Contractors Engineering Manager (CEM)

Location: Leeds/Hybrid with travel to project sites across the UK

Hours: 40 hours per week

Contract: Permanent

Please note: This role is currently based in Leeds; however, future projects may be located across the UK, so flexibility to travel is essential. A company vehicle will be provided once role develops into one requiring regular national travel.

Help Shape the Future of Rail Infrastructure

RTS Infrastructure is a trusted provider of rail infrastructure, construction and depot services across the UK. As part of Arriva Group, we deliver complex rail projects that help keep the nation's rail network moving safely and efficiently.

We're looking for an experienced Contractors Engineering Manager (CEM) to join our growing Infrastructure team.

This is an exciting opportunity for a senior rail engineering professional to provide technical leadership, engineering assurance and governance across a diverse portfolio of rail infrastructure projects.

Reporting to the Programme Manager, you'll play a pivotal role in ensuring engineering activities are effectively integrated, risks are managed, technical standards are met and projects are delivered safely, efficiently and right first time.

Why Join RTS Infrastructure

As part of Arriva Group, RTS Infrastructure is entering an exciting period of growth and investment. You'll have the opportunity to influence the successful delivery of major rail infrastructure projects while working alongside experienced engineering and project professionals across the UK.

This role offers the chance to lead engineering assurance activities on complex rail projects, drive technical excellence and play a key role in maintaining the highest standards of safety, quality and compliance.

What You'll Be Doing

• Act as the principal engineering management and assurance lead for allocated rail infrastructure projects.
• Provide leadership and coordination of engineering activities throughout the project lifecycle.
• Lead engineering assurance processes across design, construction, testing, commissioning and handback stages.
• Oversee the preparation, review and approval of Form A, Form B and Form C design submissions.
• Ensure engineering deliverables are technically sound, coordinated, constructible and compliant with project requirements.
• Provide oversight and guidance to Contractor's Responsible Engineers (CREs) and CRE-Cs.
• Ensure engineering teams have access to approved technical information before works commence.
• Communicate engineering requirements effectively to project delivery and construction teams.
• Identify and manage engineering risks, assumptions, constraints and technical interfaces.
• Ensure engineering risks are appropriately captured within project governance and risk management processes.
• Maintain engineering records to support project assurance, handback and close-out requirements.
• Ensure compliance with industry standards, technical requirements and CDM Regulations.
• Oversee the resolution of technical issues, non-conformances and design changes throughout project delivery.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary engineering activities across track, civils, signalling, OLE and telecoms disciplines.
• Manage technical relationships with clients, suppliers and key project stakeholders.
• Support tender submissions through technical input, engineering resource planning and risk assessments.
• Promote innovation, technical excellence and value engineering across projects.
  
  

What We're Looking For

Essential Experience & Qualifications

• Degree in Civil Engineering or a related engineering discipline, or equivalent industry experience.
• Significant experience delivering track (permanent way) projects within a rail infrastructure environment.
• Proven experience operating as a Contractor's Engineering Manager (CEM) or Senior Contractor's Responsible Engineer (CRE).
• Strong understanding of engineering assurance, technical governance and project delivery within the rail sector.
• Experience overseeing multidisciplinary engineering teams and activities.
• Comprehensive knowledge of rail industry standards, compliance requirements and engineering best practice.
  
  

Skills & Attributes

• Strong leadership and team management skills.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Methodical, organised and highly detail-oriented approach.
• Effective communicator capable of engaging with colleagues, clients and third parties.
• Commitment to safety, quality and regulatory compliance.
• Ability to remain calm under pressure and manage competing priorities.
• Collaborative approach with the ability to work across multiple disciplines and projects.
  
  

Benefits

• Membership of the Arriva Workplace Pension Scheme (3% employer contribution and 5% employee contribution)
• Life Assurance plus access to one of the UK's largest networks of medical professionals
• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays, with opportunities to purchase additional holiday
• Access to our Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
• Access to discounts and cashback through The Village, our online reward gateway
• Eyecare vouchers
• Opportunity to join our Employee Experience Forum, helping shape wellbeing, career development and community initiatives
• Arriva UK Trains Travel Pass
  
  

Ready to Make an Impact

If you're an experienced rail engineering professional looking to lead engineering assurance activities and support the successful delivery of critical infrastructure projects, we'd love to hear from you.

Join RTS Infrastructure and play a key role in delivering safe, compliant and innovative rail infrastructure projects that help shape the future of the UK's railway.

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