leave for the Armed Forces community.

In Wales and Western region, you will have the opportunity to join PROUD, our reward and recognition scheme where you can say thanks and recognise colleagues across the region who have demonstrated outstanding values and behaviours.

To find out more about the benefits at Network Rail, click here.

We want to help deliver a railway which is safe, reliable, affordable and that provides great customer service to everyone. For more information about Network Rail click here

Brief Description

To grow our Engineering and Asset Management capability in railway structures in Wales and Western region, we are expanding the team as we enter Control Period 7 (2024-2029). We are looking for structural or civil structural engineers with several years of post-qualification experience, but you do not have to have rail background.

Asset Engineer roles are focussed on the management of risk by specifying and prioritising maintenance, inspection and renewal work. This work supports the immediate and long-term availability of the railway and the other services we cross or are adjacent to (such as roads, utilities, coastal defences etc.).

To be successful in these roles you will have strong attention to technical detail and an ability to step back and see the bigger picture.

We have 9 Asset Engineer vacancies within the team. We have opportunities for the following, please see attached document to find out more about what each team does:  

• 1 Asset Engineer to work in our Wales Assessments Team
• 1 Asset Engineer to work in our Western Assessments Team
• 1 Asset Engineer to work in our Assurance and Compliance Team
• 2 Asset Engineers to work in our Tunnels Examinations and Maintenance Team
• 2 Asset Engineers to work in our Wales Examinations and Maintenance Team
• 2 Asset Engineers to work in our Western Examinations and Maintenance Team

These roles have been advertised across 4 of our regional offices. The exact location will be agreed to match the team you work with and the base location of each individual candidate.

Introduction to our teams - Wales & Western Structures

About the role (External)

Your Main Responsibilities will be to:

1.        Schedule examinations, inspections, monitoring and assessment of structures assets and the evaluation of the reports in accordance with functional policy, systems and standards.  Implement mitigation measures where proposed management actions are deferred.

2.        Specify and prioritise actions to address defects, comments and other issues raised in the reports, in accordance with standards and functional policy, for inclusion in work plans.  Oversee the development, implementation and handover of prioritised work items to realise the required outputs.  Produce route specific and asset type management regimes, and progress mitigations if items are deferred.

3.        Undertake engineering analysis and risk assessments of assets or asset components to support the asset management process and scheme development, including business cases and whole life cost analysis.

4.        Monitor and evaluate asset condition and capability trend data, and failure precursors to inform examination, maintenance, strengthening, risk mitigation and renewal plans to efficiently achieve corporate objectives. 

5.        Provide support to the specification and development of enhancement schemes and manage the interface with network capability programmes. 

6.        Liaise with the central structures team to develop and disseminate consistent best practice and in the review and development of functional policy and standards.

7.        Determine mitigation actions necessary to reduce the impact of adverse weather on the performance of structures assets.

8.        Maintain structures asset data and information within the company systems and processes.

9.        Support the review and development of national standards relating to structures Asset Management.

10.     Support initiatives to develop the buildings & civils strategic direction and input to the Control Period (5 year funding cycle) bid process in the route and supporting negotiations with regulatory bodies.

11.     Provide engineering support and participate in investigations of incidents relating to structures.

12.     Review proposals from other disciplines or external organisations that could impact on the route structures assets and/or programmes of work to identify potential synergies or conflicts.

13.     Support the process for the review and approval of abnormal vehicular and rail loads.

14.     Control the technical development of projects, ascertaining that renewal requirements are sufficient, correctly interpreted and any changes are agreed with Route Asset Manager.  Assist with the approval in principle of designs and manage acceptance of detailed design certification.  

You will ideally have

• HNC/HND or equivalent qualification in Civil or Structural Engineering
• Substantial relevant experience in structures or civil engineering
• A sound knowledge of structures engineering policies and standards
• Knowledge of Structures Assessment
• An understanding of safety management systems and risk assessment techniques
• Working towards membership of a relevant professional institution

What could set you apart

• Degree in a relevant subject
• Incorporated Engineer or Chartered Engineer
• Member of a relevant professional institution