Fleet Engineer

About the Role

East Midlands Railway (EMR) is looking for a Fleet Engineer to join #TeamEMR at Etches Park Depot in Derby. This role is crucial for providing expert Fleet Engineering support to production teams and third-party maintainers. The successful candidate will ensure the safety, reliability, and effectiveness of the EMR fleet.

Key responsibilities include optimizing vehicle maintenance instructions, offering technical support to depot and fleet teams, and leading engineering changes to enhance reliability, reduce costs, and improve maintainability. You will also support major fleet programmes and projects, contribute to the forward fleet strategy, and conduct thorough root-cause investigations into fleet defects to drive continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities

Fleet Engineering & Technical Performance

• Own fleet engineering activities and vehicle maintenance documentation.
• Ensure the fleet meets required standards for safety, compliance, reliability, availability, and customer outcomes.
• Analyze fleet performance data to identify issues, trends, and opportunities for improvement.
• Investigate faults and failures, developing effective technical solutions and mitigations.

Safety, Compliance & Engineering Change

• Monitor train safety and technical performance using appropriate KPIs and measures.
• Review safety-related events and ensure appropriate corrective actions are taken.
• Control modifications, engineering changes, and NIRs, ensuring regulatory and safety requirements are met.
• Ensure technical documentation, approvals, and processes are completed correctly and provide clear technical briefs to production teams.

Maintenance & Fleet Support

• Provide technical expertise and guidance to production teams and third-party maintainers.
• Ensure maintenance is delivered in accordance with Vehicle Maintenance Instructions (VMIs).
• Support teams with out-of-course maintenance issues, coaching, and technical advice.
• Hold third-party engineering teams accountable for delivering required maintenance and engineering activities.

Fleet Lifecycle, Cost & Investment

• Support the full life care of the fleet, including classified repairs and other mandated requirements.
• Work with ROSCOs to maximize value from fleet leases.
• Develop investment cases to support improvements in technical performance, safety, and lifecycle costs.
• Establish and maintain standard maintenance times and ensure budgets reflect changes to maintenance regimes.

Continuous Improvement, Innovation & Best Practice

• Collaborate with industry partners to identify and share best practices and drive best-in-class fleet performance.
• Identify and promote innovation across the Fleet Function.
• Lead the development and implementation of improvements, including integration with digital solutions.
• Utilize industry best practices and data-driven insights to continuously improve fleet and business performance.

Leadership & Team Support

• Deputize for the Fleet Engineering Manager when required.
• Provide support and cover for other Fleet Engineers.
• Build effective relationships across production, engineering, industry partners, and third-party maintenance organizations.

About You

• Chartered Engineer (or working towards) with a degree in Mechanical/Electrical Engineering or equivalent experience.
• Minimum of 5 years in a technical, engineering, or operational railway environment, ideally within a matrix management structure.
• Strong knowledge of rail vehicles, rolling stock systems, and industry standards.
• Experience in maintenance optimization, engineering modifications, and performance improvement.
• Skilled in data analysis, problem-solving, and project delivery.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office and familiar with rail applications such as R2, Compass, and Gemini.
• Excellent communication, stakeholder management, and teamwork skills.
• Experience introducing new fleets of trains is desirable.

What We Offer

In addition to a competitive salary, EMR offers:

• An excellent defined benefit Railway pension scheme.
• 32 days' holiday in the first 2 years, increasing to 34 thereafter.
• Free First Class duty travel on the EMR network.
• Free standard leisure travel on the EMR network and with other specified Train Operating Companies, plus a 75% discount on national leisure travel for you and your partner/dependants.
• Discounted tickets for friends and family on the EMR network.
• Various training opportunities.
• An employee benefits portal with access to generous discounts, Cycle 2 Work Scheme, and more.

EMR is committed to embracing diversity and encouraging applications from all backgrounds to better represent our communities. If you are successful, you may be expected to support frontline colleagues at times, which could involve safety-critical work or customer service assistance, reflecting our 'One Team' ethos.

Ready to apply? Please submit your online application form and CV, ensuring all personal information is removed for our blind screening process.