Lead Comms Project Engineer (Telecoms)

Are you an experienced Telecoms Engineer with rail infrastructure project experience and interested in working on Europe’s largest infrastructure project HS2? Open to main contractor, client or consultant background.

A Lead Comms Project Engineer is required to work for the Client Organisation (High Speed Two Ltd) responsible for the New High-Speed Rail project in the UK. The role sits within a dedicated Telecoms Team within the technical directorate at High Speed Two. Reporting to the Head of Telecoms, working on 2 Comms Contracts c£300m Operational Telecommunication and Security Systems (GSM-r) Contract & £100m Third Party Communications (Mobile & wifi).

Job Purpose – Lead Comms P.E

To execute legal and contractual technical duties on project engineering issues within the 2 Telecoms Railway Systems Project delivery teams, leading progressive risk based integrated assurance of railway system design, construction and handover into operations; enabling configuration management, providing information exchange and facilitating technical co-ordination in a timely manner, in accordance with HS2 technical requirements, standards and policies.

The role supports the Head of Telecoms Engineering, as directed in fulfilling the duties of Principal Designer Representative under CDM 2015, where co-ordination and interface management assurance is required to be evidenced.

The 2 Comms contracts are a route wide contract that spans & interfaces with nearly all of the other contracts within HS2 such as Main Works Civils, Station Contracts and numerous rail system contracts.

Profile of Works

Operational Telecommunications and Security c£300m

The c£300m Operational Telecommunications and Security Contract is to design, manufacture, supply, installation, safety authorisation, testing, commissioning and maintenance (until take-over by the HS2) of the operational telecommunication systems and the route wide security systems. Will Include:

Data transmission network (DTN)

Operational telephony system (OTS)

Tunnel radio system (TRS)

Telecommunication masts

GSM-R radio network, including base transmission stations (BTS), antenna, etc.

Relocatable equipment buildings (REBs)

Route wide security systems

Passive provision for Airwave

Third Party Telecommunications c£100m will include:

Passenger communication systems, based on mobile network operator (MNO) technology in stations and along the line of route (including base station hotel, radio transmitter equipment, tower antenna and provision of service).

Emergency services network (ESN), including base station hotel, radio.

Transmitter equipment, tower antenna and provision of service. The Third-Party Telecommunications Contractor will be responsible for the delivery of the ESN service on the HS2 infrastructure.

The station data network (including network device, WI-FI access points, configuration, management communication service and external services).

Non-rail/rural communications (including commercial management and configuration of non-rail services).

Work Situation – Hybrid

The office location is Birmingham Snowhill or London Euston (your choice) they operate a flexible hybrid working model with plans to be working 2 days a week from the office.  Overall, this is a very flexible modern employer who cares about delivery not where you deliver from, however, if you wish to be based front the office more you can.

Birmingham                  £75 – 81,780.00 + Pen (6:12) + health + 25 days (Potentially up to £85,500)

London                         £85 – 94,560 + Pen (6:12) + health + 25 days (Potentially up to £99,000)

Duties & Responsibilities

• Responsible for coordinating technical assurance, as per the HS2 assurance requirements, checking and coordinating the submission of assurance evidence for technical stage gates.
• Responsible for coordinating the acceptance of the design, construction and commissioning of assets comply with the technical and sponsor requirements and applicable standards, specifications and procedures.
• Undertaking duties in supporting the Lead Telecoms Project Engineer in discharging their duties of NEC3 Supervisor.
• Undertaking duties in supporting the Lead Telecoms Project Engineerin discharging their duties of Principal Designer Representative as mandated within the Construction Desing Management (CDM) Regulations 2015.
• Providing guidance on design solutions for the asset, promoting use of best practice and innovative engineering techniques, technologies and processes, driving consistency and identifying opportunities for efficiencies within the Telecoms team.
• Engage with technical specialists to support appropriate and cost balanced mitigation strategies and solutions, contributing to successful system integration.
• Provide technical co-ordination and integration of the Telecoms railway systems contracts with other interfacing contracts, station contracts, main works civils contracts and others.
• Support the management and effective communication of engineering issues or change affecting railway systems.
• Oversee the identification, communicating, and managing technical risks and assumptions.
• Management of interface management tools used to enable effective system integration of Railway Systems and other neighbouring contracts.
• Actively promote and embed Equality Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) in all your work, and support

Required Criteria

You will be a qualified Engineer, likely to be Electrical / Telecoms but open to other related disciplines and have Telecommunication / Comms project delivery experience on major rail infrastructure projects, project such as HS2, Crossrail, Network Rail OR LUL.  Open to candidates from a Principal Contractor, Client or Consultant background – will have Principle Design Experience. 

You will have experience as Project Engineer / Design Manager / Engineering manager with delivery experience and will be well versed in Design Assurance, CDM, NEC3 contracts & discharged duties of a Principal Designer.

You will be a strong communicator & capable of stakeholder managing a wide variety of third parties, advising internal stakeholders & supply chain including the Telecoms contract main contractors.

You will have leadership experience with a track record of managing, mentoring and developing successful teams.

SKILLS

• Ability to identify complex problems and review related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
• Gather and synthesise information, identify options and apply judgement based on logic during decision making.
• Provide technical support and leadership (based upon delegated authority levels) on technical and engineering principles and seek further guidance from various disciplines and Subject Matter Expert.
• Management of Digital Engineering tools, procedures and systems for the development designs and during construction, testing and commissioning.
• Ability to lead multiple interfaces of a complex system and bring together the various components of the system successfully to achieve the required outcomes.
• Ability to use a variety of analytical approaches to provide relevant information to suppliers, stakeholders and decision makers using key facts and data.

KNOWLEDGE

• Relevant domain experience in Telecoms design, installation and Testing & Commissioning.
• Application of technical standards, both national and international which apply to Telecoms Systems.
• Application of risk identification and management.
• Applicable UK construction regulations including CDM requirements.
• Working knowledge CSM-RA regulations.
• Understanding of the Regulatory/Legislative Framework relevant to the Railway industry and Telecoms engineering.
• Commercial awareness including understanding of cost delivery, schedule targets and the need to deliver an integrated solution that meets all requirements.
• Chartered Engineer/Membership (desirable) of an appropriate professional institution or working towards with the equivalent experience.
• Relevant domain knowledge in Telecomsincluding design, installation and Testing & Commissioning. Design & Installation project lifecycle experience essential.

TYPE OF EXPERIENCE

Experience in managing multi-disciplinary engineering and safety standards, including assurance activities on large complex projects.

Experience managing competing project and engineering demands, with cost and schedule implications.

Experience of Telecoms design, construction and handover challenges within complex delivery programmes.

Experience in working as part of a multi-disciplinary matrix delivery organisation.

Relevant domain experience in Telecoms including design, installation and Testing & Commissioning.

Experience in undertaking or directly supporting CDM duties associated with Principal Designer and/or Designer.