Main Purpose;
To lead and mentor the track team through competently discharging their duties through their knowledge and experience of both Group and Company Standards whilst followingown technical work instructions. The Principal Engineer should also be a team player and technical leader to coordinate the work load and continue to develop their own skill set in more complex track design projects.

Knowledge & Qualifications;

· Academic qualifications should be as a minimum HNC level or Bachelors / Bachelors with Honours degree, it would be advantageous to have a / or Masters.

· Professional qualifications should ideally as a minimum be incorporated / chartered or working towards either status. Regardless of qualification the engineer should be a member of a professional organisation such as ICE / IMECHE or the PWI.

· Full understanding of the GRIP For Track process and normal Network Rail GRIP process

· Experience as a PTS/COSS/IWA or SWL would also be advantageous in understanding the safety culture within the railway environment

· Proficient knowledge of Grip 3, 4 and 5. Earlier and later GRIP stage knowledge may also be beneficial

· Is proficient in the application of both Group and Company Standards has an understanding of the implications of ROGS, TSI’s and PAN’s on a project.

· Can duly read, review and comment on project remits, work scopes and technical documents including PRS’s, CRT’s and RRD’s

· Can formally prepare, review and issue TQ’s and RFI’s to clients

· Has in depth knowledge of track design for both plain line and S&C having experienced a range of scheme from the very basic single discipline track only type project to large complex multi-disciplinary remodelling projects.

· Has a proficient knowledge of Bentley Microstation, PRT, ClearRoute 2, SD Calculator, Track-Ex and Microsoft Office. An appreciation or even working knowledge of Micro Drainage and creation of basic formula in Excel would also be an advantage

· An appreciation of 3D modelling relative to Permanent Way working in the ProjectWise environment. This may include but not limited to the creation of templates to create extruded rail, sleeper and ballast alignments.

· A basic knowledge is also advantageous in the making of a wire frame model from a 3D topographical survey to create surface to allow the cutting of cross sections to existing and proposed alignments at critical locations

· A proficient understanding of multi-disciplinary railway knowledge with respect to the interfaces between track and others including but not limited to signalling, OLE and civils

· Has a proficient knowledge of CDM 2015 its correct application and communication across a project. Fully understands and promotes safe by design through project work at all times

· Knowledge in the use of all surveys including but not limited to; GEOGIS, OMNICOM, traditional topographical Survey, Point Cloud, Rila and Lidar surveys would also be of benefit. To have sufficent knowledge to apply their use in tendering for the appropriate Grip stage

· Has an appreciation of track quality and its implication on maintenance issues

· Has a proficient knowledge of both plain line track and S&C componentry with respect to design and construction issues with an appreciation for maintenance issues.

· Has proficient knowledge of formation, drainage and track stiffness with respect to the current standards and best working practice

· Has been signed off as an approved CRE for both plain line and S&C schemes with a demonstrable record for both single discipline and mutli-discipline type projects with varying degrees of complexity

· Can price for work using their knowledge and skills to read and understand what the client is asking for and take strategic decisions to develop a value adding fee based on a careful balance between risk and reward

Can monitor, track and develop a team of people using competency frameworks of standards to enable schemes to be developed, checked and approved by the appropriate individual. Should also show strong encouragement to develop junior engineers through practical demonstrates of principles or software followed up by an appraisal of their knowledge and ultimate sign off to demonstrate their capabilities to carry out that task independently

Responsibilities;

· In supporting the team for site work the Principal should be able to call on their own experience to completely understand the schemes requirements. The Principal should also be able to brief the team in the office on their roles and responsibilities should they need to attend site to carry out survey work and appoint a Lead Engineer.

· Can work to the required detail within the GRIP process unsupervised on plain line and S&C schemes. Can supervise, check and approve work done by others for their level of experience and competence. This also includes the production and checking of the appropriate documentation to support submissions in line with the projects requirements.

· Can lead more junior members of the team with the development of schemes within the GRIP stages with relevance to their level of competence and ability

· Experienced to work without supervision on complex plain line and S&C schemes with multiply interfaces. To ensure the development of schemes meets the client’s aspirations whilst encouraging compliant design work where ever possible

· Is responsible in making sure drawings have sufficient detail appropriate for that GRIP Stage and to communicate the scope requirements. Is also responsible for a consistent approach to layout, presentation and technical detail shown on the drawing.

· The principal should also be responsible for highlighting the relevant and significant risks in the correct manner on the drawing and in a risk register. Any significant risks affecting other disciplines should also be communicated across through the appropriate channels. Knowledge of CSM would also be of benefit and its correct apllication.

· The principal should also be able to ascertain when and where critical locations require the appropriate cross sections to show relationships between existing track, proposed track and surrounding infrastructure both above and below ground level. This may include but not limited to structures, drainage and changes in formation cross fall

· The principal should also be able to highlight the relationship between the proposed track formation and any existing or proposed drainage and where necessary address the impacts. This should also include highlighting any associated impacts on any earthworks

· The principal should also be proficient with the ability to prove a layout can be stressed for both plain line and S&C schemes.

· The principal should be able to interpret outputs from Track-Ex to demonstrate that where possible both side wear and RCF have been minimised. Where appropriate mitigation measures have been taken, and demonstrated using the appropriate graphs and tables. The review of alignment quality should also be carried out with SD’s noting any that do not fall within the correct bands

· The principal should be responsible for the sign off of all Form A’s, B’s and associated reports such as gauging, track quality, asset condition, drainage and risk assessments for buffer stops within the context of plain line or S&C schemes.

· Should also be responsible to review and comment on design log books and that the correct checking procedures have been carried out showing a clear trail of information between scheme inception and sign off

The principal engineer should also be responsible for the day to day running of a team their projects and work in close coordination with the project manager to raise issues, changes and request for information both technical and non-technical. The principal should also be responsible for the ultimate delegation of projects to senior engineers and provide the necessary support where required. In meetings and design reviews should be able to communicate in a clear and concise manner the design work carried out and logic behind it.

Safety Responsibility;

· To meet / comply with protocol on Target Zero, CDM, Alcohol and Drugs, Fatigue Management and Risks Assessments

· To maintain a fit and healthy lifestyle to be able to work within a railway environment

· To maintain the PTS log book and rule book with any other required competencies

· To adhere to the Network Rail Lifesaving Rules

· To attend quarterly technical and team / safety briefs