Design Engineer

You will need to login before you can apply for a job.

View more categories View less categories Sector Transport and Logistics Role Professional Contract Type Permanent Hours Full Time

About Network Rail

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 are 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. Click here to learn more.

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. You can visit Evenbreaks Career Hive for advice on accessibility support.
If you're ready to make a real difference, we'd love to hear from you.



We offer excellent benefits, including:

Generous annual leave (28 days plus statutory days), with the option to buy/sell days.

Defined benefit pension scheme.

75% subsidy on rail and underground season tickets.

Up to 75% off leisure travel for you and your family (subject to terms and conditions)

️ Interest-free travel loan for train and car park season tickets.

Discounts at stations with your Network Rail pass.

Flexible/hybrid working arrangements.

️ Volunteer leave to make a positive impact.

Healthcare Scheme, GymPass discounts, Cycle to work plus more.

We offer generous maternity, paternity, and adoption leave to support our employees during significant life moments

Brief Description

Who are we looking for?

We are seeking a skilled and motivated Design Engineer (B&C) (Civils) to join Network Rail. The ideal candidate will have strong experience in civil and structural engineering, with a proven ability to deliver design solutions across rail infrastructure projects. You should be confident working within multidisciplinary teams, committed to maintaining high standards of safety, quality, and compliance, and able to support project delivery from concept through to completion. A proactive approach, excellent communication skills, and a passion for improving the railway are essential.

About the team

Engineering Services is a function within Route Services. We sit as a central team to provide national skills and activities which enable regions and industry partners to deliver the railway for our customers.

As a large central functional team which focus on engineering delivery, we have many roles, ranging from pure engineering to project management. We design and influence every part of the railway, including structures, track, traction power, level crossings, signalling and accessibility schemes which are essential to keep our railway moving.

About the role (External)

What does the average day look like?

You will be responsible for the engineering development of projects including, but not limited to, footbridges, underline bridges, overline bridges, stations, and ancillary civil structures. This ranges from clarification of remits to project completion so that engineering solutions are developed to best satisfy the business case. You will work collaboratively with clients to review and challenge project remits to ensure there is a clear scope of works for the design of an engineering project.

You will develop and support engineering and development activities so that they result in schemes that are affordable and meet programme requirements in a safe & environmentally responsible manner for time, cost, and quality. The role requires management of the development of suitable engineering options for a proposal so that full consideration is given to safety, reliability, operational capacity modelling, maintainability, ease of construction, and environmental/whole life issues. Engineering excellence is to be achieved by:

o Fulfilling the role of Contractors Responsible Engineer (CRE) or be working towards this under mentorship. This is subject to competence assessment, and authority to work at the appropriate level.

o Reviewing compliance with appropriate standards.

o Using feedback and lessons learned from all relevant past projects across the UK rail network.

o Keeping designers up to date via training, briefings, and CPD.

o Maintaining strict change control on scope development; evaluating cost, time and performance impacts in conjunction with development management.

o Participating in the design of options for further development. Preparation of reports, calculations, drawings, risk assessments and design decision logs as necessary.

o Undertaking design development, checking and approval of detailed design activities, including forms, reports, and calculations, typically through design stages ES1 to ES5. This shall include collaborative working with DPEs, Pes, fabricators, and contractors to resolve Technical Queries.

o Undertaking structural assessments, on masonry, concrete, steel and timber structures, including footbridges, overbridges, underbridges and station canopies.

o Reviewing the impact of projects against the 9 protected characteristics as detailed in the Equality Act 2010 through the completion of Diversity Impact Assessments.

o Adhering to the Network Rail Environmental standards on designs.

o Managing all engineering and development activities so that they result in schemes that are affordable, and that meet programme requirements in a safe and environmentally responsible manner for time, cost, and quality.

o Supporting the Construction Design Management (CDM) Principal Designer during PACE phases 1 and 2 in all associated duties and carry out or monitor cross-discipline engineering checks of all relevant aspects of the proposal.

o Managing the engineering interfaces of allocated proposals with concurrent work in other disciplines, or within other programmes.

o Working collaboratively with, monitoring and assisting in evaluating external consultants and contractors where required.

• You will be required to undertake occasional site visits for survey purposes to support the engineering activities listed above.

Essential Criteria

• An engineering degree or equivalent industry-recognised training qualification.

• 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.

• An appreciation of CDM and risk assessment principles .

Desirable Criteria

• Experience in the structural assessment of underbridges, overbridges, footbridges and station canopy structures to relevant Network Rail and British standards.

• Experience in the inspection of structures assets, holding STE4/5 competency or similar.

• Experience in modelling and analysis software packages such as LUSAS, Midas Civil, SuperStress, Autodesk Robot or similar.

• Experience in design, installation, and maintenance of civils and structures assets.

• Chartered or near to Chartered Membership of a relevant engineering professional institution (e.g. ICE or IStructE).

• Currently hold Personal Track Safety (PTS) competency

• Currently hold UK driving license and willing to drive company and/or hire vehicles.

How to apply (External)

Vacancy Details

Duration: Permanent

Location: This role is based in York ICC. This role is a full-time opportunity, flexible working patterns will be considered.

Band & Salary: 4C £43,588-£50,018

Additional Information

If you have any questions or reasonable adjustments, please contact .

Closing date: 13 th June. On occasions, we may need to close the advert early based upon application volumes. Late applications may not be accepted.

Next Steps: Interviews will be held face to face in York ICC, W/C 23 rd June depending on business requirements.

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

All offers of employment are conditional upon satisfactory completion of pre-employment checks. Click here for more information

Drugs and Alcohol Standard:

For some of our roles all prospective external candidates offered a conditional role 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.

Company Every day, 4.8 million people use our network . click apply for full job details