Managing Consultant, Traction Power

About us

Network Rail shares its expertise with the world’s rail owners and operators through Network Rail Consulting (NRC). We understand the institutional, regulatory, technical, policy and strategic issues of running a railway in the 21st century.

We know how to operate a network, manage its assets, and deliver renewal and enhancement programs whilst minimising the disruption to passenger and freight services.

What makes us different from other consultants is that our people have genuine hands-on experience in solving the challenges you face in the real world of rail operations. We are rail professionals operating and maintaining one of the world’s leading railway systems who want to share our expertise, experience, and passion for the job.

We have been active in the Australian, Canadian, Middle Eastern and United States markets since 2013 and have successfully delivered over 200 consultancy contracts for government, public and privately owned organisations, and for passenger and freight owners and operators, achieving consistently excellent levels of client satisfaction.

Our advice covers the full range of the project life cycle, from concept, project development and delivery through to operations and maintenance.

Our work is driven forward by our values: agile, always safe, care about people, collaborative, impartial and passionate.

We offer a competitive and flexible employee experience, including:

• Competitive Salary
• Health, Dental and Vision Cover
• Life Insurance
• Pension Scheme
• 25 Days’ Annual Leave Plus Public Holidays
• Flexible Working Arrangements
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Learning and Development Support

Hybrid Working

We work on a hybrid basis, splitting time between our Toronto office on University Avenue, our homes and client sites, depending on business needs.

About the role

Due to continued growth, we are hiring a rail traction power professional to join our team in Canada on a permanent full-time basis as a Managing Consultant – Traction Power.

As a hands-on consultant, you will play a key role in the delivery of high-quality advice and solutions across complex rail projects and advisory commissions in Canada.

In this role, you will travel to Edmonton for several days each month to work on-site with our client. For the rest of your time, you will split your time between our Toronto office and your home.

This is an exciting opportunity to join NRC and play a key role in delivering complex rail projects and advisory services in Canada. You will work closely with clients and colleagues to provide practical expertise, solve complex challenges and help deliver high-quality outcomes across a range of programmes.

You will also work alongside experienced rail professionals from around the world, including Network Rail colleagues on secondment from the UK, gaining insight from one of the world’s most established railway systems across major projects.

Key Accountabilities

In this role, you can expect to be doing the following:

• Build trusted relationships with clients, delivery partners, operators and technical stakeholders, providing practical traction power advice that supports safe and successful rail programmes.

• Shape traction power strategies and requirements, translating service plans, rolling stock needs and network constraints into clear, deliverable solutions.

• Lead and review technical studies covering power demand, load flow, voltage performance, regeneration, short-circuit, earthing and bonding, stray current and system resilience.

• Develop and assure solutions for substations, switching stations, feeder and return systems, overhead contact systems, protection, control and SCADA interfaces.

• Coordinate interfaces across traction power, rolling stock, track, signalling, communications, civil works, utilities, depots, stations, operations and maintenance.

• Support design assurance, systems integration, testing, energisation, commissioning and operational readiness, identifying risks early and driving proportionate solutions.

• Review asset condition, failures and performance information, recommending improvements to reliability, availability, maintainability, energy performance and asset life.

• Lead consultancy proposals and assignments, managing scope, deliverables, resources, programme, costs and risks while supporting multidisciplinary teams and identifying further client opportunities.

Qualifications and Experience

To be successful in this role, you will typically demonstrate the following:

• A degree in electrical engineering or a closely related discipline, or equivalent practical expertise gained in traction power engineering.

• Substantial traction power experience across passenger rail, metro or light rail, with a background in design, delivery, assurance, operations or asset management.

• Strong technical knowledge of AC and/or DC traction power systems, including substations, switching stations, feeders, return circuits, protection and control, earthing and bonding, and SCADA interfaces.

• Experience reviewing traction power studies, calculations, modelling outputs, designs, specifications and technical assurance evidence.

• A clear understanding of how traction power interfaces with overhead contact systems, rolling stock, track, signalling, communications, civil works, utilities, depots, stations, operations and maintenance.

• Experience working with relevant codes, standards, utility requirements and railway safety practices in a regulated rail or transit environment.

• Strong consultancy, stakeholder and communication skills, with the confidence to lead assignments, challenge constructively and explain complex technical matters clearly.

• Canadian rail or transit experience, eligibility for Professional Engineer registration, and experience of major brownfield, renewal or network expansion programmes would be advantageous.

Apply

Interested in this opportunity? Apply today and our Talent Acquisition team will review your application in due course. If your experience aligns with the role, a member of our team will be in touch.

The closing date for this vacancy is 3rd November.

Applicants must already be legally authorised to work in Canada. We are unable to provide immigration sponsorship for external candidates for this role. Separate mobility arrangements apply to eligible current Network Rail Infrastructure Limited employees.

Equal Opportunity and Inclusion

NRC is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates regardless of race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national or ethnic origin, disability, family status, marital status, Indigenous identity, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

NRC is committed to providing accommodation for candidates with disabilities throughout the recruitment process and in employment. If you require accommodation at any stage of the application or interview process, please let us know.