Contract Length: 6 months (potential to convert to perm)
Location: Stratford, London (Hybrid – min.2 days per week onsite)
Pay Rate to Candidate: £450 - £470 per day (umbrella rate) IR35: Inside
Role Overview: This is a 6-month contract (with strong potential to convert to a permanent role), reporting into the Head of Innovation - HS1 (Network Rail).
Key Objectives
• Drive automation of manual inspection and maintenance activities
• Support delivery of efficiency and performance targets across the project
• Translate emerging technologies into scalable operational solutions
• Contribute to innovation-led transformation within asset management and maintenance
Core Projects / Areas of Focus
* Vision & Camera Technology; Deployment of cameras on passenger & engineering trains
* Use of tools such as One Big Circle / AiVR for automated visual track inspections or Transmission Dynamics for OLE inspections.
* Monitoring infrastructure behaviour (e.g. pantograph/OLE interaction, track) through various software with machine algorithms
* Data & Analysis: Supporting data-led maintenance decisions
* Drone Technology (Key Focus Area)
* Inspection of hard-to-reach assets (e.g. ventilation shafts, steep embankments)
* Environmental monitoring and reporting
* Potential user cases such as vegetation management
* Innovation Initiatives
* Supporting a range of smaller R&D and digital transformation projects
Day-to-Day Responsibilities
• Lead and progress innovation projects from concept through to deployment
• Act as technical authority/SME within assigned project areas
• Engage with maintenance teams, asset managers, and stakeholders
• Ensure engineering assurance, safety, and compliance of new technologies
• Support business cases and benefits realisation
• Attend and contribute to project/stakeholder meetings
Candidate Profile (Key Requirements) Essential
• Experience in introducing or deploying new technologies / innovation projects
• Exposure to drones and/or remote condition monitoring solutions
• Strong technical/technology mindset (software/systems understanding)
• Ability to operate autonomously and engage senior stakeholders
• Understanding of working in a regulated engineering environment
Desirable
• Rail industry experience (engineering / asset management)
• Experience with One Big Circle / AiVR / transmission dynamics
• Exposure to digital inspection, AI or automation technologies
• Candidates do not need to have both rail and tech, however strong technical capability is the priority if we can’t find both.
Qualifications
• Degree in Engineering, Technology, Software or Computer Science (desirable)
• Chartered Engineer status (or working towards) preferred
Salary description
£450.00 - £470.00 per day