TARA Compliance Engineer - TARA Compliance Engineer

Overview

Are you passionate about the future of rail transport? Do you want to be part of a team that's shaping the next generation of trains using cutting‑edge technology? Join us as a TARA Compliance Engineer based primarily at our Kirkdale depot on a 12‑Month Fixed‑Term basis. The TARA Compliance Engineer ensures full adherence to the Train Availability and Reliability Agreement (TARA) by overseeing maintenance activities, defect management, work order governance, and quality assurance processes.

The role delivers front line engineering assurance, with a strong presence during night shift operations, supporting the Production Manager and depot teams to ensure trains are prepared for service in line with contractual, technical, and safety obligations.

• Ensure all maintenance activities comply with the TARA contract, focusing on availability, reliability, and service readiness.
• Act as the primary point of assurance for TARA‑related compliance at depot level.
• Support investigations and evidence provision relating to contractual performance, concessions, and failures.
• Ensure all maintenance and rectification work is carried out strictly in accordance with Vehicle Maintenance Instructions (VMI) and approved technical documentation.
• Challenge and escalate any deviations from VMI, ensuring appropriate concession or engineering authority approval is in place.
• Manage and control Faulty But Used (FBU) items in line with TARA and engineering governance.
• Ensure concessions are correctly recorded, tracked, and removed at the earliest opportunity.
• Ensure all work orders accurately reflect the work carried out before closure.
• Verify that repairs are completed to a satisfactory standard, meeting safety, quality, and contractual requirements.
• Work night shifts as required to support the Production Manager and operators during service preparation.
• Provide real‑time engineering decision‑making support to ensure trains are safe, compliant, and fit for service.
• Act as an assurance presence on shift, balancing service delivery pressures with compliance and safety.
• Monitor repeat defects and emerging failure patterns using SRMS and other maintenance systems.
• Escalate trends and risks to Engineering, Reliability, and Production leadership with evidence‑based recommendations.
• Support compliance with relevant quality, environmental, and safety management systems (e.g. ISO 9001, ISO 14001).
• Assist with audits, assurance activities, and continuous improvement initiatives related to maintenance quality and contractual performance.

• BTEC, HNC (or equivalent) in Electrical, Electronic, or Mechanical Engineering.
• Strong understanding of rolling stock maintenance.
• Experience working with maintenance management systems (e.g. SRMS/SAP).
• Proven ability to assess maintenance quality and compliance.
• Excellent communication skills with the confidence to challenge non‑compliance.
• Knowledge of Health & Safety and safety‑critical working requirements.
• Ability to work independently on nights and under operational pressure.
• Meets required medical and safety‑critical standards.
• High attention to detail and strong compliance mindset.
• Collaborative approach within production, Engineering and operations.
• Knowledge of reliability engineering and defect trend analysis (desirable).
• Report writing and data analysis experience (desirable).
• Experience working in a high‑availability, service‑driven rail environment (desirable).
• Full UK driving licence (desirable).

• £48,931.84 starting salary; £51,416.33 per annum upon successful completion of probationary period.
• 36 hours per week.
• Additional 20% shift allowance upon commencement of shift working.
• 25 days annual leave per annum, plus 8 statutory bank holidays.
• Enhanced Maternity Package.
• Enhanced Paternity Package.
• Cycle to Work Scheme.
• Healthshield Cash Plan Membership.
• Defined contribution pension scheme with Scottish Widows.
• Continuous development and growth opportunities within a leading UK rail service supplier.

SRSUK is a proud subsidiary of Stadler Rail AG Switzerland. We deliver high‑class services for our modern trains across the UK, continually growing and innovating to support the future of rail transport.