The Loading Standards Senior Specialist oversees the loading activities at ERF Terminals, Yards and customer sidings, to bridge digital engineering and physical compliance by maintaining accurate digital twins and CAD models of wagons, cargo and securement systems, running simulations in support of the DG & Loading Standards Manager, and conducting handson inspections of cargo, loading equipment, sensor installations, and wayside monitoring data – ensuring that all loading practices and securement devices comply with AAR/UIC standards and that nonconformances (e.g., overloads, asymmetric loading) are identified and corrected.
Roles and Responsibility
- Build and maintain highfidelity digital twin models of the freight wagon fleet using RailTwin (or equivalent platform), once available.
- Create detailed 3D CAD models of wagons, commodities, and securement devices.
- Support the business by running parametric simulations (geometry, mass distribution, restraint points) and leading static and dynamic loading trials.
- Manage version control of digital assets (wagon models, load configurations), ensure digital twins are updated with asbuilt and asmaintained wagon data, once software provided by ER IT.
- Produce and review technical drawings for securement plans, trial setups, and regulatory submissions, where applicable.
- Conduct visual inspections of loaded wagons and loading equipment (lashings, blocking, dunnage) to verify they match digital twin specifications.
- Audit securement device inventories (chains, binders, friction mats) for compliance with AAR/UIC ratings and wear limits.
- Perform physical inspections of sensor installations and wayside monitoring equipment, where applicable, to ensure data integrity, analysing wayside and telemetry data to identify patterns of noncompliance (e.g., repeated overloads, asymmetric loading
- Audit loading processes using AI enabled imagery and computer vision to automatically flag deviations from approved securement figures.
- Oversee Management of Change for any variation in different Cargo types and Characteristics, and cargo lifting/handling equipment requirements.
- Update/review Loading Manual/Procedures for Intermodal, Break bulk, Over Dimensional Cargo, heavy rail environments.
- Lead immediate response to loading non-compliances, Incident Investigations following technical Root Cause Analysis for near-misses or incidents, specifically investigating load shifts, damaged cargo, mis-declared etc. incidents.
- Deliver Toolbox Talks and formal training on loading task instructions/loading patterns for different cargo types on rail wagons and where applicable, stuffing of containers.
- Conduct regular emergency drills (Dropped cargo, improper heavy/lifting operations, etc.) to simulate railcar/ISO tank failures.
- Support the HSEQ training team in the production of training material and provide resources as required, including administration of training records.
- Responsible for the coordination of site-based audits with third parties and internal audits.
- Required to schedule team meetings and activities when necessary.
- Responsible for maintaining records of the HSEQ risk assessments, procedure/task instructions reviews and other loading operational risk management activities to ensure they remain in date and the responsible person is advised when due an update.
- Any other duties as required.
Desirable qualifications, skills and experience
Academic Qualifications:
- Bachelor's or master's in mechanical engineering, or Mechatronics or Load Master or similar, associated with extensive experience in the technical operation environment.
- 5+ years in industrial predictive analytics, heavy lifting and high-value cargo handling (rail or heavy industry preferred), including field inspection and audit exposure. Minimum 2 years is in direct experience at a Rail Terminal, Bulk Liquid Storage, or Marine Loading facility handling different cargo types i e DG, Intermodal, Break Bulk, over dimensional cargo etc.
- Educated to a high standard, preferably undergraduate level or above, with the ability to write reports, and undertake data analysis.
- Excellent English language skill both written and verbal.
Professional Qualifications:
- Professional Engineer/Load Master or 20+ years work experience in heavy Loading activities and/supervisory role within cargo loading facility in the Rail, Road, Maritime or Airline Industry.
- Full Driving license is essential.
Experience:
- Lifting & Securement Equipment Inspector and/or Rolling Stock Inspector would be an added advantage.
Other Skills:
- Be ready to work in a High-risk industrial rail terminal. Exposure to extreme weather, loud noise, heavy machinery, chemical vapors (HS), and heavy lifts/heavy cargo and machinery handling environments.
- Must be able to climb ladders on rail cars, wear SCBA, and stand for extended periods on uneven surfaces.
- Proactive in field deployments and troubleshooting.
- Full-time on-site. Must be available for emergency callouts
- Attention to detail during physical inspections
- Able to work within a culturally diverse workplace and recognise the sensitivities between different cultures.
- Adaptability and resilience to work in a harsh environment with most of the time being employed in desert locations.
- Be a person of trust and integrity.
