Principal Signal Engineer

Connecting Engineering Talent to Queensland Rail

At Queensland Rail, we connect communities, industries and regions across the state by delivering essential services that have kept Queensland moving for 160 years.  

Our core priorities guide everything we do: keeping people safe, delivering exceptional services, strengthening our network, supporting freight, and operating efficiently and sustainably. 

Learn more about Queensland Rail’s purpose, people, and progress – watch our short video here

Principal Signal Engineer - Signalling Systems and Assurance

• Brisbane CBD location
• Permanent full-time role
• Senior technical leadership role supporting safety-critical signalling equipment and systems
• Opportunity to influence the introduction, acceptance and ongoing assurance of signalling technologies across the Queensland Rail network
       

As the Principal Signal Engineer – Signalling Systems and Assurance, you will provide senior technical leadership across Queensland Rail’s signalling systems, supporting the safe introduction, acceptance and ongoing assurance of safety-critical technologies. You will play a key role in ensuring signalling equipment and systems are fit for purpose, risks are clearly understood and managed, and assurance decisions are supported by sound engineering evidence.

Key responsibilities 

• Lead and support Type Approval activities for safety-critical signalling equipment, systems and technologies.
• Review technical submissions, assurance evidence, compliance material and engineering documentation.
• Provide authoritative technical advice on Queensland Rail signalling systems, equipment performance and application requirements.
• Assess system anomalies, reliability concerns and technical risks using diagnostic information, engineering analysis and operational evidence.
• Support risk-based decision-making to ensure signalling systems are safe, reliable, maintainable and fit for purpose.
• Collaborate with project, maintenance, asset management and supplier teams to maintain assurance across the equipment lifecycle.
• Act as an independent technical reviewer for signalling equipment and system acceptance activities.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of engineering practices, technical standards, type approval processes and assurance frameworks.
• Mentor and guide engineers by sharing technical knowledge and promoting sound engineering judgement.
       

What you will bring: 

You will bring strong technical capability, practical signalling experience and the confidence to make well-reasoned engineering decisions in a safety-critical environment.

You will also bring:

• Established expertise in signalling systems, equipment architecture, performance and application.
• Demonstrated experience in technical assurance, engineering review, safety-critical systems or type approval activities.
• Strong analytical, diagnostic and problem-solving skills.
• The ability to interpret technical evidence, standards, specifications and assurance documentation.
• Sound judgement in identifying, assessing and communicating engineering risks.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to brief technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• A collaborative approach and the ability to build effective relationships across multidisciplinary teams.
• Curiosity, initiative and a continuous improvement mindset.
   

Formal qualifications

• Hold a Bachelor of Engineering in Electrical, Electronic, or another Queensland Rail accepted engineering discipline.
• RPEQ registration is desirable. Candidates who are not currently RPEQ registered should be able to demonstrate eligibility to obtain registration.
• Minimum 7+ years professional engineering experience within signalling engineering.
   

For further information please click here to view the full Position Description. 

If your qualification was issued overseas, we ask that your degree aligns with the Washington Accord and either has been or eligible to be assessed by Engineers Australia as meeting the entry-level competency standard for professional engineers in your discipline. 

Benefits that count: 

We believe great people do their best work when they feel supported, valued and inspired. 

• Flexible working options to help you balance your career and personal commitments.
• Up to 100% reimbursement for two eligible professional memberships, keeping your skills current and your career moving forward.
• Clear career pathways, innovative projects and professional development opportunities to help you shape a rewarding, long-term career
• Exclusive discounts and services through QRI Lifestyle, with access to over 2,000 offers
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) providing employees with holistic and contemporary health and wellbeing programs
• Continued Professional Development (CPD)
• Fitness Passport membership option giving you and your family discounted access to over 380 gyms and pools across Queensland
• Four weeks annual leave with 17.5% annual leave loading on standard enterprise agreements
• Long service leave entitlements on completion of 7 years continuous service
       

Base salary starts at $160,900 (PT5.1) plus 12.75% Superannuation - aligned with experience and responsibilities. 
     

Click here to explore our full range of employee benefits.

Your journey matters. Make it with us. 

Please apply to Principal Signal Engineer (11699) via our website by clicking onto the "Apply" button -Applications close 11:59pm (GMT+10:00 Brisbane) Wednesday 19th August 2026. 

*Advertising commenced Monday 20th July 2026.

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.  

We provide reasonable adjustments to support candidates and employees.  
If you do require a reasonable adjustment during the recruitment process, please contact Cynthia via the details below. 

Applicants for roles at Queensland Rail may undergo pre-employment alcohol and drug testing if they advance in the recruitment process. The selection process may also include psychometric assessments, pre-employment health checks and background screenings, which could involve criminal history and credit checks, if this applies to the pre-employment requirements for this role. 

For roles that have pre-employment qualifications, we will also be required to do formal qualification verification processes to ensure qualifications align to Queensland Rail's pre-employment frameworks.   

To learn more about this Queensland Rail career opportunity please contact Cynthia with your enquiry via cynthia.mackenzie@qr.com.au   Please do not email your application. We can only accept applications received via our website.