Lead Maintenance Engineer; Asset Mgmt

East West Rail is one of the UK’s most significant infrastructure projects, a new railway connecting Oxford, Milton Keynes, Bedford and Cambridge. The communities along this corridor contribute around £111 billion to the national economy each year, and EWR has the potential to unlock a further £78 billion, supporting new homes, new towns, and regeneration across the Oxford to Cambridge Growth Corridor.

Committed to in full in the Autumn 2024 Budget and the 2025 Spending Review, this is a programme with Government backing, long-term funding certainty, and real national significance. Work is under way, and the pace is building.

As Lead Maintenance Engineer
, you will be the subject matter expert on maintenance and asset management within EWR Co’s Technical Function, working closely with the Head of Asset Management and Maintenance to ensure that maintainability is built into the railway from the ground up.

This is an influential role at an important stage of the programme. The decisions being made now about design and construction will shape how the railway is maintained for decades. Your expertise will help ensure those decisions are informed by sound asset management principles, that maintenance strategies are fit for purpose, and that the asset information needed to run an effective railway is captured and managed properly.

The Technical Function owns the specification for the scheme, translating the EWR business case into a system requirements set and assuring those requirements are met throughout design and delivery. You will operate across that landscape, collaborating with Network Rail, asset owners, and internal teams to align practices and drive continuous improvement.

What you will do

• Provide expert guidance and support on the development of strategies and requirements for asset management and maintenance practices, ensuring maintainability is considered and embedded throughout the design and construction phases.
• Drive Maintenance Technical assurance activities for the programme to enable the delivery of an integrated railway system and the achievement of the necessary safety and performance outcomes.
• Support the development and implementation of the asset management framework, ensuring it meets project and regulatory requirements.
• Conduct detailed assessments of asset performance and maintenance needs, identifying areas for improvement and recommending practical solutions.
• Collaborate with Network Rail and other asset owners to align maintenance practices and support integrated asset management across the programme.
• Develop and deliver training and workshops on maintenance and asset management best practice for internal teams and external partners.
• Support data capture and management efforts, ensuring accurate and comprehensive asset information is maintained throughout the project lifecycle to enable the successful delivery of the Asset Management & Maintenance strategies.
• Prepare technical reports and documentation on maintenance strategies, asset performance, and system effectiveness for senior management and stakeholders.
• Keep value for taxpayers at the heart of every technical decision.
• Contribute to EWR Co’s values and ways of working, and support others to do the same.

• Substantial experience in maintenance engineering and asset management within large‑scale infrastructure or railway projects, with a strong understanding of maintainability principles and practices.
• Proven ability to provide technical expertise and guidance on maintenance and asset management, including developing and implementing effective strategies.
• Experience of applying the engineering lifecycle including requirements, specification, design, build and maintenance and verification and validation in relation to Maintenance.
• Strong collaborative and communication skills, with the ability to work effectively across engineering disciplines, asset owners, and project teams.
• Experience preparing technical reports and documentation for senior audiences.
• Direct experience working with Network Rail standards and asset management frameworks.
• Familiarity with ISO 55000 or equivalent…