At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the technical strategy for the HS2 railway and ensure its successful delivery.
- Company: Join HS2 Ltd, a pioneering infrastructure project committed to innovation and inclusivity.
- Benefits: Flexible working, personal development opportunities, and a supportive work environment.
- Other info: Embrace a culture of safety, integrity, and respect while promoting diversity and inclusion.
- Why this job: Make a significant impact on the future of rail transport in the UK.
- Qualifications: Chartered Engineer with experience in major infrastructure projects and strong leadership skills.
The predicted salary is between 54000 - 66000 £ per year.
Description
The role requires a minimum of three days per week office attendance .
The Chief Technical Officer (CTO) is accountable for defining and assuring the technical integrity of the HS2 railway.
The role sets the technical strategy, requirements, specifications, and standards required to enable delivery into service in line with government expectations.
Acting as the Technical Authority, the CTO ensures consistency, compliance, and integration across all technical disciplines, including environment, design, and consents, enabling delivery of HS2 in a cost-effective and timely manner.
The role also acts as the Nominated Undertaker, ensuring compliant delivery against Environmental Minimum Requirements during construction and enabling the railway to be brought safely into use.
HS2 Ltd endeavours to ensure everyone working for us and with us feels included, thrives and achieves their full potential.
In practice, this means we are positive and inclusive about making adjustments, providing flexible working, encouraging our staff networks to flourish and providing personal and professional development opportunities.
About the role
- Technical Strategy and Standards
- Act as the guiding mind for technical delivery of the railway, defining the technical strategy, requirements, and specifications aligned to Df T guidance and sponsor expectations, and oversee the development of evidence demonstrating the delivery of railway requirements.
- Establish and maintain technical requirements standards for the railway and supply chain from sponsors requirements to contract level.
- Ensure consistency, integrity, and alignment of technical decisions across the programme.
- Oversee railway level performance, including ownership of capability modelling.
- Act as Technical Authority, responsible for implementing strategies, standards, and specifications across environment, design, and consents.
- Delivery Assurance and Integration
- Oversee technical assurance and quality to ensure the railway is deliverable, integrated, and operationally ready.
- Oversee the safety assurance and authorisations process to successfully operate and maintain the railway.
- Act as the Nominated Undertaker, ensuring delivery complies with Environmental Minimum Requirements during construction.
- Guide the application of standards and specifications across design, construction, and commissioning.
- Lead resolution of complex technical issues, including interfaces across systems and assets.
- Ensure integration across disciplines to deliver a fully functioning, safe, operable railway system that meet end-state requirements.
- Programme and Supply Chain Alignment
- Embed technical requirements within contracts and across the supply chain.
- Work with delivery, engineering, and programme teams to ensure alignment between technical and delivery outcomes.
- Ensure coordinated delivery across all technical and engineering disciplines.
- Governance, Risk and Compliance
- Ensure compliance with sponsor requirements, technical regulations, and industry standards.
- Act as the Nominated Undertaker, ensuring delivery complies with Environmental Minimum Requirements during construction.
- Guide the application of standards and specifications across design, construction, and commissioning.
- Lead resolution of complex technical issues, including interfaces across systems and assets.
- Ensure integration across disciplines to deliver a fully functioning, safe, operable railway system that meet end-state requirements.
- Leadership and Capability
- Provide leadership and direction to technical and engineering communities across HS2.
- Build technical capability and promote best practice across the organisation and supply chain.
- Champion continuous improvement, safety, and innovation in technical delivery.
About you
Skills
- Strategic technical leadership across large, complex programmes.
- Strong systems thinking and integration capability.
- Influential stakeholder engagement across government, regulators, and delivery partners.
- Ability to resolve complex technical challenges and make risk-based decisions.
- Clear communication of technical concepts to senior stakeholders.
- Leadership of multi-disciplinary engineering and technical teams.
Knowledge
- Engineering, technical standards, and systems integration for major rail or infrastructure programmes.
- Regulatory and sponsor requirements, including Df T guidance.
- Environmental, design, and consents frameworks, including Environmental Minimum Requirements.
