Graduate Future Engineer - Assistant Technical Engineer

Make your mark with Colas Rail UK. At Colas Rail, differences matter. Join a team where being your authentic self is respected, encouraged, and vital to our success. You will be welcomed into an inclusive team where there's a role for every talent and a close-knit, familial culture. You will also get the opportunity to help us transform transportation, set new standards, and dare to be different. Step into the world of Colas Rail, where a century of expertise merges with a daring spirit to shape the future of rail infrastructure.

At Colas Rail, we deliver transport solutions for sustainable mobility. We are a leading rail infrastructure business with on-track plant and freight capabilities. As a subsidiary of the Colas Group, we are part of over a hundred years' experience in delivering major innovations across our sector. Every day, thousands of trains run on tracks built, designed, or maintained by Colas Rail.

Leading by our Values

• We value everyone as part of the same team. We treat everyone as equals – and everyone is approachable, from the CEO down.
• We put you in control of your career to lead and grow in any way you want.
• We have a culture of care, from safe working environments to diversity and inclusion.
• We’re renowned for innovation, adopting new ideas, and daring to be different.
• We are building a more sustainable future and our projects impact infrastructure for generations.

We Respect

• We respect our employees, celebrate diversity and foster a culture of safety, care and respect for everyone we interact with.
• We care about our employee’s wellbeing and create an environment of inclusivity and support.

We Commit

• We commit by showing up wholeheartedly. When we commit together, we invest in everyone’s success.
• We invest in our customers, our teams and our colleagues, and we lead with safety, integrity, passion, purpose, ethics and transparency.

We Share

• We share as we all hold knowledge that could and should be shared, enabling us to grow and making us a strong collective.
• We have a passion for excellence, celebrating achievements and nurturing talent.

We Pioneer

• We pioneer to push boundaries, imagine what does not yet exist and dare to do what others do not.
• We innovate with ambition, and we find solutions.

Purpose of the Role

The Graduate Future Engineers Programme is a 3-year programme designed to give you the skills, knowledge and experience to become a Technical Engineer. As a Graduate Technical Engineer, you will work in a specific area of the business and will work on multi-million pound projects, such as HS2, and deliver parts of key contracts and their associated activities from conception through to completion.

You will work in a technical and operational role with a distinct focus on the engineering side of our business, working closely with our experienced engineers and senior management on improving the UK rail system in our Rail Infrastructure Division. You will have the opportunity to learn and develop your skills and to work towards becoming a Chartered Engineer in one of our many disciplines: Track, Overhead Line Equipment (OLE), Signalling, Electrical, Mechanical or Civil Engineering Surveying. This role is based at Old Oak Common and North Pole Depot.

Key Responsibilities

• Gain the relevant skills through the Engineering Graduate Programme and deliver against the Route to Competence Framework, receiving immersive and hands-on experience within the engineering discipline to support your development.
• Develop an in-depth understanding and knowledge of your engineering specialism (OLE/HS2), working on live projects on site, and getting on and off the job training and competence development.
• Gain an in-depth knowledge of safety within your discipline and the projects in your division, ensuring you adhere to all safety and ethical requirements.
• Demonstrate motivation and enthusiasm to learn across multi-functions to gain experience to support the projects you work on.
• Make a strong contribution to the team and support across projects to gain and develop experience.
• Work towards gaining chartership or professional recognition within your discipline.
• Work with the team to ensure that everyone works in a collaborative, open and honest manner with all stakeholders – liaising regularly with subcontractors, client and any relevant third parties where required.
• Attend all the relevant Graduate Development Training for your pathway, ensuring the learning gets delivered in the workplace.
• Complete the Business Project when requested.
• Adapt to organisational changes and meet operational requirements as they arise.
• Carry out any other reasonable duties as required from time to time.

Even if you don't meet every requirement, please don't rule yourself out; we still encourage you to apply if your skills, values, and experience align to the role.

Person Specification - About You

• Engineering Degree qualification – with a minimum of a 2:2 degree classification.
• Show an interest and drive to be part of the Rail Industry and Colas Rail.
• Be comfortable with working nights and weekends.
• Work independently and in a team, using your own initiative to deliver successful projects.

What We Offer

• Competitive salary.
• 26 days annual leave.
• Industry leading life assurance.
• Healthcare cash plan.
• Wellbeing employee assistant programme.
• Pension scheme.
• Eye care vouchers.
• Long service award.
• Season ticket loan.
• Occupational health service.

We are particularly encouraging applications from women, ethnic minority backgrounds and people with disabilities, and we welcome applicants from all backgrounds, offering flexible and inclusive adjustments to the interview process. As part of a positive action drive to address under-representation, we encourage applications from women, ethnically diverse individuals and people with disabilities, along with all candidates who identify with protected characteristic groups under the Equality Act 2010. We are proudly part of the Disability Confidence Scheme and operate a Guaranteed Interview Scheme if you meet the minimum requirements.

On joining Colas Rail, you’ll have access to our growing Employee Network Groups including Railbow (representing the LGBTQ+ community), BeyonDisability (representing those with disabilities) and Cross Culture (representing people from ethnic backgrounds). Everyone is welcome to join our network groups whether you are part of the community or an ally.

Work-life balance is important to us; flexible working options are available where feasible and dependent on the role. Please discuss this during the interview process.

Join us in making a positive impact! Apply and be part of a team that values diversity and embraces unique perspectives.