Vehicle Systems Engineer (Mechanical)
Location
London
Job Type
Permanent
Hours
9-5 Monday to Friday
About RSSB
RSSB is an expert body that helps the rail industry collaborate to continuously improve
and meet future challenges. It spans the whole railway, including in its membership
infrastructure companies, train and freight operators, rolling stock owners and suppliers
to the industry. RSSB supports rail in the areas of safety, standards, knowledge,
innovation and a wide range of cross-industry schemes.
The role
The railway is a complex system with multiple interfaces delivered by many different
organisations. At RSSB we bring these different organisations together to make
collective decisions, supporting our members to achieve their objectives of improving
safety, performance and value for money. We span the whole system; our members
include infrastructure companies, train and freight operators, rolling stock owners and
suppliers to the industry.
A key element of our activity is fulfilled by a programme of work concerned with
standards.
This requires the facilitating of industry decisions on standards, managing revisions to
GB standards and supporting development of European standards. The standards
programme involves application of RSSB’s expertise in areas including specialist
engineering, research, risk and interface cooperation. Our work involves close
collaboration, but as technical experts we’re also able to step back and provide an
informed view. And because we can see both the big picture and the detail, we’re able
to furnish the industry with the information and tools it needs to continuously improve.
The purpose of this specific role is to act as RSSB’s nominated expert in areas concerned
with vehicle mechanical systems (bogies, wheelsets, suspension systems, couplers and
gangways). The post-holder contributes to delivery of the standards programme,
support of the innovation, research and development programmes, provision of
specialist advice within RSSB and to enquiries from industry.
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Accountabilities
 Provide a level of understanding of vehicle mechanical systems to ensure that the
range of RSSB’s work in this field is technically satisfactory to internal and external
stakeholders1, including specialists in other fields.
 Provide input to European and international decision-making bodies, to ensure that
the GB position is represented, communicated and incorporated.
 Communicate expertise effectively on matters concerning vehicle mechanical
systems, to ensure that decisions can be reached and issues can be resolved within
agreed timescales by technical and non-technical stakeholders.
Nature and scope
The Vehicle Systems Engineer (Mechanical) provides expertise, develops understanding
and gains consensus by applying sound engineering principles to conventional and
innovative technologies and ensures that this particular area of railway technology
interfaces effectively with other systems and with the operational railway as a whole. A
demonstration of flexibility and willingness to become involved in related areas of work
in RSSB would be beneficial.
The scope of the role of Vehicle Systems Engineer (Mechanical) includes:
 Applying technical principles concerning existing technology for bogies, wheelsets,
suspension systems, couplers and gangways, taking into account reliability,
maintainability and system integrity requirements;
 Possessing an understanding of the mechanical interfaces between constituent
systems on rolling stock, and between rolling stock and infrastructure;
 Maintaining expertise in specialist area, being aware of innovative technologies and
their potential railway application to support the industry’s objectives;
 Actively participating in consensus-based activities including GB standards
committees and system interface committees, European and international standards
committees and their GB ‘mirror’ working groups;
 Influencing the future direction of European standards in specialist area to enable
their use directly for the GB network;
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 Appreciating the range of approaches to system safety philosophy adopted by
railways in different countries;
 Ensuring that timescales agreed with stakeholders are met by working closely with
the Project Manager to set priorities;
 Provide informed buyer advice when external resources are needed, checking the
quality of product from bought in resources.
This role reports to RSSB’s Professional Head of Rolling Stock.
Requirements
Essential
 Educated to degree level or equivalent,
 A member of a recognised professional institution,
 Qualified to (or working towards) chartered status or equivalent,
 IT literate (Microsoft Office),
 Familiar with the principles of safety management,
 Competent in applying appropriate decision criteria.
If you’re keen to fulfil your potential in the rail renaissance by joining us at RSSB, then
please email your CV and covering letter quoting reference RSSBVSM1 to
vacancies@rssb.co.uk.
You can find out more about RSSB by visiting our website at www.rssb.co.uk.
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