Railway and road engineers - there is a boom in Australia

[northshorepom]

If anyone in the UK has a background in roads, rail, infrastructure design and construction, we are on the cusp of a very significant boom taking us through to the mid 2020s on projects that are already committed - and there is more in the pipeline

There are a few forthcoming projects missing from that as well - Sydney Metro West (2021-2028), Parramatta Light Rail, a stack of slightly smaller projects

The industry is already feeling the pinch with salaries escalating and resources hard to find. There are jobs at all levels from field section/site engineers upwards, likewise in design consultancies. Visa rules mean it's much easier for professional (Chartered) engineers to make the cut but plenty of work for trades too. Particularly niche specialists like signalling electricians & testers

Worth searching on Seek or similar to see what's out there or approaching companies, particularly if you have a history with any of those operating here. This applies for design engineers the most as the consultancies are mostly global these days and the same ones operate here as do at home, by and large - Jacobs, WSP, Mott MacDonald, Arup, Atkins, AECOM etc. The only big ones you might not be familiar with would be GHD, Aurecon, SMEC.

Tier 1 contractors in all sectors here are basically Lend Lease, John Holland and CPB Contractors. In rail you can add Laing O'Rourke to that list and McConnell Dowell if you were feeling particularly generous. In roads add Fulton Hogan, BMD, Seymour White (VINCI). There's a bit of international involvement with Salini, Bouygues, Acciona, Ferrovial but not much. All states have regional contractors at the next tier down

In the rail systems space the big players are UGL and Downer, both locals, plus the international tech providers like Siemens, Alstom and Ansaldo

It's harder for companies to hire on temporary visas than it used to be but the industry is going to have to get some experienced people from elsewhere as well as train up because there's too much on.

Anyone with experience of mega projects (like London's Crossrail) might be particularly well placed. Sydney Metro, Melbourne Metro and Brisbane Cross River Rail (if it happens, the other two definitely are) need way more people with experience of multi-project programmes than are here on the ground

Look at some of these:

https://www.sydneymetro.info/

http://metrotunnel.vic.gov.au/about-the-project

https://www.crossriverrail.qld.gov.au/

https://www.westconnex.com.au/

http://westgatetunnelproject.vic.gov.au/

https://inlandrail.artc.com.au/

http://www.pta.wa.gov.au/projects/current-projects/metronet

http://www.canberra-metro.com.au/

http://www.parramattalightrail.nsw.gov.au/

[Nergs]

My husband works as a test tech on hitachi rail here in the uk. We have permanent residency visas and he a looking for opportunities closely related in oz- but it’s where to go! Are there any specific recruiters for rail or is approach companies direct?

 Thanks

Catherine.

[Melb2016]

A lot of opportunities in Melbourne.

[Nergs]

Ooh that sounds great, thanks!

[jgt]

builder in perth with over 30 years in construction. got my diploma,working at heights, first aid, asbestos removal. looking for a change, aything considered

[Plasticwelshman]

Has anyone been successful in any applications to the links above?

I have worked for network rail who maintain the infrastructure in the UK for the past 15 years and keen to establish whether there are any sponsorship roles available.

Ta

[VERYSTORMY]

12 hours ago, Plasticwelshman said:

Has anyone been successful in any applications to the links above?

I have worked for network rail who maintain the infrastructure in the UK for the past 15 years and keen to establish whether there are any sponsorship roles available.

Ta

Have you established if you are eligible for a visa?