Job Description:

Technical Assurance Engineer

We are recruiting for a Technical Assurance Manager to join the HS2 Track infrastructure project at the initial design phase which will run concurrently with the completion of main works contracts, which are now at their peak. The team operate under a collaborative Rail Systems Alliance structure, designed to manage interfaces and resolve any program conflicts. The members will work together on design, access, resources, and logistics to achieve shared goals for cost and schedule.

Work location: Based either London or Birmingham.

Management Responsibility: The Technical Assurance (TA) team are responsible for supporting FBRS’s design delivery by capturing, developing and demonstrating compliance to requirements, facilitating configuration and technical change management, and managing technical assurance activities to achieve self-assured delivery of the project.

Key responsibilities

• The Technical Assurance Manager has overall responsibility for the preparation, implementation and maintenance of the Requirements and Assurance Management Plan (RAMP) and the implementation of the processes and procedures identified therein to deliver technical self-assurance at each HS2 Technical Lifecycle Stage

• The Technical Assurance Manager establishes and maintains the Contractor’s Technical Requirements Baseline, which captures all the input requirements necessary to ensure that the Contractor’s design is produced in accordance with the Works Information, applicable standards, statutory obligations, etc. Manage the identification and decomposition of new and existing requirements.

• Develop a plan, working in coordination FBRS design delivery management and the supply chain, that demonstrates that FBRS, as the first line of defence, has progressively delivered a fully technically assured, self-certified product that: is safe to build, operate and maintain; meets the requirements of HS2 Ltd as defined in the HS2 TAP; is fully integrated; is compliant with the required standards and regulations; has been duly coordinated with the relevant stakeholders; has been verified and validated throughout all technical lifecycle stages; and is robustly evidenced.

• Ensure that sound engineering and V&V result in the production of the integrated evidence, integrating the artifacts from the supply chain, that assures all the stakeholders that the project is on track and will deliver what has been requested.

• Ensures efficient processes and operations to evidence technical requirements, ensuring close coordination with the rest of the FBRS IM and Design Management team to contribute to a timely delivery of the designs in an efficient manner. Promotes streamline processes to achieve these goals.

• Ensures identification of those requirements under the contract that imply achieving specified functions and standards of performance and/or outputs and establishes appropriate specific measures to ensure a robust plan for managing and evidencing them. Monitors the delivery of those requirements including its evidencing and works with design delivery management to identify and establish a plan to manage residual risks.

• Ensure that the assurance evidence is progressively delivered through each project lifecycle. Progressive Assurance is the method used to mitigate the (unacceptable) risk of protracted approval that will delay the acceptance of the works.

• Also ensures there is a process in place to manage Undertaking & Assurances (U&As) within the Design team, and to interface with others in FBRS which are in charge of U&As. Monitors the delivery to the process.

• Ensures there is a process in place for Departures and supports its management (in liaison with Design delivery) as required.

• Facilitates the register and the process for management of variations to the Technical Standards Baseline.

Management of subordinate roles

• Deputy Technical Assurance Lead

• Functional management of Technical Assurance Engineers within FBRS design delivery teams

Programme and Information coordination

• The Technical Assurance Manager shall take an active role in the planning, co-ordination, and submission of all technical assurance activities and the resolution of technical assurance related issues to efficiently deliver a progressively self-assured product to timely achieve Level 3 certification for each work package to enable the completion of all technical lifecycle stages.

  • Lead review of the quality and completeness of assurance packs and TA artifacts (e.g. Configuration status report, Verification and validation matrix and Level 3 certificates) facilitating completion of project lifecycle stage gate.

  • Lead management of progress reviews, tracking and reporting of assured deliverables and associated certification to meet programme.

  • In coordination with design delivery leads, undertake assessment of Technical Assurance readiness to proceed to interdisciplinary design reviews and project lifecycle stage gates.

  • Lead presentation of stage gate assurance packs for Level 3 lifecycle stage gate FBRS/HS2 acceptance panels.

  • Lead regular progress reviews, tracking and reporting of assured deliverables and associated certification to meet programme.

The Technical Assurance Manager shall:

• Deliver technical assurance communications such as staff briefings and technical assurance awareness training etc.

• Manage guidance and mentoring to design and construction teams on what they have do to achieve HS2 Technical Assurance.

• Contribute to the continued improvement of the technical assurance strategy, processes and systems, capturing lessons learnt.

• Manage collaboratively and effectively with project delivery teams, project leadership, clients, sub-contractors, regulatory bodies and other major stakeholders.

• Attend weekly meetings with the broader design, systems safety and construction teams and client in Birmingham / London.

• Support the client with identifying change, risk and opportunities and constantly striving for efficiencies and cost savings.

Key Skills and qualifications

Degree in Civil or Mechanical Engineering (or related field)

Chartered IMEC, PWA Institute or CEng ICE desirable

Experience in major multi-disciplinary rail projects. Experience in high-speed railway projects, design and build projects, and UK projects will be valuable.

Specific experience in HS2 assurance delivery will be valuable

Proficient in design coordination, design interface management and assurance documentation in railway projects.

Previous experience in a similar role with aligned responsibilities & accountabilities.

Strong communication, leadership and management skills, with a positive and collaborative approach.

Enthusiastic team player, able to listen, understand, engage and motivate, and with confidence to make decisions when required.

Focus on efficiency and driving delivery. Practical experience of harmonising design and quality requirements with buildability.

Please note that this job description does not represent a comprehensive list of activities and employees may be requested to undertake other reasonable duties.

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Ferrovial embraces diversity and inclusion and we see the value in providing equal opportunities to all employees. We are committed to building an inclusive team from a variety of different backgrounds, perspectives and skills so we encourage candidates from underrepresented groups to apply.