Senior Rail Alignment Engineer

Reports to: Technical Director/Rail Technical Lead

Purpose:

• The Senior Rail Alignment Engineer will lead the planning, development, design, optimisation and technical coordination of railway alignments for major rail infrastructure projects in Singapore. The role requires a specialist with strong knowledge of local rail design requirements and approval processes, together with advanced proficiency in recognised rail alignment design and modelling software.
• The successful candidate will provide technical input throughout the project lifecycle, from feasibility studies and option development through detailed design, authority submissions and construction support. The role will involve close coordination with civil, structural, geotechnical, trackwork, stations, tunnels, depots, rail systems and architectural teams.

Key Responsibility Area:
1. Rail Alignment Planning & Design

• Lead horizontal and vertical railway alignment design for MRT, metro and other urban rail projects.
• Develop and assess alignment options from feasibility and concept stages through preliminary and detailed design.
• Design and optimise horizontal geometry, vertical profiles, transition curves, cant or superelevation, track centres, clearances, turnouts, crossovers and junction arrangements.
• Coordinate alignment interfaces with stations, platforms, tunnels, shafts, viaducts, bridges, depots and depot throat arrangements.
• Optimize alignments considering constructability, land constraints, existing infrastructure, utilities, geotechnical conditions, operational requirements, safety and whole-life performance.
• Prepare and review alignment plans, profiles, setting-out data, design reports, specifications and associated technical documentation.
• Undertake design checking and technical reviews appropriate to the level of appointment.

2. Singapore Rail Project Delivery

• Apply practical knowledge of Singapore rail infrastructure design, delivery and approval requirements.
• Coordinate with station, tunnel, viaduct, depot, civil, structural, trackwork and rail systems teams to resolve geometric and interface constraints.
• Support interfaces with existing MRT assets, roads, utilities, developments and other affected infrastructure.
• Participate in technical workshops, design reviews and coordination meetings with clients, authorities, contractors and stakeholders.
• Prepare and support authority submissions, technical responses, presentations and design clarifications.

3. Software & Digital Engineering

• Independently develop, manage and review rail alignment models using specialist rail design software.
• Demonstrate advanced proficiency in Bentley OpenRail Designer / OpenRail and Bentley MicroStation.
• Use AutoCAD and Civil 3D for design coordination, drawing production and exchange of civil information, where required.
• Work within controlled digital environments such as Bentley ProjectWise, where applicable
• Coordinate alignment models with multidisciplinary BIM and digital engineering models.
• Maintain alignment configuration, revision control, traceability and design change records

4. Technical Assurance & Quality

• Ensure alignment designs comply with project design criteria, applicable codes, standards, authority requirements and approved technical procedures.
• Review drawings, calculations, models, reports and submissions for technical accuracy, completeness and consistency.
• Identify alignment-related design, safety, constructability and interface risks and develop practical mitigation measures.
• Support design verification, interdisciplinary reviews, technical assurance and quality-control processes.
• Contribute to the improvement of rail alignment workflows, templates, standards and digital design practices.
• Provide technical guidance and mentoring to junior engineers and designers.

Key Competencies & Experience:
1. Professional Experience

• Minimum 10 years of relevant professional experience in rail alignment design, including substantial Singapore or local rail project experience.
• Demonstrated experience on major MRT, metro, railway or comparable urban rail infrastructure projects.
• Proven experience delivering alignment designs from feasibility or concept stage through detailed design and construction support.
• Strong multidisciplinary coordination experience involving stations, tunnels, viaducts, depots, trackwork and rail systems.
• Experience working with Singapore transport authorities, rail operators, consultants or major rail contractors is preferred.

2. Professional Qualifications & Certificates

• Relevant recognised professional registration, qualification or competency certification appropriate to the role and scope of responsibility.
• Registration as a Professional Engineer (Civil) in Singapore, Chartered Engineer or equivalent recognised professional registration is preferred.
• Valid competency certificates or formal training records for specialist rail alignment design software are preferred.
• Relevant BIM, digital engineering, design safety or project-specific rail competency certification would be advantageous.

3. Technical Competencies

• Advanced understanding of railway horizontal and vertical geometry, transition design, cant, clearances and track interface requirements.
• Ability to develop, evaluate and clearly present alternative alignment schemes and recommendations.
• Ability to optimise alignments against engineering, construction, operational, stakeholder and land constraints.
• Advanced proficiency in Bentley OpenRail Designer and strong capability in MicroStation, AutoCAD and Civil 3D.
• Ability to interpret survey, topographical, utility, geotechnical and engineering information.
• Strong multidisciplinary coordination, interface management and technical problem-solving skills.
• Ability to independently prepare and review technical reports, drawings, models and authority submissions.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills in a project and client-facing environment.

4. Personal Attributes

• Technically rigorous, methodical and detail-oriented.
• Able to work independently and exercise sound engineering judgement.
• Collaborative and effective in multidisciplinary design environments.
• Proactive in identifying risks, resolving interfaces and communicating technical issues.
• Committed to engineering quality, safety, professional ethics and continuous improvement.
• Willing and able to mentor junior alignment engineers and designers.

5. Additional Experience

• Singapore MRT alignment design and authority submission experience.
• Underground rail, bored tunnel or cut-and-cover alignment experience.
• Elevated rail and viaduct alignment experience.
• Depot, reception track and depot throat alignment design.
• Station platform, track geometry and rail systems interface coordination.
• Alignment option studies, value engineering and constructability assessments.
• Design-and-build rail project delivery and construction-stage technical support. BIM and common data environment coordination for major infrastructure projects.

Requirements:

• Recognised Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering, Transportation Engineering, Railway Engineering or equivalent.
• Postgraduate qualification in railway, transportation or infrastructure engineering would be advantageous

About WSP Asia
WSP is one of the world's leading professional services firms, uniting its engineering, advisory and science-based expertise to shape communities to advance humanity. From local beginnings to a globe-spanning presence today, WSP operates in over 50 countries and employs approximately 73,000 professionals, known as Visioneers. WSP in Asia's team of 3,500 professionals pioneer solutions and deliver innovative projects across the transportation, infrastructure, environment, building, energy, water, advisory, digital services, project management and mission critical sectors.