Profession rail project engineer

Rail project engineers maintain a safe, cost-effective, high-quality, and environmentally responsible approach across the technical projects in railway companies. They provide project management advice on all construction projects including testing, commissioning and site supervision. They audit contractors for safety, environment and quality of design, process and performance as to ensure that all projects follow in-house standards and relevant legislation.

Personality Type

• Realistic / Investigative

Knowledge

• Railway framework legislation

  Know and apply railway framework legislation where requirements for railways in the EU are established. Know legislation that applies to the field of cross-border freight transit.

• Rail construction engineering

  Thoroughly understand the nature of rail construction engineering; understand safety requirements and related security standards and procedures, to ensure that designs optimise constructability and maintainability.

• Statistics

  The study of statistical theory, methods and practices such as collection, organisation, analysis, interpretation and presentation of data. It deals with all aspects of data including the planning of data collection in terms of the design of surveys and experiments in order to forecast and plan work-related activities.

• Rail design engineering

  Thoroughly understand the nature of rail design engineering including electrical, civil and mechanical components. Understand principles of engineering contract management and project management.

Skills

• Have computer literacy

  Utilise computers, IT equipment and modern day technology in an efficient way.

• Carry out navigational calculations

  Solve mathematical problems to achieve safe navigation.

• Apply technical communication skills

  Explain technical details to non-technical customers, stakeholders, or any other interested parties in a clear and concise manner.

• Monitor work site

  Regularly ensure that working conditions on site meet health and safety requirements; ensure that the proposed work will not pose a threat to the physical integrity of others.

• Prepare railway technical studies

  Prepare studies and designs of the railway systems which include analyses of materials, structural strength, construction processes, calculations, schematics, specifications and cost estimates. Examine railway system and facility studies prepared by contractor in order to ensure compliance with the stations, roadways, drainage systems, and other railway structures.

• Promote environmental awareness

  Calculate the carbon footprint of business processes and other practices in order to promote sustainability and to raise awareness for the environmental impact.

• Comprehend financial business terminology

  Grasp the meaning of basic financial concepts and terms used in businesses and financial institutions or organisations.

• Maintain relationship with customers

  Build a lasting and meaningful relationship with customers in order to ensure satisfaction and fidelity by providing accurate and friendly advice and support, by delivering quality products and services and by supplying after-sales information and service.

• Ensure compliance with environmental legislation

  Monitor activities and perform tasks ensuring compliance with standards involving environmental protection and sustainability, and amend activities in the case of changes in environmental legislation. Ensure that the processes are compliant with environment regulations and best practices.

• Design customised maps

  Design maps taking into account the customer's specifications and requirements.

• Make numerical calculations

  Work with numbers and perform complex calculations. An understanding of the basics of maths is crucial.

• Manage tender processes

  Organise the process of writing and designing proposals or bids for tenders.

• Promote innovative infrastructure design

  Throughout the coordination of an engineering project, promote the development of infrastructure that is innovative and sustainable, in line with the latest developments in the field.

• Use different communication channels

  Make use of various types of communication channels such as verbal, handwritten, digital and telephonic communication with the purpose of constructing and sharing ideas or information.

• Assess railway operations

  Review and study existing railroad equipment, facilities, systems and processes in order to improve railway safety and efficiency, increase quality, and reduce costs.

• Maintain relationship with suppliers

  Build a lasting and meaningful relationship with suppliers and service providers in order to establish a positive, profitable and enduring collaboration, co-operation and contract negotiation.

• Follow ethical code of conduct in transport services

  Carry out transport services according to accepted principles of right and wrong. This includes principles of fairness, transparency, and impartiality.

• Comply with legal regulations

  Ensure you are properly informed of the legal regulations that govern a specific activity and adhere to its rules, policies and laws.

• Audit contractors

  Examine and document different industry contractors, in order to determine whether they comply with regulations and standards in relation to safety, environment and quality of design, construction and testing, etc.

• Perform risk analysis

  Identify and assess factors that may jeopardise the success of a project or threaten the organisation's functioning. Implement procedures to avoid or minimise their impact.

• Give instructions to staff

  Give instructions to subordinates by employing various communication techniques. Adjust communication style to the target audience in order to convey instructions as intended.

• Manage railway construction projects

  Manage the overall planning, coordination, and control of a project from inception to completion; this includes maintaining contact with different types of equipment, materials and subcontractors, as related to the railway system, throughout the project.

• Write technical reports

  Compose technical customer reports understandable for people without technical background.

• Liaise with rail experts

  Communicate and cooperate with bridge, geotechnical, materials experts, architects, etc.

• Manage budgets

  Plan, monitor and report on the budget.

• Maintain financial records

  Keep track of and finalise all formal documents representing the financial transactions of a business or project.

Optional knowledge and skills

Source: Sisyphus ODB