Tomorrow's Engineers Week 2026: five careers helping light rail move forward
Every reliable tram journey depends on engineering expertise. Behind the service passengers see are people designing track alignments, maintaining infrastructure and finding solutions that keep networks moving safely and efficiently. For Tomorrow’s Engineers Week, taking place on 9th–13th November, UKTram is spotlighting five people working across our member organisations.
This year’s theme, 'Shape our future', explores how engineering and technology address real-world challenges and how young people can contribute through a career in the industry. Their experiences form part of UKTram’s Future Skills and Careers project, helping make the opportunities within light rail more visible. They also offer a useful perspective for the sector: talent arrives through different routes, and an early opportunity to discover the industry can make a lasting difference.
Jake Ashley, Mott MacDonald - putting problem-solving into practice
Jake Ashley did not have a particular engineering specialism in mind when he finished studying Civil and Structural Engineering. He discovered light rail while looking for graduate jobs, where the variety of work caught his attention.
Now a Graduate Civil Engineer at Mott MacDonald, Jake works mainly on transport projects, particularly light rail and tram schemes. His work includes developing track alignments and drawings in Civil 3D, carrying out design checks and considering potential safety risks as designs progress.
The appeal connects to interests he already enjoyed outside work.
“I’ve always liked chess, puzzles and gaming, and working through problems logically, and I find that engineering taps into that same way of thinking.”
Track alignment design means finding a solution within real constraints, including existing infrastructure and available space. For Jake, working through those competing requirements is one of the most rewarding parts of the job.
He is also conscious of the lasting impact of those decisions: “What excites me most is the opportunity to help shape transport systems that could be around for decades.”
His experience shows how familiar interests can translate into engineering skills, even when someone has not yet identified the career they want to pursue.
Anna Tyler, Mott MacDonald - designing tram
ways that fit their cities
Anna Tyler has always been curious about how cities work. When she visited somewhere new, she wanted to understand what had been built, why it was there and how people moved through it. She enjoyed maths and solving problems, and credits teachers who encouraged her to explore how the world works, which helped her find her interests.
Today, Anna is a Chartered Civil Engineer at Mott MacDonald, designing transport infrastructure, mostly for light rail. She explores options for new tram routes, considers how difficult they might be to build and operate, and works out how track and stops could fit into existing streets. She also supports technical knowledge sharing, including organising webinars and taking part in industry events.
“I love the puzzle of a light rail project: exploring all the interfaces and understanding the local context makes every project interesting in a new way.”
Anna's advice to young people considering engineering is to explore their options and follow their interests. As Anna puts it, “anyone from any background could be good at engineering”.
Emmerson Mahoney, West Midlands Metro - contributing ideas early
Emmerson Mahoney had not previously considered a career in light rail. Hearing about an apprenticeship through a friend in another engineering field opened up an opportunity he hadn't known existed.
As a Rolling Stock Engineering Apprentice at West Midlands Metro, his work supports tram availability and a reliable passenger service. Tasks include building wheel assemblies and carrying out mechanical maintenance, alongside electrical examinations and fault-finding involving equipment such as the Onboard Energy Storage System.
One of his proudest achievements, however, concerns how the work is organised. Emmerson developed a proposal to improve working practices within the Rolling Stock Engineering team. His suggestions were welcomed and the team took steps to implement some of the improvements.
“Knowing that my ideas could make a meaningful contribution to the team and wider company, particularly at such an early stage in my engineering career, has given me a tremendous sense of pride.”
His experience demonstrates that developing future capability also means giving apprentices room to contribute. Technical learning and fresh thinking can develop together when colleagues take early-career perspectives seriously.
Sophie Mills, Keolis Nottingham - the satisfaction of keeping infrastructure working
Sophie Mills has always enjoyed understanding how things work and wanted a career with a practical element.
As an Assistant Infrastructure Technician on Nottingham’s tram network, she helps maintain the equipment services depend on. Her work covers track and points machines, as well as substations, overhead lines and electrical equipment.
Planned maintenance provides part of the daily workload, while calls from control can require the team to respond to faults as they arise. That combination makes the role varied and gives Sophie a direct connection to the network’s operation.
“I like knowing I’ve fixed or helped to fix something substantial to the network.”
Her account makes an important part of engineering visible: the practical expertise needed throughout a transport system’s working life. Maintaining infrastructure supports the dependable services that help people choose public transport for everyday journeys.
For women considering engineering or transport, Sophie’s encouragement is straightforward: “Be proud to be a female in transport or engineering.”
Evelyn Diaz, Keolis Metrolink: engineering with passengers in mind
The scale of engineering in public transport, and its effect on people’s lives, drew Evelyn Diaz towards the profession. As a Graduate Engineer in Rolling Stock and Tram Engineering at Keolis Metrolink, she works closely with engineering and operations colleagues to help keep the system running safely and reliably.
“I was motivated by the scale and impact of engineering in public transport. Knowing that the work we do directly affects thousands of passengers every day made engineering feel exciting and meaningful.”
Evelyn also highlights the importance of an inclusive working environment, where people feel confident sharing ideas. For those starting their careers, she sees strong mentorship and clear progression routes as valuable support.
Evelyn's advice to young people is to remain curious and believe they belong in the industry. Making engineering careers more visible helps reinforce that message, giving prospective entrants a clearer picture of the work and the people doing it.
These experiences reveal a challenge the sector can help address. Several contributors discovered light rail only when a job opportunity or personal connection brought it to their attention.
Through our Future Skills and Careers project, UKTram is working with members to share those experiences and help people understand the opportunities available. Showing what engineering involves in practice gives substance to a job title and helps explain its contribution to society.
For light rail, the future depends on the people who will design and maintain the next generation of networks. Their careers begin with an opportunity to see where they could belong.
If you would like to hear more about careers in light rail, sign up for UKTram’s email updates at the bottom of this page to keep up with our Future Skills and Careers project and the latest sector news.
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