Rail and train senior reliability advisor
The Rail & Train Senior Reliability Advisor supports the assessment, stabilization, and improvement of rail logistics assets, including locomotives, wagons, and associated maintenance and operating systems.
The role focuses on field-based technical evaluations of an ageing fleet, definition of reliability and maintenance strategies, critical review of OEM recommendations, and support to long-term replacement or upgrade decisions. The advisor also evaluates operational and maintenance capabilities and drives competence uplift through targeted training and quality control.
Position Specific Accountabilities
Fleet Condition & Technical Assessment
1. Perform hands-on assessments of locomotive and wagon condition.
2. Identify degradation mechanisms, failure trends, and reliability risks.
3. Challenge and technically review OEM recommendations and proposed modifications.
Reliability & Maintenance Strategy
4. Define maintenance, overhaul, upgrade, or replacement strategies aligned with operational constraints.
5. Support lifecycle cost, risk, and availability trade-off analyses.
6. Contribute to medium- and long-term fleet strategy recommendations.
Quality Assurance & Field Execution
7. Perform QA/QC reviews of maintenance activities and major interventions.
8. Verify compliance with maintenance standards, procedures, and operating windows.
9. Support investigation of recurrent failures and workmanship issues.
People Capability & Training
10. Assess competency levels of operators and maintainers.
11. Define and recommend targeted training and coaching programs.
12. Support capability uplift through on-the-job mentoring and field presence.
Cross-Functional Interface
13. Interface with Operations, Maintenance, Engineering, and external contractors.
14. Provide clear technical recommendations and decision support to management.
Position Specific Authorities
Recommend changes to maintenance strategies, inspection scope, and operating practices.
• Raise and escalate reliability or safety concerns related to rail assets. Date: Reference #:
18/05/2024
• Advise on acceptance or rejection of OEM technical recommendations.
• Recommend training and capability development actions.
Qualifications
• Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical, Electrical, or Industrial Engineering.
• Strong background in rail systems (locomotives, wagons, braking systems, bogies, traction).
• 10+ years experience in rail systems, locomotives and wagons maintenance and reliability.
• Strong hands-on experience in fleet condition assessment and failure analysis.
• Solid understanding of electrical systems, including traction motors, power distribution, sensors and protection systems.
• Familiarity with PLC and control systems for diagnostic, troubleshooting and technical review purposes.
• Proven ability to review and challenge OEM technical recommendations.
• Experience defining maintenance, upgrade or replacement strategies for ageing assets.
• Strong field presence with QA/QC oversight of maintenance and operations.
Ability to assess operator and maintainer competency and define targeted training programs.
• Highly autonomous, structured, and analytical.
• Strong communication skills with operators, maintainers, and leadership.