At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the design and delivery of advanced rail systems for a major infrastructure project.
- Company: Join High Speed Two Ltd, a leader in UK rail infrastructure.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, 12% pension, hybrid working, and excellent career progression.
- Other info: Long-term programme with significant growth opportunities in a dynamic environment.
- Why this job: Be at the forefront of delivering one of Britain's most advanced rail depots.
- Qualifications: Experience in rail systems and strong project delivery skills required.
The predicted salary is between 70000 - 77500 € per year.
This is a rare opportunity to join High Speed Two Ltd in a senior technical delivery role supporting the design, integration, and delivery of the £859m Washwood Heath Depot, one of the UK’s most important operational rail infrastructure facilities.
Working client-side within the depot delivery team, you will play a key role in coordinating the Rail Systems delivery across a highly complex integrated railway environment, with the rail systems scope alone valued at approximately £200m. You will sit at the centre of technical delivery, managing interfaces between contractors, supporting assurance activities, and ensuring rail systems are safely integrated, commissioned, and handed over into operation. The role combines technical engineering, systems integration, stakeholder management, and practical project delivery across one of Europe’s largest infrastructure programmes.
Why This Role Stands Out
- Client-side role on one of the UK’s largest infrastructure programmes
- Key technical delivery position on the £859m Washwood Heath Depot
- Major exposure across track, OLE, signalling, power, communications & depot systems
- Gain experience across whole project lifecycle - design, construction, testing & commissioning phases
- High visibility across contractors, delivery teams & senior engineering stakeholders
- Complex multidisciplinary environment with major systems interfaces
- Long-term programme security with 8+ years of delivery ahead
- Strong progression into Lead Project Engineering roles
- Hybrid working and strong work-life balance culture
The Role
Reporting into the Lead Project Engineer, you will support the technical coordination and assurance of Rail Systems throughout delivery. You’ll work closely with contractors, technical specialists, and project teams to ensure systems are integrated safely, comply with technical and operational requirements, and are delivered in line with programme objectives. A major focus of the role is managing interfaces - ensuring track, OLE, signalling, communications, power, civils, and wider depot systems function together effectively within a highly integrated operational railway environment. The role will involve supporting NEC Supervisor and Principal Designer Representative responsibilities, reviewing contractor submissions, coordinating technical assurance activities, and helping manage engineering risk across the programme lifecycle.
Key Responsibilities
- Coordinate technical assurance across Rail Systems design, construction & commissioning
- Support delivery of track, OLE, signalling, communications & associated systems
- Manage interfaces between Rail Systems, civils, depot infrastructure & operational assets
- Review contractor designs and technical submissions for compliance
- Support NEC Supervisor and CDM Principal Designer Representative duties
- Identify and manage technical risks, assumptions, and engineering issues
- Support systems integration and operational readiness activities
- Coordinate technical change and engineering information management
- Work with specialists to resolve complex engineering and delivery challenges
- Support reporting on technical progress, risk, and assurance activities
What We’re Looking For
You’ll likely come from a rail systems, infrastructure, or multidisciplinary rail engineering background with strong technical coordination and project delivery experience.
Essential Experience
- Experience delivering multidisciplinary rail systems on major projects
- Background in Track, OLE, Signalling, Communications, Power, Civils, or related rail disciplines
- Strong understanding of rail systems integration and interface management
- Experience coordinating technical delivery across multiple engineering disciplines
- Understanding of construction delivery, testing, commissioning & systems integration
- Experience working within NEC contract environments
- Strong stakeholder management and communication skills
Desirable Backgrounds
- Rail depots or operational railway infrastructure
- Major transportation or infrastructure programmes
- Client-side, consultancy, or Tier 1 contractor environments
- Understanding of CDM 2015 and technical assurance processes
- Experience working within complex integrated railway systems environments
The Opportunity
This is a career-defining opportunity for an engineer or Design Manager wanting to move beyond pure design delivery into a highly visible client-side role on one of Europe’s largest infrastructure programmes. You’ll gain exposure across major rail systems integration, operational readiness, testing & commissioning, and asset handover helping deliver infrastructure that will support Britain’s high-speed railway for decades to come.
Design Manager (Senior P.E) Rail Systems in Birmingham employer: Charlton Recruitment
High Speed Two Ltd offers an exceptional working environment for the Design Manager role, situated in Birmingham with a hybrid working model that promotes a healthy work-life balance. Employees benefit from competitive salaries, a generous pension scheme, and clear pathways for career progression within one of the UK's most significant infrastructure projects, ensuring long-term job security and professional development opportunities in a dynamic and multidisciplinary setting.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Design Manager (Senior P.E) Rail Systems in Birmingham
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with industry professionals on LinkedIn or at local events. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its projects. Understand their values and recent developments, especially around rail systems. This will help you tailor your answers and show you're genuinely interested in the role.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice makes perfect! Conduct mock interviews with friends or mentors to refine your responses. Focus on articulating your experience in multidisciplinary rail systems and how it aligns with the role of Design Manager.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up after interviews! A quick thank-you email reiterating your interest in the position can leave a lasting impression. Plus, it shows your enthusiasm for joining the team at High Speed Two.
We think you need these skills to ace Design Manager (Senior P.E) Rail Systems in Birmingham
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that align with the Design Manager role. Highlight your experience in rail systems, project delivery, and technical coordination to catch our eye!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're passionate about this role and how your background makes you the perfect fit for managing complex rail systems integration.
Showcase Your Stakeholder Management Skills:In your application, emphasise your experience in stakeholder management. We want to see how you've successfully navigated complex environments and collaborated with various teams in past projects.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets into the right hands and shows us you’re serious about joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Charlton Recruitment
✨Know Your Rail Systems Inside Out
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of rail systems, especially in areas like track, OLE, signalling, and communications. Be prepared to discuss how these systems integrate and the challenges that come with managing interfaces between them.
✨Showcase Your Project Delivery Experience
Highlight your experience in delivering multidisciplinary rail systems on major projects. Be ready to share specific examples of how you've coordinated technical delivery and managed risks across various engineering disciplines.
✨Demonstrate Strong Stakeholder Management Skills
Since this role involves working closely with contractors and project teams, be prepared to discuss your approach to stakeholder management. Share instances where you've successfully navigated complex relationships and ensured effective communication.
✨Familiarise Yourself with NEC Contracts
Understanding NEC contract environments is crucial for this position. Brush up on the key principles and be ready to discuss how you've applied this knowledge in previous roles, particularly in relation to technical assurance and compliance.
