Principal Engineer (PRAMS)

Systra
Systra

Reading, UK · London, UK · Edinburgh, UK · Manchester, UK · Glasgow, UK · Bristol, UK · Leeds, UK · Birmingham, UK · Newcastle, UK

Posted on Jul 3, 2026

Around the world, SYSTRA’s specialists plan, design, integrate, test, commission, project manage and deliver mass transit and mobility solutions that are relied on by more than 50 million people every day.

For more than 60 years, the Group has been committed to helping cities and regions contribute to their development by creating, improving and modernising their transport infrastructure with sustainability, accessibility and innovation at the heart of our designs. With over 10,300 colleagues globally and around 1000 in the UK & Ireland we are growing significantly and seeking out the very best talent to join the SYSTRA signature team and be part of leading the way in infrastructure design.

Context

Our Systems Engineering and Assurance discipline includes leading experts in Systems Engineering, System Safety, Cybersecurity, Software Assurance, Human Factors/Ergonomics and PRAM. We wish to further expand this capability through augmenting our current PRAM capability to include further expertise in PRAM engineering analysis techniques and the application on UK mainline and metro projects.

The role of Principal Engineer (Performance, Reliability, Availability and Maintainability) within the Systems Engineering & Assurance discipline will be key to enabling this capability growth. Individuals interested in such a role require a strong foundation in Performance and Reliability analysis and the development of reliability cases, ideally within the transportation industry.

Missions/Main Duties

The role will be varied and primarily comprise of:

  • Developing effective strategies to ensure the reliability, availability and maintainability of products, systems and applications as required by our clients (Including Network Rail, LU, Heathrow Airport, HS1, HS2 and similar overseas organisations).
  • Defining and analysing performance and reliability requirements relating to the mainline and metro rail projects.
  • Carrying out PRAM requirements capture, analysis, modelling, prediction and demonstration of designs including managing interfaces in relation to PRAM matters.
  • Monitoring system design and implementation to produce PRAM analysis material that provides sufficient evidence to demonstrate that the system has been developed and configured to meet the PRAM requirements throughout the whole lifetime of the System of Interest.
  • Developing PRAM arguments and Performance/Reliability/Maintainability cases in line with current best practice, including relevant legislation, standards (e.g. CENELEC 50126/50128/50129, the Common Safety Method (CSM), NTSNs etc.) to gain railway authority approval

  • Reviewing Performance, Reliability, Availability, Maintainability and Safety (PRAM) deliverables to verify that the design will meet the requirements and adhering to the processes established for the successful delivery of a project/solution.
  • To define and implement a concise and auditable ‘One Systra approach’ approach for the identification of PRAM requirements, their implementation, and the demonstration of compliance with those requirements
  • Guiding others in implementing the PRAMS processes, strategy and requirements through working closely and upskilling peers within the Systems Engineering and Assurance discipline.

Profile/Skills

The suitable candidate will have proven and broad ranging experience coupled with commercial acumen and a desire to lead the development of this capability within an established design consultancy. Thus, we are looking for someone with the following knowledge and experience:

Essential requirements for the role include:

  • Understanding and application experience of PRAM management and PRAM engineering processes such as PRAM planning, PRAM analysis, PRAM requirements capture, Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMECA), FRACAS and production of PRAM Demonstration reports
  • Competency in applying Performance, reliability, availability and maintainability (PRAM) practices, such as reliability block diagram, failure mode effects and criticality analysis and fault/event tree analysis, among others.
  • Previous experience in the UK rail industry with respect to PRAM management of turnkey mainline or mass transit railway projects
  • Knowledge of systems engineering concepts and processes, including project lifecycle delivery and applicable standards.
  • Experience of applying multiple methods to convey and integrate PRAM concepts, results and design implications to clients.
  • A good understanding of the impact and potential consequences of PRAMS planning, cost modelling and delivery.

Desirable requirements for the role include:

  • Experience with CENELEC 50126/50128/50129 and IEC 61508 standards
  • Experience of DOORS Requirements Management Databases
  • Experience of configuration management methods/tools

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