Duties / Activities
Main Duties:
Managing and developing UIC label and certificates:
– Prospect new markets
– Negotiate and prepare contracts with customers
– Supervise tests (selection of experts, planning, organisation and participation in tests)
– Prepare final reports and issue certificate
Leading Rail System Forum Working Groups related to brake systems:
– Represent the UIC in international technical committees and expert groups
– Lead technical assessments of braking system design, performance, safety and reliability
– Support the development, validation and approval of innovative braking technologies
– Provide expertise in certification, conformity assessment and product approval processes
– Coordinate technical investigations and support root cause analyses related to braking performance
– Interpret and apply European and international railway regulations, standards and technical specifications of its area
– Contribute to the development of technical standards within international standardisation and regulatory bodies (UIC, CEN/CENELEC, ISO, IEC, ERA and other relevant organisations)
Project Monitoring:
– Organise, plan and implement projects of the brake system Working Group in collaboration with UIC members
Other activities:
– Establishes collaborative work with other sectors and UIC departments.
– Assists in the UIC activities through the regional structures.
– Contribute to the development of the Railway System Department: preparation of new project proposals, definition of priorities, strategies, objectives, organizations, planning of schedules, tasks and deliverables, elaboration, and follow-up of production of UIC documents.
Technical areas of action: Project management. Rolling Stock, mechanical and electrical sub-systems and components, maintenance techniques, policies and procedures, maintenance/operation strategies (including predictive maintenance and asset management).
Technical Competencies
– Comprehensive knowledge of railway braking systems for passenger, freight and high-speed rolling stock.
– Pneumatic, electro-pneumatic and electronically controlled braking systems.
– Brake control units, brake blending, anti-slip systems (WSP) and emergency braking.
– Brake performance calculations and stopping distance assessment.
– Braking safety principles and system reliability.
– Functional Safety principles and lifecycle (e.g. IEC 61508, EN 50126, EN 50128, EN 50129).
– Rolling stock interoperability requirements (TSIs).
– European railway regulatory framework and ERA authorisation processes.
– Product certification, conformity assessment and independent verification.
– Product labelling, technical documentation and compliance management.
– Risk assessment methodologies (CSM-RA and equivalent approaches).
– Verification, validation, testing and type approval.
– Failure analysis, reliability engineering (RAMS) and lifecycle management.
– Knowledge of international standards and standardisation processes.
– Systems engineering applied to railway rolling stock.
Job specificities
– High level of autonomy and responsibility.
– High level of communication skills.
– High level of teamwork.
– Work in direct connection with the Railway System Department team.
– Work cross departmental with related Departments.
– Recognised technical leadership and credibility.
– Strategic and systems thinking.
– Strong analytical and problem-solving capability.
– Excellent communication and presentation skills.
– Ability to explain complex technical concepts to different audiences.
– Stakeholder management in international and multicultural environments.
– Negotiation and consensus-building skills.
– Ability to influence technical decisions without direct authority.
– Mentoring and coaching capabilities.
– Results orientation with strong attention to detail.
– Adaptability and continuous learning mindset.
– High level of professional integrity and sound engineering judgement.
Skills required for the position
Professional knowledge and qualities required:
– Engineering School Degree or University studies in Mechanical or Electrical or Railway or equivalent with a master’s degree.
– Extensive knowledge and professional experience of the Railway Sector, of railway braking systems, certification and rolling stock engineering (at least 15 years of experience).
– Motivated, dynamic personality with strong aptitude for teamwork and consensus.
– Proven record of contributing to international standards and technical specifications.
– Demonstrated participation in international standardisation activities is highly desirable.
– Experience with UIC, ERA, Notified Bodies (NoBo), Designated Bodies (DeBo) and Assessment Bodies (AsBo) is highly desirable.
– Participation in international research and innovation projects.
– Experience in safety-critical systems and multidisciplinary engineering teams.
Seniority: Experience in the rail system area is mandatory (at least 15 years).
Languages:
– Fluent in English (spoken and written).
– A second language (French or German) is a plus.
Position in the organisation chart: Rail System Department (RSD)/ Rolling Stock and Energy Sector