Technician in Ipswich

About Network Rail

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. 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. If you’re ready to make a real difference, we’d love to hear from you!

Brief Description

You’ll help keep our nation moving every single day. A critical part of the work we do is the daily upkeep of the rail network. As a technician, you’ll work outdoors in a team, supporting essential maintenance to keep the railway running safely and smoothly for passengers and freight users. Our technician community comes from a variety of different backgrounds, and this might be the first time that you’ve even considered a career in rail. We’re focused on your transferable skills and behaviours and if you can demonstrate that, then we will provide you with all the necessary training to have you working safely and competently out on the network.

And if you make the grade then you can look forward to a rewarding and fulfilling career with a company that recently joined the top 50 in Glassdoor’s 2021 Best Places to Work.

Please note: there may be a requirement to work on call in this role if you opt to take the standard maintenance contract.

About the role

Our technicians provide the essential link between the team leader and the teams operatives. Technicians specialise in a range of disciplines and for this role you’ll become a specialist in:

• Signalling & Telecoms: You’ll be working with equipment including signals that control when trains can run, level crossings, and points systems. With your willingness to learn, you’ll develop a huge range of technical skills across manual, electrical and digital equipment.
• Track: You’ll be responsible for maintaining, inspecting and repairing the track network (also known as the Permanent Way or P‑Way) to keep the railway safe and efficient. This is a very manual role as you’ll be working with rails, sleepers and ballast that support the trains, together with their associated drainage and ancillary structures.
• Off track: You’ll be responsible for maintaining, inspecting and repairing the land alongside the track network to keep the railway safe and efficient. This includes vegetation management, drainage and ancillary structures.
• Undertrack: You’ll be responsible for maintaining, inspecting and repairing equipment under the track network to keep the railway safe and efficient. This role has a heavy skills focus on joinery, lubrication and welding.
• Distribution & Plant: You’ll work as part of a team to keep power flowing through the electrified rails safely and efficiently. Day to day you’ll work on the nuts, bolts and cables of the electrification system making sure that the railway has the power to run the trains, signals and stations.
• Overhead Lines: Working with high voltage systems you’ll ensure our railway has the power to run the trains. Working at height is routine, and you’ll use various types of specialist tools and equipment to measure, adjust, repair and modify cables and wires that keeps Britain’s railway running.

Our technicians work outside in all conditions, at all times of the year, day or night. You could 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’ll often be working next to moving trains travelling at high speed.

You matter to your team. A natural team player, you’ll also be able to lead the team when asked by the team leader. You’ll use your skills to deliver work safely and will check the team has the right competencies to meet our strict safety standards. You’ll also be a role model for safe working behaviours and be confident to challenge any potential risks to safety, so that everyone gets home safe every day.

You matter to us. Today’s technicians can go onto become tomorrow’s team leaders. Your commitment to self‑development and continuous learning is hugely important in this role and we’ll provide you with all the training to develop both technical and non‑technical skills. If you’re joining us from another industry, the structured training will give you the skills and confidence to move into a rewarding career in rail.

Your skills matter. Our technicians play a vital role in our maintenance teams. You don’t necessarily need rail experience, but you do need to show how your transferable skills meet the following:

• Leadership: You’re able to lead, motivate and direct a team for safe and efficient work delivery.
• Effective communicator: You’ll need strong communication skills and be able to deliver clear instructions to the team and other colleagues.
• Technical skills: You’ll have knowledge and experience of inspection, faulting, maintenance and renewal techniques in the discipline that you are applying for.
• Safety: You consistently role‑model safe behaviours, can arrange and implement safe systems of work, and are confident to challenge if you think a situation is unsafe.
• Problem solver: You’ll be persistent in finding safe and effective solutions. You’ll consistently develop your skills and competencies relevant to your discipline, keeping up to date with new standards, procedures and instructions.
• Willingness to learn: You’ll consistently develop your skills and competencies relevant to your discipline, keeping up to date with new standards, procedures and instructions.
• Relevant qualification: You’ll ideally hold an NVQ Level 1 or 2 linked to the discipline you are applying for, or you have achieved an equivalent level of relevant experience.

It matters that this is the right role for you. Here’s some additional information which might help you:

• Shifts: Technician roles involve a changing shift pattern including days, nights and weekends.
• Outdoor working: Our technicians work outside in all weathers and so you’ll be comfortable working in different conditions.
• Safe working: Offers of employment are subject to drug and alcohol testing and passing of the relevant medical assessment and BPSS pre‑employment checks. This will include a hearing and eyesight examination.
• Driving: As a technician you’ll also need a driving licence (category B) so you can drive Network Rail vehicles.
• Commute times: You’ll also need to be within a 60‑minute commute of the location that you’re applying for.

How to apply

To find out about what benefits we offer. All offers of employment are conditional upon satisfactory completion of pre‑employment checks.