Principal Engineer

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Job title
: Principal Engineer - Vehicles

Grade
: Band 4

Salary:
Starting from £80,000 + TfL Benefits

Contract type
: TfL, Permanent

Location
: Stratford/Southwark/Various TfL Locations

Opportunities
There are currently two B4 Principal Engineer positions available, however, this recruitment process will also establish a talent pool for future opportunities as they arise. The successful candidate will join one of the following four discipline teams: Mechanical Systems, Electrical Systems, Integrated Systems, or ElectroMechanical Systems. In alignment with our customer demand, the potential areas for initial assignment include, but are not limited to:

• London Trams (Croydon)
• LUE RS Engineering (Southwark, Stratford)
• Major Projects (Southwark, Stratford)

Job Purpose
Principal Engineers apply extensive expertise in the field of engineering which is deployed in the review and resolution of high complex or network-wide technical problems - providing authoritative technical or functional leadership, advice and expertise to senior internal and external stakeholders, interpreting technical strategy and company policy to satisfy business requirements.

You will apply commercial thinking to the development and implementation of solutions, demonstrating a good understanding of the business operation and requirements when formulating solutions and recommendations and providing constructive challenge to deliver the right outcomes for the business.

Key Accountabilities

• Designated Technical Authority (where assigned), developing and maintaining technical or functional strategies, standards and governance for Vehicles Engineering, taking into account cost, risk and quality requirements as specified by the business
• Ensures the safety, functionality or compliance of high risk newly implemented or altered assets, engineering processes, procedures or systems
• Leads the development and implementation of high complexity engineering solutions within the Vehicles discipline, through the provision of subject matter expertise or management / coordination multi-disciplinary engineering teams
• Provides internal and external senior stakeholders with appropriate challenge and professional advice to ensure the development or delivery of high quality, tested engineering solutions
• Represents TfL Engineering as a Subject Matter Expert for their specialism when engaging with suppliers, customers, industry bodies and external agencies, identifying and influencing best practice to enable continuous improvement across TfL
• Specify technical competence requirements for workforce in their stated discipline or function to enable the assignment of the right people and capabilities, acting as a role model/coach to assist in the development of future engineering experts
• Makes authoritative technical recommendations which have a high impact on organisational performance in both the short and longer term
• Evaluates, selects and applies appropriate solutions to high risk/value/complexity engineering problems that improve efficiency or effectiveness, while improving safety and reducing operating costs
• Leads a culture of continuous improvement through the use of best practice, innovation, whole life cost optimisation and effective root cause analysis

Financial impact
The job holder has a very high influence over the deployment of multi-million pound expenditure on major programmes, projects or interventions that may affect the availability and reliability of the transport network and hence a major contribution to the delivery of services to customers.

Key Interfaces

• Heads of Engineering - to understand their technical challenges
• Heads of Profession – for any necessary escalation of staffing or technical issues
• Other Engineering Disciplines – as part of a multi-disciplinary team for engineering services
• Regulatory / Industry bodies, Academia and Suppliers – to influence and gain knowledge of standards, legislation, best practice and innovation
• Contracted Services - Managing the deliverables from engineering consultancies
• HSE - to agree the approach to the management of asset, customer and workforce safety
• TfL Operational Units - to support the safety, reliability and performance of the Transport Network
• Sponsors - to understand their outcome requirements
• Project Managers - providing engineering services to a project

Skills
Skills, Knowledge & Experience

• Ability to represent TfL's interests with external parties e.g. Regulatory bodies, standards bodies and suppliers.
• High level of integrity
• Highly developed ability to act on own initiative
• Highly motivated, with a real passion for personal development

Knowledge

• Sustained record of continuing professional development and contribution to the knowledge base of the profession
• Recognised expert in Rolling Stock/Vehicle engineering
• Good commercial awareness of developments in Rolling Stock/Public Transport Vehicles, processes and assurance best practices.
• Detailed knowledge of relevant TfL, British and International Standards
• Excellent working knowledge of the TfL business, its obligations and priorities
• Thorough knowledge of engineering safety management and its application within the railway/transport system environment

Experience

• Extensive experience of Rolling Stock/Vehicle engineering and its practical application to high value programmes
• Extensive experience of personal responsibility for providing professional engineering support to major projects and maintenance organisation(s), where there are complex interfaces

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. We also use anonymising software that removes identifying information from CVs and cover letters to make the process fair.

Application Process
Please apply using your most recent
CV and Cover Letter.
PDF format preferred and do not include any photographs or images.
Use the latter to tell us how your existing skills, knowledge and experience match the description above and alignment to functional discipline, as shortlisting is carried out on the basis of how well you meet the criteria for the role. Applications without a cover letter will be discounted.

The closing date for applications is Sunday 26th October 2025 @ 23:59
Please note we may close the advert early if we receive a high volume of applicants.
We aim to hold interviews week commencing Monday 17th November 2025
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 but mostly include the below:

• 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
• Private healthcare discounted scheme (optional)
• Tax-efficient cycle-to-work programme
• Retail, health, leisure and travel offers
• Discounted Eurostar travel

Hybrid working
We have a flexible approach to work. TfL Engineering works as an internal consultancy to the delivery areas of the wider business and therefore throughout your time with Vehicles Engineering the level of hybrid or flexible working possible (noting that some assignments may necessitate on-site attendance up to 5 days per week), and location where you might work, will depend on the assignment that your skills, knowledge and experience are matched with.