Project Engineer

Contract Length: 6 months (potential to convert to perm)

Interview Process: Teams 1 stage

Role Overview

This is a 6-month contract (with strong potential to convert to a permanent role), reporting into the Head of Innovation – Clients High Speed (HS1).

The role will play a key part in driving the innovation agenda across the HS1 asset base, with a focus on reducing manual maintenance activity and introducing automation and emerging technologies to improve safety, efficiency, and sustainability.

Key Objectives

• Drive automation of manual inspection and maintenance activities
• Support delivery of efficiency and performance targets across HS1
• Translate emerging technologies into scalable operational solutions
• Contribute to innovation-led transformation within asset management and maintenance

Core Projects / Areas of Focus

• Deployment of cameras on passenger and engineering trains
• Use of tools such as One Big Circle / AiVR for automated visual track inspections or Transmission Dynamics for OLE inspections.
• Monitoring infrastructure behaviour (e.g. pantograph/OLE interaction, track) through various software with machine algorithms
• Supporting data-led maintenance decisions
• Inspection of hard-to-reach assets (e.g. ventilation shafts, steep embank-ments)
• Environmental monitoring and reporting
• Potential user cases such as vegetation management
• Supporting a range of smaller R&D and digital transformation projects

Day-to-Day Responsibilities

• Lead and progress innovation projects from concept through to deployment
• Act as technical authority/SME within assigned project areas
• Engage with maintenance teams, asset managers, and stakeholders
• Ensure engineering assurance, safety, and compliance of new technologies
• Support business cases and benefits realisation
• Attend and contribute to project/stakeholder meetings (not meeting-heavy but regular engagement required)
• Experience in introducing or deploying new technologies / innovation projects
• Exposure to drones and/or remote condition monitoring solutions
• Strong technical/technology mindset (software/systems understanding)
• Ability to operate autonomously and engage senior stakeholders
• Understanding of working in a regulated engineering environment
• Rail industry experience (engineering / asset management)
• Experience with One Big Circle / AiVR / transmission dynamics
• Exposure to digital inspection, AI or automation technologies
• Candidates do not need to have both rail and tech, however strong technical capability is the priority if we can’t find both.

Qualifications

• Degree in Engineering, Technology, Software or Computer Science (desirable)
• Chartered Engineer status (or working towards) preferred
• Opportunity to work on cutting-edge innovation projects within HS1
• Strong hands‑on involvement in emerging technologies (drones, AI, automation)
• Visibility and impact within a high-profile innovation function
• Potential pathway into a permanent role within client High Speed

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