Head of Vehicle Track Integration

Join Network Rail ! Where People and Connections Matter

At Network Rail, we're dedicated to keeping passengers and freight moving safely and efficiently across the country. When you join us, you're not just part of a team- you're part of something that matters to millions. We believe that our people are at the heart of what we do, and every role plays a vital part in building a better, more connected railway.

We're committed to creating a diverse, inclusive workplace that reflects the communities we serve. To discover more about our ED&I commitments. We value flexibility and understand the importance of a healthy work-life balance. As a Disability Confident Leader, we'll do everything we can to accommodate any needs throughout the recruitment process.

Safe behaviour is a requirement of working for Network Rail. Applicants should be able to demonstrate their awareness of our safety vision .

Shape the Future of Integrated Rail Systems

We are looking for an exceptional engineering leader to join our organisation as Head of Vehicle Track Integration, a highly influential role reporting into the Executive team.

This is an opportunity to drive the future performance, safety, sustainability and resilience of the railway by leading the integration between rolling stock and infrastructure. You will operate at the heart of system-wide decision making, bringing together engineering, standards, operational and commercial expertise to optimise outcomes across the vehicle-track interface.

As a recognised authority and strategic leader, you will influence investment decisions, technical standards, industry partnerships and innovation programmes that improve reliability, reduce whole-life costs and enhance customer experience across the Southern network. You will play a pivotal role in establishing a single regional vision for rolling stock and infrastructure compatibility, ensuring that engineering standards, asset strategies and system interfaces are harmonised across the Southern Region.

If you are motivated by solving complex systems challenges and creating meaningful industry-wide impact, we would love to hear from you.

About the Role

The Head of Vehicle Track Integration is accountable for leading the strategic interface between rolling stock and fixed infrastructure at a regional level.

You will provide independent technical leadership and assurance across the train-track interface, ensuring assets are specified, operated and maintained in a way that delivers optimal safety, performance, sustainability and efficiency.

Working across multiple business units and external partners, you will champion a whole-system approach that enables smarter engineering decisions, improved integration and greater collaboration across the rail industry.

Your Main Responsibilities will be to

Strategic Leadership & System Integration

• Lead the alignment of vehicle, track, signalling, power and implement operational strategies to deliver best whole-system outcomes.
• Resolve and direct the resolution of complex cross-disciplinary and organisational interface issues which drive cost, risk or underperformance.
• Provide expert technical advice to executive leaders on critical system trade-offs, risks and opportunities.

Technical Assurance & Engineering Excellence

• Provide independent technical and professional assurance for rolling stock, infrastructure and system integration requirements.
• Ensure alignment between operators, infrastructure teams, maintainers, Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and other industry partners.
• Promote innovative, predictive and condition-based approaches that improve performance and asset management.

Performance, Reliability & Sustainability

• Drive collaboration between infrastructure, fleet, operations and maintenance organisations to optimise whole-life railway performance.
• Drive interventions that reduce whole-life cost, improve reliability and strengthen network resilience.
• Lead the development of integrated approaches to wheel-rail interaction, braking performance, gauging, dynamic performance and power supply interfaces.
• Support the transition towards more sustainable and low-carbon railway solutions.

Data & Digital Integration

• Develop and improve data ownership, governance and sharing across rolling stock and infrastructure domains.
• Enable the integration of vehicle and infrastructure data to provide advanced decision-support capabilities.
• Champion evidence-led asset management and systems engineering solutions.

Industry Collaboration & Stakeholder Leadership

• Build strong partnerships with rolling stock owners, train operators, maintainers, manufacturers and infrastructure stakeholders.
• Lead supplier engagement and oversee strategic commercial and contractual relationships.
• Influence cross-industry resolution of safety, reliability and performance challenges.

Future Fleet Introduction & Change Programmes

• Establish system requirements, benefits and baseline criteria for new, modified or cascaded rolling stock.
• Provide strategic guidance to business units on fleet introduction and integration activities.
• Drive the development of regional technical capability across rolling stock and infrastructure integration.

Pay and Rewards

Salary: This role is a Band 1.C: £116,753 to £150,696 per annum.

As a Network Rail employee, you will enjoy a wide range of benefits!

Privileged staff travel - Leisure travel discount of 75% on all leisure travel and includes family members.

A subsidy of up to 75% on rail and underground season tickets if you travel to work on the train.

Benefits package including healthcare offers, a cycle to work scheme, discounted healthcare club membership, and a discounted offers and benefits including childcare, healthcare and online shopping site.

A range of Pension schemes to choose from

Effectively manage work-life balance with a 35hrs per week contract, and enhanced family friendly support .

2 weeks paid reserve leave for the Armed Forces community.

More about the role and your application

Closing date: 2nd October 2026. Late applications will not be accepted.

We want to ensure everyone has an equal opportunity. Therefore, s hould you require any reasonable adjustments/modifications, please do let us know via your application.

Your experience and skills

What We're Looking For

• Registered Engineer at CEng level with relevant Engineering Council
• Proven effective leadership, interpersonal and communication skills
• Successful experience of engaging and leading successful negotiations with internal and external stakeholders to adopt new approaches
• Proven experience in rolling stock systems engineering, infrastructure or other relevant engineering discipline
• Demonstrable success in fostering collaboration, building trust and transparency, and creating partnerships between organisations and at all levels in the organisations
• Substantial commercial experience and financially astute
• Significant knowledge and/or experience in the rail industry or similar sector
• Proven experience operating at senior level across complex organisational interfaces
• Demonstrable experience of influencing across contractual, commercial and organisational boundaries
• Experience working with Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), train operators and rolling stock manufacturers.
• Fellowship of a recognised engineering institution.
• Understanding of business change and transformation management.

Why Join Us?

This is more than a technical leadership role.

It is an opportunity to influence the future direction of a critical transport system, shape industry best practice and lead transformational change that benefits passengers, communities and the wider economy.

The role is a strategic leadership post, with strong emphasis on systems engineering, track/train integration, aligned standards, fleet renewal, infrastructure interfaces and harmonisation across our three Integrated Business Units.

You will work alongside executive leaders, industry experts and strategic partners to solve some of the most complex challenges facing modern rail infrastructure and operations.

Our Commitment to Inclusion

We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone can thrive.

We actively welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, identities, experiences and perspectives. We recognise that talent comes in many forms and encourage applications from candidates who may not meet every single requirement but can demonstrate the capability, potential and passion to succeed in the role.

We are proud to be an employer that values equality, diversity and inclusion, and we are committed to providing a supportive recruitment process and working environment where everyone feels respected, valued and able to perform at their best.

Together, we'll build a safer, smarter and more sustainable railway for the future.

Not sure if you meet all the requirements? Let us decide. Some of these criteria may be learnt in role. Therefore, if you do not meet all the criteria, please submit your application. We will screen your application against these criteria to assess the best match.