Salary £45,312 - £54,660
Location Crewe
This is a permanent, full time vacancy that will close in 21 days at 23:59 BST.
The vacancy
Technical Materials Lead
Location: Crewe
Reporting to: Reliability & Continuous Improvement Engineer
About the role
We are looking for a technically minded engineer to join our Rail Division as a Technical Materials Lead.
This is a key engineering role focused on improving fleet reliability and maintenance performance through effective material management, engineering data analysis and technical decision-making. You will take ownership of Bills of Materials (BOMs), critical spares strategies, obsolescence management and supplier engagement, helping to ensure the right components are available at the right time to support our rail operations.
Working closely with Reliability Engineers, Procurement, Maintenance teams and suppliers, you will use engineering expertise and data-driven insights to drive continuous improvement, improve asset performance and reduce downtime across the fleet.
What you’ll be doing
Leading the management and accuracy of Bills of Materials (BOMs) across the rail fleet, ensuring alignment with planned maintenance and overhaul programmes
Ensuring critical spare parts are available to support maintenance requirements and minimise Mean Time to Repair (MTTR)
Acting as the technical interface between Engineering, Procurement and Material Handling teams
Validating and approving like-for-like replacement components through drawing review, standards compliance checks and First Article Inspection (FAI), escalating non-equivalent solutions to Engineering for assessment.
Providing technical input and engineering support for new projects, contracts and fleet initiatives
Monitoring component reliability and analysing trends to identify recurring failures and opportunities for improvement
Supporting Root Cause Analysis (RCA) investigations through the provision of materials, cost and performance data
Collaborating with engineering teams to drive design improvements and maintenance enhancements
Developing and maintaining warranty management processes and ensuring supplier claims are effectively managed
Optimising inventory levels using reliability and maintenance data to balance cost, risk and availability
Leading obsolescence management activities, including alternative sourcing and lifecycle planning strategies
Supporting continuous improvement initiatives by identifying improved materials, suppliers and engineering solutions
Producing data-driven reports and KPIs to support performance monitoring and decision-making
Building strong relationships with suppliers, customers and internal stakeholders to drive operational excellence
Training & development
At NTS, we are committed to helping our engineers develop and grow:
Exposure to fleet reliability, asset management and continuous improvement activities
Opportunities to develop expertise in obsolescence management and lifecycle engineering
Support towards Lead Auditor qualifications (ISO 9001 / 14001)
Ongoing development in engineering analysis, inventory optimisation and supplier management
Access to training in maintenance systems, asset management and inventory control processes
Who we’re looking for
Experience
Experience within an engineering, maintenance or asset management environment
Experience of rail vehicle maintenance or a comparable heavy engineering industry
Experience analysing reliability, maintenance or performance data
Experience driving process improvements within technical or operational environments
Experience working with suppliers and cross-functional stakeholders
Experience supporting engineering decision-making through technical and commercial analysis
Knowledge
Strong understanding of engineering maintenance practices and asset reliability principles
Knowledge of Bills of Materials (BOMs), inventory management and engineering documentation
Understanding of reliability analysis and performance monitoring techniques
Knowledge of obsolescence management and component lifecycle planning
Awareness of rail industry standards and regulatory requirements (e.g. RISAS, ISO)
Understanding of continuous improvement methodologies such as Lean and Six Sigma
Familiarity with procurement and supply chain processes
Skills & behaviours
Strong engineering and analytical problem-solving capability
Excellent attention to detail and commitment to technical accuracy
Advanced data analysis and reporting skills, including Excel and Power BI
Strong communication and stakeholder management skills
Ability to influence decisions and build effective relationships across multiple functions
Commercial awareness and ability to balance cost, risk and operational performance
Proactive approach to continuous improvement and innovation
High standards of integrity, compliance and safety awareness
Ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver results in a fast-paced environment
Why NTS?
At NTS, our people are trusted to perform, supported to grow and encouraged to be curious and innovative. We create an environment where you’re given the freedom to do your job well, the support of a strong team, and the opportunity to help shape the future of safe and reliable rail operations.
The Kind of People We’re Looking For
We’re interested in who you are, not just what’s on your CV.
You’re likely to thrive at NTS if you:
Take ownership of your work and enjoy being trusted to deliver
Are collaborative, approachable and naturally supportive of others
Care about doing the right thing, in the right way
Are curious and motivated to learn, improve and grow
Communicate openly and act with integrity and respect
Are comfortable working in a purpose-driven, safety-critical environment
You don’t need to tick every box on day one — we value potential, attitude and alignment with our culture just as much as experience.
Benefits
30 days holiday plus 8 bank holidays
Buy / Sell annual leave
Health Shield
Nuclear Pension Scheme
Hybrid working
Family-friendly policies
Bonus
Professional development and career progression opportunities
The company
We are the leading global provider of safe, secure and reliable nuclear transport solutions that make the world safer and more sustainable.
As part of the UK’s Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, we support the largest environmental restoration programme in Europe, and we use our specialist transport and logistics expertise to help customers and partners around the world solve their own complex challenges.
Benefits
Attractive
salary
Fantastic
pension scheme
Training and
development
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Generous
leave entitlements
Flexible
working
Healthcare
scheme
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