Technician [Welding & Grinding] in Birmingham

About Network Rail

Network Rail operates and maintains the railway infrastructure. 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 are an organisation where people matter. When you are part of our team, you matter to us and you matter to millions. We are continuing to build a more diverse and inclusive organisation which is representative of the passengers we serve.

About our route

We are Central route. We are the Heart of Britain's Railway. More than a million people rely on us every week, and we help transport nearly a million tonnes of freight every month. But we are more than just tracks and trains; we are a catalyst for jobs and opportunities, a connection to leisure and time with family and friends, and a foundation for communities and neighbourhoods.

About the role

What does a Technician Welding and Grinding do? Do you have practical experience of electric arc welding which is used to join metal to metal by using electricity? Do you have experience using abrasive wheels? Here at Network Rail, we utilise both welding and grinding as crucial methods for maintaining and repairing rail infrastructure. Welding techniques, such as thermite, are used to join rail sections or repair damaged areas, while grinding trains remove material from the railhead to maintain track quality and extend rail lifespan.

As a Technician for Welding and Grinding, you will work as part of a team and be responsible for inspecting, fault finding, and maintaining our assets using Welding and Grinding techniques. In addition to this, you will also provide support to the Team Leader to organise and motivate the team so that work is undertaken safely, efficiently, and to the relevant standards.

Our Technicians work outside in all conditions, at all times of the year, day or night and weekends. You will be involved in demanding manual work, often with the need to transport kit across tricky terrain. Being safety focused, respectful of rules, and a team player will be critical as you will often be working next to moving trains travelling at high speed.

We will give you all the training and competencies you require so you can fully succeed in your role and have a fulfilling career within the Welding and Grinding discipline.

Please note you will be required to live within a 60-minute radius from the location stated on this advert.

In order to be successful in this role, we would like you to have/be:

• Experience of arranging and implementing safe systems of work.
• Knowledge of how to organise and control the safe and efficient delivery of work.
• Able to demonstrate, promote and embed safe working behaviours within the team.
• Able to lead, motivate and direct a team.
• Able to communicate effectively verbally and in writing.
• Knowledge of welding and grinding inspection, faulting, maintenance, and renewal techniques.
• Conversant with standards, procedures, and instructions.
• Hold and retain competencies relevant to this post, required by business need.
• Ideally hold (or be working towards) an NVQ level 1 or 2 (or equivalent) in a relevant subject or have attained an appropriate level of knowledge through equivalent relevant experience.
• Able and willing to drive vehicles as required by business need.

Salary: £37,073 per annum. Closing date: 15/02/2026. Late applications will not be accepted.

All offers of employment are conditional upon satisfactory completion of a range of pre-employment checks. We are a Disability Confident Leader employer and we will try our best to adapt the process and offer a reasonable alternative to help support people with disabilities access, apply, and interview for roles.