Mechanical Lead Engineer
ALSTOM Grid
derby, uk
GBP 55k-55k / year
Req ID: 514175
Location: Derby
Appointment Basis: Permanent
Apply by: 20/05/2026
Salary: circa £55,000 DOE with excellent benefits
At Alstom, we understand transport networks and what moves people. From high-speed trains, metros, monorails, and trams, to turnkey systems, services, infrastructure, signalling and digital mobility, we offer our diverse customers the broadest portfolio in the industry. Every day, 80,000 colleagues lead the way to greener and smarter mobility worldwide, connecting cities as we reduce carbon and replace cars.
Your future role
As a Mechanical Lead Engineer, you will provide technical leadership across multiple scopes and projects, directing onshore and offshore engineering teams. You will be accountable for design quality, compliance, and delivery, leading design reviews and driving validation through mock-ups and simulations.
We’ll look to you for:
Performing mechanical engineering activities in compliance with QCD commitments:
- Quality - Designing products considering project requirements (performance, manufacturability, serviceability, testing, etc). Working to a high standard and applying design rules, processes and tools to achieve acceptance by the customer within committed limits.
- Cost - Working to an agreed budget.
- Delivery - Self-governance of committed deliverables (own deliverables and team deliverables) on project considering applicable instructions/processes and other specific Customer (internal or external) requirements.
Technical:
- Scope areas: Rolling stock saloon interior including floors, ceilings, sidewalls, vestibules and equipment installations; Exterior installations including roof, underframe and bodyside equipment. All scope areas are a mixture of build-to-print and proprietary equipment installations.
- This role will require you to manage and contribute to the design of mechanical engineering solutions from concept to customer acceptance, considering project requirements (performance, manufacturability, serviceability, testing, etc.).
- Your solutions will respect allocated volumes/interfaces (no clashes) and consider critical design elements such as weight, gauge, acoustics, eco design, ergonomics, aerodynamics, installation strategy and maintenance strategy.
Planning/Reporting:
- This role will require you to contribute to project plan and budget creation. You will be asked to report on Mechanical Domain activities progress, anticipating issues (capacity, skills, rule applicability, etc.) and alerting if needed. You will partake in (and lead, in some instances) regular cross-functional team reviews for your scope during concept phase, and actively support Procurement, Industrialisation and Manufacturing teams during production ramp-up.
- You will be responsible for your own deliverables with self-governance being critical. You will be expected to mitigate potential delays effectively and communicate risks and/or blocking points.
Leadership
- As a Mechanical Lead Engineer, you will be required to lead multiple scopes, often across multiple projects. You will be supported as required by Mechanical Engineers, both onshore and offshore. You will be responsible for ensuring the team’s output complies with technical, project and customer expectations. You will lead design reviews and verify the design via mock-ups and/or simulations as required.
All about you:
We value passion and attitude over experience. That’s why we don’t expect you to have every single skill. Instead, we’ve listed some that we think will help you succeed and grow in this role:
- Qualified to Degree level or equivalent experience in Mechanical Engineering.
- Experience in leading others and working as part of a cross-functional team.
- A broad mechanical engineering knowledge, including:
A clear understanding and practical application of:
- 3D parametric modelling using Catia V5 or comparable high‑end CAD systems, and production of 2D detail drawings from full installation level down to individual parts
- Bill of Material (BOM) creation and management, alongside concept design, translating customer requirements into compliant engineering solutions
- 3D/2D and technical document checking and approval to relevant internal/external standards.
- Material selection (steel, aluminium, composites, rubber) and mechanical jointing techniques including bolting, welding, and bonding
- Geometric Dimensioning & Tolerancing (GD&T), tolerance application, and the ability to both perform and approve tolerance stack‑up calculations.
- Understanding of material properties, including risks such as bimetallic corrosion
- Knowledge of manufacturing processes (sheet metal, casting, extrusion, moulding, etc.)
- Clash detection and resolution, structural compliance, and an appreciation of weight management
- Familiarity with ECODESIGN principles, including fire & smoke requirements and ergonomics
- Root cause analysis and fault finding using methodologies such as 5 Why and fishbone analysis
- Strong time management, with a clear sense of urgency and prioritisation
- A structured, organised, and hands‑on approach to engineering tasks
- Clear and effective communication skills, dealing with both internal and external stakeholders
These skills would be beneficial:
- SAP
- Catia V6
Things you’ll enjoy
Join us on a life-long transformative journey – the rail industry is here to stay, so you can grow and develop new skills and experiences throughout your career.
You’ll also:
- Enjoy stability, challenges and a long-term career free from boring daily routines
- Collaborate with transverse teams and helpful colleagues
- Contribute to innovative projects
- Utilise our dynamic, inclusive, and safety-focused working environment
- Steer your career in whatever direction you choose across functions and countries
- Benefit from our investment in your development, through award-winning learning
- Benefit from a fair and dynamic reward package that recognises your performance and potential, plus comprehensive and competitive social coverage (life, medical, pension)
- Up to 52 weeks full maternity and adoption pay
- 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays, with the opportunity to buy or sell holiday
- A wide range of flexible benefits that you can tailor to suit your lifestyle
You don’t need to be a train enthusiast to thrive with us. We guarantee that when you step onto one of our trains with your friends or family, you’ll be proud. If you’re up for the challenge, we’d love to hear from you!
Equal opportunity statement:
Alstom is an equal opportunity employer committed to creating an inclusive working environment where all our employees are encouraged to reach their full potential, and individual differences are valued and respected. All qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by local law.
As a 'Disability Confident' employer, we will interview all disabled job applicants who match the essential criteria of the job description or specification. We will consider flexible working requests for all roles unless operational requirements prevent otherwise.
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