• Excellent opportunity for an experienced Data Engineer
  • Support rail safety through practical data solutions
  • Work flexibly, following a hybrid working model

A new opportunity for a skilled Data Engineer to translate regulatory requirements into robust technical solutions that support safety improvement.

About the opportunity

The Office of the National Rail Safety Regulator (ONRSR) is looking for an experienced Data Engineer with a proven track record in designing, building and maintaining core data platforms and pipelines that will underpin regulatory insight, intelligence and decision-making.

Reporting to the Senior Manager Data Management and Platform, this role will focus on ensuring that the data collected, integrated and stored by ONRSR is reliable, secure, scalable and fit-for-purpose in the safety regulation context. In this newly formed role, you will have the opportunity to meaningfully contribute to a new, strategic operating model where data is key to regulatory decisions and outcomes. With strong relationships across the Safety and Regulatory Insights team, as well as other stakeholders, you will effectively translate regulatory and operational requirements into robust technical solutions that enable evidence-based regulation and safety improvement.

As the only organisation in Australia with a complete view of national rail safety performance, ONRSR is uniquely placed to provide safety insights. Leveraging your strengths and unique skillset, combined with your values-led approach to working and producing outcomes, the Data Engineer is responsible for ensuring reliability, availability and performance of data platforms supporting the enterprise data warehouse and advanced analytics use cases. You will apply a continuous improvement mindset, optimising data structures and performance to support analytics, reporting and intelligence.

If you are passionate about the transformative ability of data, information and insights while looking to have an impact on rail safety, this may be the role for you.

About you - your impact and contribution

The successful candidate will combine their strong problem solving, communication and relationship building skills with a deep technical prowess to influence and produce meaningful data solutions.

Key to success in this role includes:

  • Excellent communication and facilitation skills, demonstrating the capacity to effectively connect and communicate with a range of technical and non-technical stakeholders.
  • Drive for, and skills to, building meaningful and effective relationships across the organisation.
  • A commitment to continuous improvement, including own professional development as well as ways of working, contributing and producing outcomes for the organisation.
  • Demonstrated experience in data engineering, including data pipelines, databases and integration technologies.
  • A constructive approach to design solutions in complex, multi-source data environments.
  • Understanding the importance of information security, privacy and risk considerations in government or regulated settings – including relevant governance obligations.
  • Experience using Apache Parquet and Databricks, as well as advanced knowledge and experience of SQL and working with heavily normalised data structures.
  • A strategic thinking mindset, combined with a strong ability to prioritise competing demands through understanding the role of data in various analytical models.

Our Organisation and Culture

The Office of the National Rail Safety Regulator (ONRSR) has the responsibility for regulatory oversight of rail safety throughout Australia. As an independent regulatory authority, ONRSR pursues safe railways for Australia by encouraging safe rail operations, enforcing national compliance with the Rail Safety National Law and promoting and improving rail safety across the country.

Be part of a values-led organisation with a strong commitment to its Culture Blueprint - the foundation for our purposeful, diverse and inclusive workplace and a key contributor to how we achieve our vision of Safe Railways for all Australians.

The application process

The application process

Not sure you meet all the requirements? That’s okay — we’re interested in people who may not tick all the boxes. If this sounds like a place you’d thrive, we’d love to hear from you.

To Apply, please submit your resume along with a cover letter outlining why you are interested in the role and how your experience aligns with what we are looking for.

More information can be found in the Position Description which is attached below and can also be found at: https://www.onrsr.com.au/about-onrsr/working-at-onrsr

As part of the recruitment and selection process, shortlisted candidates will be required to undertake a national criminal history check. Please note that the outcome of this check will be considered in context and does not automatically disqualify applicants from progressing.

Salary: $142,416 - $168,216 + 12% super

Applications close: Wednesday, 22 April 2026, 6:00PM

To apply:

At ONRSR, we’re committed to building a diverse, inclusive and respectful workplace where everyone feels valued. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, including those of diverse gender identities, sexual orientations, cultures, religions, ages, abilities and neurodiversity.

If there’s anything we can do to make the recruitment process more accessible or comfortable for you, please let us know – we’re here to support you.

We also commit to responding to every applicant.

NOTE:

  • You must be an Australian citizen, permanent resident or hold a valid work permit or visa, as we are unable to provide sponsorship.
  • Applications are sought from direct candidates only. No agencies please.
  • Application closing dates are at the discretion of ONRSR and may change without notice.

Last updated: Apr 8, 2026, 9:00:26 AM