Locomotive Fleet Engineer

Join Pacific National – Australia’s largest private rail freight operator

Every day we transport millions of tonnes of critical freight around the country for our customers. We haul coal, intermodal containers, steel, and bulk commodities that keep Australia moving.

About the Role

We’re seeking a proactive and data‑driven Locomotive Fleet Engineer based in Newcastle to lead reliability improvement initiatives and optimise the performance, availability and lifecycle cost of our locomotive assets.

Reporting to the Reliability Engineering Manager, you’ll transform business objectives into practical engineering and maintenance strategies. You will use reliability methodologies (RCM, RCA, FMEA) and data insights to identify failure modes, lead investigations, and ensure corrective actions deliver measurable improvements across MTBF, MTTR and fleet availability.

This role works closely with operations, maintenance, procurement and OEM partners, providing technical direction, supporting modifications and upgrades, and ensuring compliance with all regulatory and safety requirements.

What you'll do

· Lead reliability improvement programs using RCM, FMEA, RCA and reliability analytics.

· Develop and optimise maintenance standards, preventative/predictive strategies and inspection regimes.

· Conduct root cause investigations for failures and drive implementation of corrective actions.

· Partner with operations, maintenance teams, OEMs and procurement to deliver engineering solutions and fleet enhancements.

· Provide engineering oversight for modifications, retrofit and commissioning activities.

· Prepare technical reports, dashboards and analysis to track performance and inform decision-making.

· Coach and support engineering and maintenance teams in reliability practices.

· Ensure compliance with safety, environmental and regulatory requirements.

What you'll bring:

You’re an analytical, collaborative engineer with a passion for reliability, continuous improvement and operational excellence. You bring both hands‑on engineering experience and the ability to influence, guide and uplift capability across multiple stakeholder groups.

· Degree in Mechanical, Electrical or Reliability Engineering (or equivalent).

· 4–8+ years’ experience in reliability, fleet or heavy asset engineering (rail highly regarded).

· Strong understanding of reliability methodologies and metrics (RCM, RCA, FMEA, MTBF/MTTR).

· Experience developing maintenance strategies, standards or governance frameworks.

· Proficiency with data analysis tools and CMMS/reliability systems.

· Excellent communication, stakeholder engagement and problem‑solving skills.

· A commitment to safety, integrity and quality.

Why join us?

At Pacific National we value diversity, inclusion, and the contribution of each team member. Our values underpin our commitment to create an inclusive culture where everyone is accepted.

Some of the benefits we offer are:

· Paid parental leave

· Discounted travel and insurance

· Novated Leasing

· Fitness Passport

· Inclusive, values-driven culture

We live by our Values: Make it Simple, Share More, Kindness, Gratitude, Curiosity, and Own It – helping us build strong connections and do our best work every day.

Ready to deliver what matters? Click ‘Apply Now’ and start your journey with Pacific National. Learn more at: https://www.pacificnational.com.au/careers

Applications Close: 29th March 2026