MEP Electrical Engineer – Rail Sector Lead

MEP Electrical Engineer – Rail Sector Lead Overview

This role sits within Arup’s building engineering practice, with a strong focus on transport and rail projects. It is aimed at an experienced MEP engineer who can take a senior technical and delivery leadership role on complex schemes in the Midlands, across the UK, and internationally. The work spans projects from early feasibility through to completion, and includes major rail and transport developments such as stations, depots and aviation-related transport facilities.

You would be expected to help shape and lead the delivery of rail-sector MEP work, bringing technical authority, project leadership and client-facing confidence. The position involves close collaboration with Arup’s transport specialists and other internal disciplines to produce coordinated, practical and commercially sound design solutions. In addition to technical delivery, the role also contributes to business development, bid support, team capability building and the wider growth of Arup’s rail offering.

What you would do

• Take the lead on multidisciplinary design teams from project start-up through to handover, ensuring the work is coordinated and delivered to a high standard.
• Direct MEP design production for rail and transport schemes, using the standards and requirements associated with major clients and programmes such as HS2, Transport for London, Network Rail and Crossrail.
• Oversee design assurance activities so that outputs comply with the relevant rail-sector processes and governance requirements.
• Provide electrical technical leadership where needed, with the option to act as the project’s Electrical Technical Advisor.
• Work across Arup’s internal teams, including the Transport group, to create joined-up design solutions that respond to client needs.
• Plan and manage design programmes and resources alongside the rail programmer and the wider project team.
• Support the Transport Lead in preparing bids and developing new business, while also helping to strengthen the team’s rail-sector skills and resourcing.
• Stay current with legislation, standards and regulations relevant to the role and the sector.
• Work with the Project Director to help deliver projects successfully from a commercial perspective, with attention to budget, programme, quality, safety and key milestones.
• Communicate clearly with clients, project managers and colleagues about progress, risks, issues and mitigation actions.
• Encourage knowledge sharing, adaptability and continuous improvement within the team.
• Support the development of colleagues so the team can continue to deliver a high-quality service.
• Represent the design team in discussions with clients and contractors throughout the design and construction process.

What Arup is looking for

• A Chartered Mechanical Engineer or Chartered Electrical Engineer with strong MEP design capability across multiple disciplines.
• Electrical engineering experience is preferred, particularly for candidates who may take on technical advisor responsibilities.
• Substantial experience delivering transport or rail projects in a consultancy environment.
• Demonstrated ability to lead MEP design using the standards and procedures used on major rail programmes, including HS2, TfL, Network Rail and Crossrail.
• Strong leadership, communication and collaboration skills, with the confidence to work effectively across teams and with clients.
• Comfortable in a client-facing role and able to represent Arup externally.
• Experience leading engineering teams through all phases of design and construction.
• Ability to manage work involving sub-consultants and to take responsibility for discipline-level leadership on projects.
• Experience contributing to or leading bids to secure new work.
• Ability to balance technical delivery with quality, commercial awareness and service excellence.
• Experience representing the design team in discussions with clients and contractors.
• A collaborative mindset and a willingness to support others in a diverse, multidisciplinary environment.

Team and working environment

The role is part of Arup’s UKIMEA region and building services electrical discipline, with day-to-day work carried out in project groups supported by geographical discipline teams. The wider organisation draws on global skills networks and international project experience, giving team members access to knowledge and research from around the world. The position is intended for someone who enjoys working across disciplines and contributing to major, technically challenging projects with broad regional and global impact.

Arup describes its culture as collaborative, values-led and inclusive. The company emphasises individuality, shared purpose and the opportunity to do work that is socially useful and meaningful to clients and communities. The role is also positioned as one where the successful candidate can help shape the future of the rail-sector offering within the group and across the wider business.

Rewards and benefits

• Competitive pay that is intended to be fair and equitable.
• Profit share as part of the overall reward package.
• Private medical insurance.
• Life assurance.
• Accident insurance.
• Income protection cover.
• Flexible benefits that can be tailored to personal, family and wellbeing needs.
• Access to learning opportunities and development support.
• The chance to contribute to ambitious projects that have a positive social impact.
• A member-owned structure that gives employees a stake in the organisation’s direction and success.

Inclusion, accessibility and application support

Arup states that it is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applicants from a wide range of backgrounds, including different ages, gender identities, marital statuses, disability statuses, neurotypes, mental health backgrounds, races, ethnicities, faiths, sexual orientations, socioeconomic backgrounds and family situations. The company says it actively promotes diversity and inclusion and supports employee networks covering race and cross-cultural working, gender equity, LGBTQ+ inclusion and disability inclusion.

The organisation also says it is committed to making recruitment and the workplace accessible. Candidates who need assistance or reasonable adjustments during the application or interview process, or to carry out the essential duties of the role, are encouraged to contact the named recruiter for support.

If you are interested but not ready to apply, or if you have questions, the page provides a contact email for Aslam Hussain. It also notes that applicants should not send their CV directly to that email address because of GDPR requirements. The page directs candidates to Arup’s recruitment process information for details on what happens next and includes a reminder that Arup will never request payment or bank details as part of hiring.

How to apply

Applications are submitted through Arup Careers using the job’s application link. The page also offers the option to sign up for job alerts and references the organisation’s recruitment process information for further guidance on next steps.

Degree Requirement: Not Specified

Visa Sponsorship May be