Chief Engineer in EC1

Job Description

Chief Engineer\n\nThe Opportunity\n\nA leading luxury transportation and hospitality operator is seeking an experienced Chief Engineer to join its senior leadership team. This is a rare opportunity to lead the engineering function for a unique fleet of heritage rolling stock, supporting some of the most prestigious luxury rail journeys in the UK.\n\nAs part of a planned succession programme, the successful candidate will work alongside the current postholder during a structured handover period, ensuring continuity of knowledge, operational excellence, and long-term fleet performance.\n\nThis is a confidential appointment and a pivotal leadership role with responsibility for engineering strategy, fleet reliability, compliance, and depot operations.\n\nLocation: London\nWorking Pattern: Monday to Friday, 9:00am–5:00pm (flexibility around start and finish times)\n\nPackage\n\nSalary: £70,000 – £78,000\nUp to 25% bonus\n7% employer pension contribution\n33 days annual leave\nPrivate medical insurance\nEmployee Assistance Programme\nExcellent travel and hospitality-related employee benefits\n\nThe Role\n\nReporting to senior management, the Chief Engineer will be responsible for the engineering management, maintenance, and ongoing development of a specialist heritage rolling stock fleet.\n\nThe role will lead depot operations, oversee maintenance and overhaul programmes, and ensure the fleet is operated safely, efficiently, and in full compliance with all relevant regulatory requirements.\n\nWorking within a high-profile and quality-driven environment, the successful candidate will help shape engineering strategy, improve asset performance, and maintain exceptional standards across the operation.\n\nKey Responsibilities\n\nFleet & Asset Management\n\nLead the engineering management of a heritage rolling stock fleet.\nEnsure fleet availability, reliability, and performance targets are achieved.\nDevelop and deliver engineering strategies, investment plans, upgrades, and improvement programmes.\nDrive asset condition monitoring and long-term sustainability initiatives.\nSupport continuous enhancement of fleet performance and reliability.\n\nMaintenance & Overhaul Management\n\nManage planned maintenance, overhaul activities, and fleet modification programmes.\nOversee major overhaul programmes and associated engineering projects.\nEnsure preventative maintenance plans are effectively developed and delivered.\nManage the sourcing of components, materials, and specialist services required to support fleet operations.\n\nDepot Leadership\n\nLead day-to-day engineering and depot operations.\nManage, develop, and support multi-disciplined engineering teams.\nOversee workforce planning, rostering, and resource allocation.\nFoster a high-performance culture focused on safety, quality, and operational excellence.\n\nSafety, Compliance & Governance\n\nEnsure full compliance with engineering, safety, and regulatory requirements.\nMaintain robust engineering governance and assurance standards.\nPromote a proactive safety culture across all engineering activities.\nSupport internal and external audits and regulatory inspections.\n\nContinuous Improvement\n\nDrive fleet reliability and performance improvement initiatives.\nEnhance maintenance practices and project delivery processes.\nImplement continuous improvement methodologies across the operation.\nMonitor supplier and contractor performance to ensure value and service excellence.\n\nEssential Requirements\n\nApplicants should be able to demonstrate:\n\nSignificant engineering leadership or management experience.\nExperience within rolling stock, rail, transportation, or another asset-intensive engineering environment.\nStrong maintenance, overhaul, and asset management expertise.\nMechanical engineering knowledge and sound maintenance principles.\nRelevant engineering qualifications (Degree, HND/HNC, Chartered Engineer status, or equivalent).\nExperience managing engineering teams and operational environments.\nStrong understanding of safety management, compliance, and engineering governance.\nA proven track record of improving operational performance and delivering continuous improvement initiatives.\n\nSuitable Backgrounds\n\nCandidates may currently be working as:\n\nEngineering Manager\nHead of Engineering\nFleet Manager\nDepot Manager\nRolling Stock Engineering Manager\nMaintenance Manager\nSenior Engineering Manager\nAbout Ford & Stanley Group\n\nFord & Stanley Talent Services Group are in the business of people and performance. Our mission is to create one million better workdays through facilitating great recruitment, leadership and occupational mental fitness.

We support our clients in their most challenging business areas – recruiting, developing and retaining the best talent from shop floor to boardroom.\n\nFord & Stanley TalentWise – Business specialising in blue collar trade & technical services – permanent and temporary.\nFord & Stanley Recruitment – Business specialising in white collar spanning all company functions with specialist verticals within Digital, Rail Engineering, Civils & Infrastructure, General Manufacturing, Supply Chain & Logistics both permanent and contract.\nFord & Stanley Executive Search – Business specialising in Executive Search & Executive Interim Solutions in the UK, North America, Middle East and Europe.\nFord & Stanley Genius Performance – Performance is always accelerated when good people are coached, inspired, trained and focused in the right way.\nFord & Stanley Talent Services Group Ltd is a Disability Confident employer that is committed to a policy of equal opportunities for all opportunity seekers. We shall adhere to such a policy at all times and will review on an on-going basis all aspects of recruitment to avoid unlawful or undesirable discrimination. We will treat everyone equally irrespective , , reassignment, marital or civil partnership status, , disability, , , , or national , or belief or political beliefs and we place an obligation upon all staff to respect and act in accordance with the policy