Head of Rolling Stock Engineering Delivery
Reporting into – Head of Engineering Delivery – London Underground
Contract – Permanent
Vacancy type – Full time
Band - 5
Location – Palestra or Endeavour Square with 50% hybrid working
About Us
This is a unique and exciting opportunity to join the TfL Engineering & Asset Strategy senior leadership community as Head of Rolling Stock Engineering Delivery.
The TfL Engineering & Asset Strategy Directorate plays a critical role across TfL, bringing together around 2,000 staff as a unified centre of engineering excellence, providing technical leadership across TfL and enabling the delivery of safe, reliable and sustainable whole-life asset outcomes. The Directorate is accountable for setting technical strategy, defining and complying with engineering requirements, enabling delivery and optimised asset outcomes and providing technical assurance across one of the world's most complex transport networks.
About the Role
As Head of Rolling Stock Engineering, you will be the recognised engineering authority for London Underground’s rolling stock, accountable for engineering outcomes across the full fleet.
You will provide strategic leadership ensuring safe, reliable and high-performing trains while maximising value for money.
Key responsibilities include:
- Providing technical leadership and setting engineering strategy
- Acting as the single point of accountability for safety-critical decisions
- Leading engineering acceptance of major capital programmes
- Driving lifecycle strategies including refurbishment and replacement
- Ensuring regulatory compliance (including ROGS)
- Overseeing fleet performance and incident response
- Aligning engineering decisions with business priorities
- Lead large matrix teams to deliver engineering outcomes
About You
We are seeking an outstanding senior engineering leader with the credibility, judgement and experience to operate at the highest levels of a complex, safety-critical organisation. You will also demonstrate the gravitas to represent engineering at the highest levels and the leadership capability to inspire trust, foster collaboration and drive high performance.
You will bring:
- Significant senior leadership experience within a complex engineering or railway environment (Essential)
- Deep expertise in rolling stock engineering, asset management and capital programme delivery (Essential)
- Strong background in mechanical and/or electrical engineering, ideally within rail (Essential)
- Significant experience managing the interface between legacy assets and new technology (Essential)
- Confident making complex, risk-based engineering decisions at pace
- Strong commercial and financial acumen, with the ability to balance cost, safety and performance
- Confident influencing at executive level and communicating complex technical issues clearly
- Significant experience leading large, multi-disciplinary engineering teams, developing capability and performance (Essential)
- Chartered Engineer status (or equivalent) is preferred.
Application Process
Please submit an up‑to‑date copy of your CV along with a cover letter (no more than 1 A4 page, Arial size 12).
We recommend that you consider the motivations, skills, knowledge and experience required for this role and ensure your application outlines where you meet these criteria.
For a copy of the job description or any questions on the recruitment process, please contact Cilla Thompson on talentacquisitionandexecutiverecruitment@tfl.gov.uk
Closing date for applications will be Wednesday 12th Augustat 23:59hrs. Please note that if we receive a large number of applications, we will close the advert early. We anticipate for 1st stage interviews to be held in September 2026.
We will make every effort to give you as much notice as possible, however some interviews/assessments could be organised at short notice.
We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.
We will be holding a Spotlight session, where you can learn more about the role and have the opportunity to ask the hiring manager questions. This will be held 12:00 on Wednesday 29th July. To be added onto the event please email your interest over to this address- talentacquisitionandexecutiverecruitment@tfl.gov.uk
Equality, diversity, and inclusion
We are committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion. We want to represent the city we serve, which will help us become a more innovative and efficient organisation. Our goal is to make our recruitment as inclusive as possible. We are a disability confident employer who guarantee an interview to any disabled candidate who meets all of the essential criteria.
Our city. Made better by you
TfL is a place that’s open to your ideas. Where you can make a tangible impact and see the positive results of your work on the people and places around you. It’s a place where you can thrive and achieve. Where you’re encouraged and enabled and empowered to feel pride in the work you do. The clue is in the name, really. We work together for a better London. A better place for everyone. Constantly improving and enhancing how we operate to shape a city of the future.
Hybrid Working
Hybrid working within this role enables a balance of 50 per cent of time split between the office and home over a 4-week period. Hybrid working arrangements can evolve subject to business requirements.
Benefits
In return for your commitment and expertise, you will enjoy excellent benefits and scope to grow. Rewards vary according to the level of role and business area but mostly include:
- Final salary pension scheme.
- Free travel for you on the TfL network.
- Reimbursement of 75% of the cost of a standard class Ticket for National Rail travel from home or 75% reimbursement on a 28-day flexi ticket.
- 30 days annual leave plus public and bank holidays.
- TfL is committed to work-life balance, operating a hybrid working approach where business and role requirements allow. 50% time in the office.
- Private healthcare discounted scheme (optional).
- Tax-efficient cycle-to-work programme.
- Retail, health, leisure and travel offers.
- Discounted Eurostar travel.
- TfL employees can access electric vehicles through salary sacrifice, making them more affordable. Whether brand-new or preloved, the scheme helps you save on tax and NI while making a greener choice.
Terms and conditions:
NPL Applications
Applications to internally advertised roles can only be accepted from temporary workers who are on PAYE terms via agency, or PAYE via Umbrella Companies. Temporary workers who are paid through their own limited companies are not covered by the Agency Worker Regulations and are ineligible to apply.
NPL members of staff are not eligible to apply to secondment opportunities.