- Technical assurance, governance, and risk management practices.
- Infrastructure delivery lifecycle from design through to commissioning and operations.
Type of experience
- Chartered Engineer (CEng) UK / equivalent appropriate professional institution with significant experience in Civil Engineering.
- Significant senior technical leadership experience in major infrastructure or rail programmes.
- Proven track record delivering complex, integrated systems into operation.
- Experience setting technical strategy, standards, and assurance frameworks.
- Experience working with government, regulators, and supply chains.
- Demonstrated leadership of large engineering and technical communities.
The post-holder is expected to behave at all times in a manner consistent with the HS2 values of Safety, Leadership, Integrity and Respect.
It is expected that you will actively promote and embed Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) in all your work and support and comply with all organisational initiatives, policies and procedures on EDI.
We ask for a variety of detail in your online application, however we perform the first assessment of suitability for a role based solely on the information in your CV.
In a further development of our efforts to create a more diverse workforce, your CV will be anonymised and personal information will be removed during the first stage of the application review.
This removes bias from the process and makes it even more important that you attach an updated word version of your CV for each new application ensuring you include evidence directly related to the criteria in the job advert.
Watch this video on how we remove bias in the recruitment process
Removing bias in the recruitment process - You Tube
Any applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
Chief Technical Officer in London employer: HS2
As a Senior M&E Quantity Surveyor with us, you'll be part of a dynamic team working on one of the UK's most significant infrastructure projects, HS2, in the vibrant setting of West London. We pride ourselves on fostering a collaborative work culture that prioritises safety and professional growth, offering hybrid working options and a competitive salary package. Join us to not only advance your career but also contribute to a project that shapes the future of transport in the UK.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Chief Technical Officer in London
✨Join Engineering Meetups!
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✨Engage with Online Communities
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We think you need these skills to ace Chief Technical Officer in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Technical Expertise:When applying for an engineering role like Chief Technical Officer, it’s essential to highlight your technical skills. Include any relevant software or tools you're proficient in on your CV—think CAD software, simulation tools, or programming languages. Don't skimp on any engineering projects you've worked on that demonstrate your ability to solve complex problems.
Focus on Results and Impact:In the engineering world, we love numbers and real-world impact. Quantify your achievements wherever possible—like reducing costs by a certain percentage, improving efficiency, or successfully completing a project ahead of schedule. This gives your future employers at HS2 a clear picture of the value you can bring.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Use your cover letter to express your passion for engineering and explain why you’re drawn to HS2 specifically. Share what aspects of their work excite you and how your values align with theirs. This is your chance to show a bit of personality while keeping it professional!
Include Relevant Certifications:If you have any engineering certifications, especially ones that are recognised in your field, make sure to feature them prominently on your CV. They demonstrate not just your knowledge, but also your commitment to professional development, which is something we at StudySmarter value highly.
How to prepare for a job interview at HS2
✨Brush Up on Core Engineering Principles
Before heading into the interview with HS2, make sure you're solid on the fundamental engineering principles relevant to the role. Be ready to discuss concepts such as thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, or structural analysis, depending on the specifics mentioned in the job description. Don’t skip any hands-on projects or coursework; these can be excellent talking points!
✨Show Off Your Problem-Solving Skills
Expect technical questions or case studies during your interview—after all, engineering is all about solving problems! Prepare a few examples of how you've tackled engineering challenges in the past, whether at university or in any practical experience. Practising with mock technical interviews can really help you articulate your thought process and solutions.
✨Relate Your Experience to the Role
In a full-time role, employers like HS2 want to see that you can adapt and grow within their team. Be ready to discuss how your previous internships, projects, or studies relate directly to the work you'll be doing. Highlight specific experiences that showcase your collaborative skills and how you've successfully worked within a team environment.
✨Know Your Tools and Software
Most engineering roles require familiarity with specific tools and software. Prepare to talk about your proficiency with programmes like AutoCAD, MATLAB, or SolidWorks if they’re relevant to the role. Even better, have examples of projects where you’ve used these tools, as it'll demonstrate your hands-on experience and readiness for the job.
