Project Engineer in Crewe

Supply Chain Operations - Construction Services

About Network Rail

Join Our Team at Network Rail! Are you ready to make a difference in people's lives? At Network Rail, we connect passengers and freight customers, ensuring safe and efficient transportation across the country. We're dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive organisation that reflects the passengers we serve. To achieve this, we're committed to becoming an open, diverse, and inclusive workplace, leveraging the skills and expertise of our talented workforce.

Investing in our people is key to enhancing the safety, reliability, and efficiency of our railway system. If you're passionate about making a meaningful impact, then this opportunity is for you!

About our people and the recruitment process

We’re an inclusive employer of choice and we welcome applications from everyone! We encourage our colleagues to work flexibly and will do our best to support you with a healthy work‑life balance. We are a Disability Confident Leader employer and will adapt the process to support people with disabilities.

Brief Description

Route Services is a division of Network Rail that provides the Routes with the services they need to maintain and operate the railway. This role sits within Supply Chain Operations (SCO), which supplies and delivers logistics, materials, and components that enable the maintenance and renewal of the railway.

Construction Services (CS) plans and delivers Track and Overhead Line Renewals Projects using the OLE Train, On‑Track Plant, and the Ballast Cleaning System. The team commits to high‑quality infrastructure projects while embracing innovative, efficient ways of working.

The Directorate is structured into five teams reporting to the Construction Services Director: Engineering, Planning, OLE Delivery, Track Delivery, and Programme Change. Works are planned and delivered using an internal Network Rail workforce, with Construction Services acting as Principal Contractor, Principal Designer, and POS approval holder.

During Control Period 7 (2024‑29) Construction Services will plan and deliver Ballast Cleaning projects on the Northwest & Central and Network Rail High Speed regions, and OLE renewals across the Northwest & Central region.

Construction Services (CS – Engineering) comprises highly qualified engineers with years of experience in the rail sector, certified in multiple disciplines, and backed by strong problem‑solving capabilities. We combine technical proficiency with an in‑depth understanding of the rail industry’s evolving needs, delivering projects that are timely, cost‑effective, and uphold the highest standards of safety, efficiency, and sustainability.

Key services include:

• Project Engineering Management for Track, Signalling & OLE (Overhead Line Equipment)
• Managing design integration and construction processes.
• Risk management, budget control, and regulatory compliance.
• Engineering & Construction Assurance.
• On‑Track Plant Management & Assurance.

About the role

Are you ready to challenge the status quo and drive efficiency in rail project delivery? We are seeking an exceptional Project Engineer (Overhead Line Equipment) to lead the charge in revolutionising how we deliver projects across the UK and inspire the team to deliver a safe, quality, and efficient construction service to our Regional Customers.

This role is pivotal in meeting customer demands and budget expectations while fostering a culture of safety, compliance, and continuous improvement. You will be a strategic thinker, able to influence at all levels, and demonstrate experience in safely managing large‑scale projects in construction or infrastructure environments, being familiar with CDM 2015.

Key Responsibilities

• Carry out the duties of Contractor Responsible Engineer (CRE) for construction for specific projects.
• Implement Network Rail systems and procedures to maintain a cost‑effective, high‑quality, safe and environmentally responsible approach to design, construction, commissioning and other technical activities on relevant projects, compliant with all relevant legislation.
• Liaise with regulators as appropriate.
• Engineer Projects to the standards and specifications of Network Rail, ensuring compliance with Railway Group and Network Rail Company standards, formal specifications and procedures.
• Manage all engineering activities so that schemes are affordable and meet programme requirements in a safe and environmentally responsible manner for time, cost and quality.
• Maintain use of relevant techniques and procedures of quantified and qualitative risk assessment and HAZOP analysis for allocated projects and manage the environmental aspects in accordance with Network Rail’s environmental policy.
• Provide project management advice for all construction activities, including testing, commissioning and site supervision.
• Manage the design and/or construction elements of relevant projects to meet requirements of current legislation, including CDM regulations.
• Ensure Internal and contractor’s design/construction/specialists’ personnel are competent.
• Undertake reviews of design and/or construction activities.
• Arrange audits of contractors monitoring safety, environment and quality of design, construction, testing and commissioning to ensure management systems are adequate.
• Identify and share best practice across the various project teams.
• Establish a culture of continuous improvement within construction services to deliver improvements in safety, finance and service performance year on year.
• Continually review the delivery programme and model to ensure maximum engineering benefit via utilisation of the OLE Train and Ballast Cleaning System.

Job Skills, Experience and Qualifications

• Successful relevant experience in engineering disciplines, ideally involving construction and design projects across multi‑discipline areas.
• Technical qualifications to HNC/HND or equivalent GNVQ level.
• Knowledge of quality assurance.
• Understanding of arrangements required for independent assessment of work.
• Experience with CDM, risk assessment, auditing internal and external competency.
• Membership of a relevant professional body with chartered status and/or educated to degree level.
• Knowledge of structuring safety cases in support of projects.
• Appreciation of environmental issues in engineering works.
• Six Sigma Yellow Belt.
• Project safety management experience.
• Yellow book course.

How to apply

If you’re ready to lead with impact, deliver differently, and bring greater efficiency to the rail industry, we want to hear from you.

Vacancy type: This role is a permanent vacancy.

Location: Crewe.

Hours: 35 hours per week with hybrid working and travel as required. Flexible working and job shares can be considered. Working night shifts and weekend working will be required.

Salary range: Band 4C, £43,588 to £51,719 per annum, depending on skills and experience.

Closing date: 27 March 2026. Late applicants will not be accepted.

If you would like any reasonable adjustments or support during your application or throughout the recruitment process, please do not hesitate to contact the Resourcing Team who will happily assist.

The recruitment process will consist of: Competency Based Interview. Shortlisted candidates will be contacted by phone or email.

This role will require a Personal Track Safety Competence. Personal Track Safety (PTS) is a set of safety regulations and procedures that individuals must adhere to when working on or near the tracks of the UK rail network.

Drugs and Alcohol Standard: 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.