Three Routes
The Engineering Conversion has three separate routes
- Signal Engineering
- Track Engineering
- Electrification & Plant Engineering
- Signalling Design Engineer
- Signalling Project Engineer
Signal Engineering
“I’d worked for a big telecoms company and the Navy’s submarine service and had an HND in electrical engineering. The conversion programme appealed to me because I saw it as a long-term opportunity with stability.
“My first role after the course was as Assistant Area Signal Engineer where I was responsible for asset inspections and minor renewals. Now, I’m Project Engineer at Derby. Along with two other project engineers, I’m in charge of building one of the East Midland’s Integrated Electrical Control Centres which will stretch from Chesterfield to London St Pancras. Working with the newest technology certainly gives me a buzz.”
Steve Taylor
Track Engineering
“I used to be a Mechanical Engineer for a small company so there was little opportunity for progression. I decided to look for something completely different. I looked at the rail industry with an engineer’s eyes and saw that if offered a rewarding career.
“I became Depot Track Engineer at Croydon straight after the programme. Now, I’m Assistant Track Maintenance Engineer in Bristol in charge of maintaining 260 miles of track. I enjoy this role – it’s varied & challenging. I’m glad I made the big move to the railway because there are so many areas that I can go into here."
Mike Ward
Electrification & Plant Engineering
“Before I joined the conversion programme, I had an electrical engineering degree and 17 years’ experience as a Traction Equipment Design Engineer. The course seemed an ideal way to use my existing skills and learn new ones.
“I’m now a Distribution & Plant Engineer in Preston near where I live. I’m responsible for making sure maintenance is delivered on time, preparing next year’s plan, reviewing technical work, proposing new works & dealing with staff issues. It’s demanding – but I enjoy it.”
Helen Thompson
Engineering Conversion Scheme
Non-railway engineers can make the transition to the rail industry through our Engineering Conversion Programme.
Network Rail’s mission is to revitalise Britain’s railway infrastructure, we value the knowledge engineers from a non-railway background bring to our business. This is why we have invested heavily in a conversion engineering programme to enable you to make a successful, professionally rewarding and seamless transition to our industry.
Discover the kind of engineering that works for you
What kind of engineers are we after
The Programme
Salary, Benefits & Location
Long-term career prospects
How do I apply?
Discover the kind of engineering that works for you
Electrical or mechanical, your passion is engineering. It’s got you where you are today: an HNC/HND-qualified engineering manager who is used to applying engineering principles every day. With extensive engineering experience, you are credible, commercially astute, decisive and articulate.
Isn’t it time you teamed-up with people who are as passionate about engineering as you are? Time you fully used – and enhanced – the skills you have? Time you worked on some of the biggest projects in engineering today, carrying out work of vital national importance?
What kind of engineers are we after?
Railway engineering may or may not be an option you have considered before. But many engineers have made the switch from backgrounds as diverse as the Armed Forces, mining, nuclear fuels and construction.
The programme
Our seven to twelve programme (depending on discipline) will equip you with a solid bank of railway-specific engineering experience, as well as leading to a highly regarded industry qualification.
Throughout the programme, you will spend periods of a month receiving classroom-based tuition related to your discipline at our residential training centre in Derby, followed by a period on site. These on-site placements will take place close to your home, and give you the opportunity to put your learning into practice.
Your on-site training will see you tackling the most basic tasks and then developing into more advanced technical railway engineering as you progress through the programme. This will mean liaising with people at all levels in the organisation, as well as those who will become your colleagues in your final post.
The programme will culminate in the achievement of a Postgraduate Diploma in Railway Infrastructure Engineering awarded by Sheffield Hallam University. Be warned, though: academic study while learning technical skills is never easy and completing the programme will demand considerable commitment on your part.
Salary, benefits & locations
When you join the programme, you will receive a salary in the region of £30,000. You will also receive a contributory pension, generous annual leave and participate in the general bonus scheme.
From day one of the course, you will be assigned to an office or engineering depot nearest your home. The majority of your work placements will be held here and this will be where you will work when you finish the course.
Long-term career prospects
If you are a civil or mechanical engineer, you will become part of our track maintenance and engineering teams. If you are an electronic or electrical engineer, you will be part of our signaling or electrification & plant teams.
You will have exceptional scope for career progression as we work together to transform Britain’s railway. After you finish the conversion programme, we will continue to give you professional support and development to further your experience and knowledge base.
How do I apply?
We are currently recruiting for a Project Engineers conversion programme due to start in November 2008. Please see our advertisement in Job Vacancies and apply on line as soon as possible.
Enter “IRC319662” under Keywords in the job search section to find the advertisement.