Job Description

You’ll connect Queensland. We’ll connect you to an amazing career.

Queensland Rail is looking for a technical professional who shares our passion for connecting communities through a world class railway.

The person we are looking for is a highly motivated expert in their field who can lead an organisation through contemporary best practice Systems Engineering; setting expectations and accountability through enterprise-wide Systems Engineering standards.

About the role

Queensland Rail are excited to offer this permanent opportunity for a highly experienced Engineering Professional to join our Discipline Heads team within the Office of the Chief Engineer.

This is a key technical authority role within Queensland Rail working side by side with other Discipline Heads: Track and Structures, Electrical, Signalling, Telecommunications, Rollingstock, Facilities and Business Resilience. As the custodian of the Systems Engineering discipline you will lead and develop Systems Engineering standards and technical specifications, authorising changes against the standards and authorising derogation and departure applications from the projects and the business change. The role includes maintaining accountability of the discipline by overseeing operational alignment to the standards and influencing this alignment through good governance.

Reporting to the Chief Engineer, you will provide expert advice across Queensland Rail's executive leadership. Your professional expertise will shape the organisation by setting expectations through standards. You will influence the organisation through professional relationships you foster at the greater leadership team, and support key stakeholders across Major Projects, Strategic Projects and the broader business.

Core responsibilities

• Review safety legislation, regulation, codes of practice and other standards and modify Engineering Standards to ensure compliance is maintained.
• Authorise the release of new or modified Systems Engineering Standards ensuring they meet or exceed contemporary expectations and are in line with the organisation’s requirements, including alignment with project impacts.
• Support Engineering Directives to address temporary engineering deficiencies or corrections within the Systems Engineering suite.
• Support the governance framework and the Railway Change Control Panel to apply appropriate oversight to Systems Engineering Standards.
• Assure that processes and procedures are in place to manage the monitoring, review and updates to the Systems Engineering Standards.
• Provide advice on Systems Engineering and Systems Assurance to delivery projects
• Authorise departures and derogations against Systems Engineering Standards by assessing and evaluating business and safety risk whilst ensuring contemporary expectations and legal requirements are met.
• Assure that Systems Engineering and Systems Assurance requirements are included in project standards baselines.
• Provide Independent Trusted Advice on safety technical investigations and the associated recommendations.
• Provide thought leadership in technical systems safety assurance and advocate, influence and advise on relevant safety initiatives and imperatives.
• Monitor operational alignment to systems engineering, influence and where necessary intervene to ensure contemporary best practice is maintained and continuously improved.
• Influence, inform and advise the organisation of systems engineering and technical resource capacities and assure that systems engineering resources operate within an approved competency framework.
• Assure that engineering activities undertaken follow a robust and integrated system and safety engineering management system.
• Provide support and trusted independent systems engineering advice to the business on technical issues, risk and legislative matters.
• Keep abreast of emerging technical research and new technologies as they apply to QR to guide and influence the business to maintain a world-class rail network.
• Provide technical mentorship to the QR engineering fraternity and coordinate Systems Engineering activity across Major Projectsand broadly across the QR business (South East Queensland and Regional) through a community-of-practice.

We are looking for candidates who have:

• Extensive knowledge of railway transport operations and the asset management principles that underpin operations, within the context of complex Railway networks and associated Rolling Stock.
• Extensive knowledge of relevant safety legislation, regulatory requirements around rail transport operations and associated contemporary best practices to meet these obligations.
• Expert knowledge in Systems and Software Engineering; the industry standards that define contemporary best practice and associated experience in applying this knowledge in complex railway (or equivalent) environments.
• A current registration as a Registered Practicing Engineer Queensland (RPEQ) or the ability to register through an alternate means (e.g. CPEng).
• At least 15 years’ relevant experience as a qualified professional engineer in an associated engineering discipline.
• The ability to work as a technical authority.
• Strong interpersonal skills and experience working with a range of internal and external stakeholders to produce outcomes
• A high level of skill in developing engineering standards and specifications and associated documentation, processes, and procedures in the area of Systems Engineering.
• A proactive and self-driving nature, with a willingness to cross-pollinate across different disciplines

To be considered for this position you will be required to submit your Bachelor of Engineering qualification which must be JP certified as part of your application.

The Office of the Chief Engineer team is a great place to work and the team have developed a genuine culture of professionalism, trust, caring about what we do, enhancing Queensland Rail’s reputation and looking after each other.

This position is not without its challenges. Your ability to remain calm in an intense and fast paced environment along with your exceptional stakeholder communication skills and ability to prioritise and manage your time will ensure your success in this role.

Please view the Position Description HERE for further information

What we offer

All that Queensland Rail achieves each day relies on the hard work and talent of our teams. That’s why we offer a range of attractive benefits designed to help you bring your best, including:

• Highly competitive base salary plus 12.75% Superannuation
• Balance your work and personal life with flexible working options
• Enjoy free travel to work and discounted rail travel
• QRI Lifestyle offers members access to over 2,000 exclusive discounts and services
• Prioritise your physical, emotional and financial wellbeing with our range of free services
• You and your family can get fit and have fun with access to over 380 gyms and pools with our Fitness Passport
• Eligible employees can receive up to 100% reimbursement for professional membership fees
• Shape your rewarding career with clear pathways, innovative projects and opportunities for growth and leadership.

And more! Click here to see the full range of benefits available to Queensland Rail employees.

Your journey matters. Make it with us.

Join us, where connection counts

If you’re ready to make a real impact and contribute to the future of our organization, we encourage you to submit your resume and cover letter before 11:59 PM Thursday 29th January 2026.

If you reside outside of Queensland, please note that this role requires relocation to Brisbane by your start date, as full-time remote work or fly-in/fly-out arrangements are not supported.

As part of the recruitment process, applicants may be required to undergo pre-employment alcohol and drug testing. The selection process may also include skills assessments, video or phone interviews, psychometric testing, pre-employment health evaluations, and background checks, including criminal history and credit assessments.

Recruitment Agencies We are managing this process internally and do not accept unsolicited applications from agencies.

Supporting a diverse workforce

Queensland Rail acknowledges the Traditional Owners and Elders of the lands and waterways our network traverses.

Our teams are People who Count We encourage diversity in our teams, including different genders, age, race, disability status, sexual orientation, religions, neurodiversity, education levels and many more aspects. No two journeys are the same, and it’s because of our differences that as a collective, we achieve great things.

If you would like to discuss reasonable adjustments in the recruitment process, please contact Kayley Gayton at kayley.gayton@qr.com.au