Network Management Engineer

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About Network Rail

Join Our Team at Network Rail!
Are you ready to make a difference in people's lives? At Network Rail, we connect passengers and freight customers, ensuring safe and efficient transportation across the country. We're an organisation where people truly matter, and when you join us, you matter to us and millions of others. Click here to watch our inspiring video to learn more about us!

We're dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive organisation that reflects the passengers we serve. To achieve this, we're committed to becoming an open, diverse, and inclusive workplace, leveraging the skills and expertise of our talented workforce. Together, we strive to create a safe and accessible railway for everyone. Discover more about the importance of Diversity and Inclusion at Network Rail .

Investing in our people is key to enhancing the safety, reliability, and efficiency of our railway system. If you're passionate about making a meaningful impact, then this opportunity is for you!

About our people and the recruitment process

We're an inclusive employer of choice and we welcome applications from everyone! We encourage our colleagues to work flexibly, as we know traditional working patterns don't always fit. If you want to consider working flexibly, just let us know and we'll do our best to help and invest in your career with us, whilst you have a healthy work-life balance.

We're also a Disability Confident Leader employer and we'll try our best to adapt the process and offer a reasonable alternative to help support people with disabilities access, apply, and interview for roles.

Brief Description

The railway has seen nearly 200 years of technology and innovation that has transformed how we provide services to passengers and freight customers. Technology is continuing to transform the railway industry. Imagine an exciting environment where Digital, Data, and Technology (DDaT) are not just buzzwords but the driving force behind every operation, every decision, and every solution. As part of the DDaT directorate, you have a unique opportunity to enable our customers and industry partners with modern and transformative technology. From the day-to-day IT operations that keep a national railway running, to the extensive delivery programmes that are helping to reshape the railway - we are at the forefront of all of it. We operate with a talented and passionate workforce, fostering empowered individuals and teams who understand that technology is not just a tool - it's the catalyst for progress, especially in an ever-demanding industry where change is a constant.

Get ready to embark on a journey where your skills will not just be utilised; they'll be honed and expanded. You're not just joining a team; you're becoming part of a collective force helping to build and operate a railway fit for the next 200 years!

'I joined Network Rail back in January 2007 within the IT Helpdesk as a Helpdesk Operator. By October 2010 I gained a promotion as a Technical Service Analyst within the IT Helpdesk. Towards the end of 2017 I was ready to move into a position where I was more involved in the Railway itself. That was when I decided to take the chance and apply for the role of Network Management Engineer in Telecoms (FTN). I had many years' experience in IT so it was to be a complete change in career. I was successful in my application and that is where I would see the impact of the Telecoms Network on the smooth running of both passenger and freight trains and the effects it has on 'Putting Passengers First'. Network Rail holds a huge telecoms network that carries everything from Signal Post Telephones to Solid State Interlocking. We manage and maintain over 21000 devices and 50000 services using various Management Platforms. You will get to speak to field technicians all over the country and build some fantastic relationships. Reacting to events, diagnosing faults and getting them fixed still gets me excited. It has exposed me to lots of different areas within the railway including the GSM-R and IP Networks and how they all interlink with the Fixed Telecom Network (FTN) and it is truly fascinating. I have now secured a role as an Optimisation Engineer and the knowledge and experience I have gained as a NME will be a great asset to my new role. I am very much looking forward to this new challenge and the opportunities that it will bring.' - Becci Thursfield-Smith

About the role (External)

Working a 24/7 shift pattern, you will conduct administrative and complex technical activities to progress complaints and network alarms, working directly with remote management platforms and field-based maintainers to restore service and resolve technical failures within agreed operational service agreements, in line with the ITIL Framework and mandated Network Rail standards, highlighting safety-related failures for further processing. You will conduct administrative and technical activities to support the successful delivery of planned work for both operational failures and Investment Project activities. You will coach and mentor technicians to conduct event management of complaints and alarms presented on remote management platforms and provide technical support to field-based maintainers.

What will you be doing?

• Undertake day-to-day surveillance and management of the FTN, including observation, notification & direction of staff, and clearance of faults on the network. Responsibilities will also include SCADA and security monitoring.
• Receive and validate the work information to enable effective capture and management of network elements.
• Coordinate with Network Rail Project commissioning engineers to bring elements under management.
• Interface with Project staff, Alcatel, and maintenance contractors to resolve network issues.
• Process faults on the FTN (Core, Access, P-Mux, HDSL), involving localisation, tasking, access permission, assistance, escalation, clearance, and feedback.
• Document all activities associated with the work, including alarms, test results, DCN details, and connectivity confirmation.
• Coordinate with equipment suppliers and Network Rail groups during integration activities.

What essential skills and experiences are required?

• Experience in transmission & GSM network management.
• Knowledge of SDH, PDH, and DWDM networks.
• Experience in fault finding and resolution of transmission networks, including synchronisation and protection.
• Experience in managing planned maintenance & network interruptions.
• Telecoms qualifications through degree or experience.

How to apply (External)

Salary: Band 5 £34,000 - £36,000 Depending on experience + 15% shift allowance

Location: Stoke TPC Building. Must live within 1 hour of this location.

Working Hours: Shift-based, 18, 12-hour shifts over a 6-week cycle.

Closing date: 4th June. Click apply now to submit your application.

Benefits

We offer excellent benefits, including:
- Generous annual leave (28 days plus statutory days), with buy/sell options.
- Defined benefit pension scheme.
- 75% subsidy on rail and underground season tickets.
- Up to 75% off leisure travel.
- Interest-free travel loan for train and car park season tickets.
- Discounts at stations with your Network Rail pass.
- Flexible/hybrid working arrangements.
- Volunteer leave, healthcare, GymPass discounts, Cycle to work, and more.
- Maternity, paternity, and adoption leave.

All offers are conditional upon pre-employment checks. Further details provided during the process.