Dr Mahdi Ghaffari
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Project Manager · Researcher

Delivering complex transportation infrastructure — with the warmth of a trusted advisor and the rigour of research.

11+ years bridging engineering consultancy and the science of project management across rail, highways, aviation, stations and depots.

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Career critical path: 2009 start through Atkins PMO, Atkins Rail and Alstom to Jacobs (current role). Branch callouts mark key projects — £34m Feltham and Heathrow airside above the spine; £400m RIP, £6m Three Bridges and Stations AfA below. CRITICAL PATH Feltham Re-Signalling — £34m, from Atkins Rail £34m · Feltham Heathrow airside programmes, from Jacobs Heathrow airside Regional Investment Programme — £400m, from Atkins PMO £400m · RIP Three Bridges ARS — £6m, from Alstom £6m · Three Bridges Access for All station schemes, from Jacobs Stations AfA Career start, 2009 2009 Atkins / SNC-Lavalin — Highways PMO, 2016–2018 Atkins PMO Atkins / SNC-Lavalin — Rail, 2018–2021 Atkins Rail Alstom — Rail Systems & Control, 2021 Alstom Jacobs — current role Jacobs · now

11+ yrs

Project-management experience

£6m max

Largest work package managed

£34m → £1bn

Programmes & pipeline supported

7 papers

Peer-reviewed publications

4 clients

Network Rail · TfL · Heathrow · Highways England

3 certs

PMP · APM PMQ · PRINCE2

Trajectory

A decade across UK infrastructure

  • Rail
  • Aviation
  • Stations
  • Highways
  • Depots
Career timeline 2016–2026: 4 roles and 4 projects across UK transportation sectors. 2016 2018 2020 2022 2024 2026 Roles Selected projects Jacobs UK — Project Manager — Transportation Infrastructure · Nov 2021–Present Jacobs UK Project Manager — Transportation Infras… Alstom — Project Manager — Rail Systems & Control · Apr 2021–Nov 2021 Alstom Project Manager — Rail Systems & Contro… Atkins / SNC-Lavalin (now AtkinsRéalis) — Project Manager / Assistant PM — Rail · Jun 2018–Apr 2021 Atkins / SNC-Lavalin (now Atk… Project Manager / Assistant PM — Rail ·… Atkins / SNC-Lavalin — Project Manager's Assistant — Transportation / Highways PMO · Oct 2016–Jun 2018 Atkins / SNC-Lavalin Project Manager's Assistant — Transport… Pre-Conditioned Air Units Improvements — Heathrow T5 / Ferrovial · Jacobs · ~£1m · Aircraft-stand serviceability and docking reliability; led interface management. Pre-Conditioned Air Units Imp… Heathrow T5 / Ferrovial · Jacobs · 2025… ~£1m Cottam Parkway Station (ES4) — Network Rail · Jacobs · ~£1.5m · PACE ES4 preliminary design across ~20 disciplines; value engineering. Cottam Parkway Station (ES4) Network Rail · Jacobs · 2023–2024 ~£1.5m Three Bridges ASC ARS — Network Rail · Alstom · £6m · Automatic Route Setting to cut signaller workload and delays; led re-programming and on-site night-shift commissioning. Three Bridges ASC ARS Network Rail · Alstom · 2021 £6m Feltham Re-Signalling Phase 1 (GRIP5–8) — Network Rail · Atkins · £34m · Richmond–New Malden renewal; led four supply-point packages (~£1m); Commissioning PM, Easter 2021. Feltham Re-Signalling Phase 1… Network Rail · Atkins · 2019–2021 £34m Now

Roles

  • Jacobs UK Project Manager — Transportation Infrastructure Nov 2021 – Present
  • Alstom Project Manager — Rail Systems & Control Apr 2021 – Nov 2021
  • Atkins / SNC-Lavalin (now AtkinsRéalis) Project Manager / Assistant PM — Rail Jun 2018 – Apr 2021
  • Atkins / SNC-Lavalin Project Manager's Assistant — Transportation / Highways PMO Oct 2016 – Jun 2018

Selected projects

  • Pre-Conditioned Air Units Improvements Heathrow T5 / Ferrovial · Jacobs 2025–present
  • Cottam Parkway Station (ES4) Network Rail · Jacobs 2023–2024
  • Three Bridges ASC ARS Network Rail · Alstom 2021
  • Feltham Re-Signalling Phase 1 (GRIP5–8) Network Rail · Atkins 2019–2021
Career timeline 2016–2026: 4 roles and 4 projects across UK transportation sectors.
Selected work

Projects that shaped the practice

A few representative commissions — from automatic route setting and major re-signalling to airside reliability and a new parkway station.

Rail 2021

Three Bridges ASC ARS

Network Rail · Alstom

Automatic Route Setting to cut signaller workload and delays; led re-programming and on-site night-shift commissioning.

£6m
Rail 2019–2021

Feltham Re-Signalling Phase 1 (GRIP5–8)

Network Rail · Atkins

Richmond–New Malden renewal; led four supply-point packages (~£1m); Commissioning PM, Easter 2021.

£34m · target cost
Aviation 2025–present

Pre-Conditioned Air Units Improvements

Heathrow T5 / Ferrovial · Jacobs

Aircraft-stand serviceability and docking reliability; led interface management.

~£1m · lump-sum D&B
Stations 2023–2024

Cottam Parkway Station (ES4)

Network Rail · Jacobs

PACE ES4 preliminary design across ~20 disciplines; value engineering.

~£1.5m · lump sum
View all projects →
The intersection

Most delivery problems are also management problems. I work where engineering consultancy meets the science of project management — pairing the discipline of controls, commercial governance and multidisciplinary coordination with research-grade rigour in planning, resourcing and risk.

Delivery

Tender to closeout across rail, highways, aviation, stations and depots.

Controls

EVM, NEC3, risk and programme management on £6m–£1bn work.

Research

A PhD in CCPM portfolio scheduling and buffer sizing.

Let's talk about your programme.

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