Design Engineer – Drainage

Who are we looking for?
We are looking for a skilled and motivated Design Engineer with expertise in drainage to support the safe and efficient delivery of railway infrastructure projects. You will be expected to lead by example, critically evaluate the work done by others, and clearly communicate technical detail to both a technical and non-technical audience.

The ideal candidate will have technical expertise and experience in assessing risks and solutions related to geotechnical engineering & drainage activities, with particular reference to the railway environment. Any previous experience of undertaking and managing desk studies, design, procuring & supervising drainage survey (non-intrusive and intrusive); producing and checking of drainage design reports in accordance with the requirements of relevant standard and best practices is advantageous. You will typically have experience of catchment analysis, hydraulic design, pumping system design, legislative requirement for water/wastewater, culvert design and assessment.

It would highly desirable to have working knowledge of railway standards, British Standard, drainage investigation in addition to construction contracts and specifications. Experience in managing large datasets and also utilising GIS, CAD or Infodrainage would be beneficial.

About the team..
Engineering Services Design Delivery (ESDD) is a function within Route Services. We sit as a central team to provide national skills and activities which enable regions and industry partners to deliver the railway for our customers.

As a large central functional team which focus on engineering delivery, we have many roles, ranging from pure engineering to project management. We design and influence every part of the railway, including structures, track, traction power, level crossings, signalling and accessibility schemes which are essential to keep our stations moving.

The Geotechnical & Drainage Team provides support for planned, emergency and reactive projects and work in a highly collaborative manner with clients and delivery teams. The types of projects the team deliver include earthworks (embankment & cuttings) drainage design, ground investigations (including GIR & GDR’s), rainfall catchment analysis & drainage system design and scour assessments. The team has access to a full suite of software for drainage design including Infodrainage.

The team comprises Drainage Engineers, Geotechnical Engineers, Engineering Geologists and Civil Engineers. Professional development leading to Chartered status is encouraged and actively supported within the team complimented by targeted training and coaching to support staff achieve their goals.

What does the average week look like?
On an average day, you’ll be shaping and managing engineering proposals from the early development stages through to detailed design, making sure they are safe, sustainable, and cost-effective. You’ll work closely with colleagues, contractors, and stakeholders to develop and assess design options, ensuring compliance with standards while balancing safety, performance, and environmental impact. Your role will involve reviewing technical data, supporting cross-discipline checks, and applying lessons learned from across the network. You’ll also play a key part in monitoring progress, managing change, and supporting construction design management, ensuring every scheme is well-prepared to move forward smoothly and deliver lasting value.

Site-based activity including supervision of investigations, supervision of construction activities, assessment of existing earthworks and structures with input to change control of construction works.

The team undertake work on single and also multi-disciplinary projects working alongside our ESDD colleagues in Track, Signalling, Civils & Structures, Buildings & Architecture and M&E teams on complex and challenging regional and national projects to deliver innovative and award-winning projects and delivering efficiencies and improved risk management.

Essential Criteria

• An engineering degree or equivalent industry-recognised training qualification.

• A demonstrable aptitude for option development.

• Strong evaluation and decision-making skills.

• A working knowledge of rail engineering; relevant successful experience working in the principal discipline and an adequate understanding of all other related disciplines.

• An ability to work and communicate effectively in a team context.

• An appreciation of all the life cycle stages of rail infrastructure.

• CDM, Risk assessment and external audit competency.

Please see attached job description for full details.

Desirable Criteria

• Membership of a relevant engineering professional institution.

• Experience in design, installation and maintenance.

• Formal qualifications in risk identification and assessment.

• Six Sigma Green Belt.

Additional Information

Next Steps: Interviews will be held W/C 24th November, depending on business requirements.

Safe behaviour is a requirement of working for Us. Applicants should be able to demonstrate their awareness of our Safety Vision

Some of our great benefits:

Flexible/hybrid working arrangements considered.

Generous annual leave (28 days plus statutory days), with the option to buy/sell days.

Discounts at stations with your pass.

Defined benefit pension scheme

75% subsidy on train tickets.

️ Interest-free travel loan for train and car park season tickets.

️ Volunteer leave to make a positive impact.

Plus more .