- Employment
- Full-Time
- Seniority
- Director
- Department
- Engineering, Facilities & Maintenance
- Posted
- Oct 22, 2026
About Venice Simplon-Orient-Express
Launched in 1982, the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express is a luxury train operated by Belmond, part of LVMH, that celebrates the golden age of European rail travel. Its meticulously restored vintage carriages, distinguished cuisine and attentive service create an exceptional setting for hospitality professionals. Connecting celebrated European destinations, including Paris and Venice, the train brings together teams whose expertise spans culinary arts, onboard service and railway operations. As an employer, it offers a distinctive environment where precision, discretion and cultural sensitivity are central to the guest experience. Working aboard this historic train means contributing to a living travel heritage through exacting standards and thoughtfully personalised service.
Belmond seeks a Director of Engineering in Venice to lead maintenance and technical operations for the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express rolling stock, ensuring safety, reliability and compliance with ECM requirements. The role leads technical teams, manages budgets and external partners, and oversees operational performance, quality and service continuity.
Role & Responsibilities
- Oversee the planning, execution and management of maintenance activities for carriages and related equipment.
- Ensure the safe, reliable and efficient operation of rolling stock through effective maintenance strategies and compliance with applicable regulations and standards, including ECM 779/2019.
- Lead the technical team, define roles and responsibilities, and support effective cross-departmental collaboration.
- Oversee ECM 3, ECM 4 and quality-related functions to maintain technical performance, safety and compliance.
- Manage budgets, monitor performance and drive cost-optimization initiatives under the leadership of the Area Managing Director.
- Promote a strong quality culture through operational feedback, continuous improvement and ongoing learning to improve train-operation performance and reliability.
- Serve as the main technical contact for railway undertakings and external operators, oversee train operations and maintenance, and maintain relationships with key industry stakeholders.
- Lead monthly reviews of punctuality, operational performance and safety.
- Participate in on-call duties and manage incidents affecting service continuity.
- Ensure maintenance is planned and carried out in accordance with ECM requirements.
- Monitor resources and maintenance facilities provided by external partners to support safe, reliable and efficient operations.
Qualifications
- Significant experience in engineering management, railway operations, rolling stock or maintenance.
- Strong knowledge of railway safety regulations, ECM requirements and EU Regulation.
- Experience leading engineering teams, technical projects and continuous-improvement initiatives.
- Ability to oversee fleet reliability, maintenance strategies, technical performance and asset lifecycle management.
- Experience managing technical budgets, resources, suppliers and subcontractors.
- Knowledge of risk management, quality assurance, audits and regulatory compliance.
- Strong leadership, strategic-planning, decision-making and problem-solving skills.
- Excellent communication and stakeholder-management skills.
- Fluency in Italian or French and English; additional European languages are an advantage.
Skills
Experience
Significant experience in engineering management, railway operations, rolling stock or maintenance.
Workplace
The successful candidate will be located in Venice, Veneto, Italy.
Benefits
Discovering Belmond program, including complimentary stays at Belmond properties subject to availability, discounted rates on trains, cruises and safaris, and food and beverage discounts; comprehensive health and life insurance coverage; unlimited access to learning platforms.
Culture
The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express’s workplace culture is shaped by the heritage of its historic carriages, meticulous attention to detail and the art of personalised hospitality. Its distinctive environment brings together service, culinary and operational expertise, requiring close teamwork and adaptability to deliver an exceptional guest experience aboard a moving luxury train.
About Cerulean
Cerulean is the definitive career portal for the global luxury industry. We match exceptional professionals with exclusive opportunities at the world's most prestigious brands. From haute couture and fine watchmaking to prestige beauty, hospitality, and boutique retail, Cerulean centralises luxury employment to help you find the career for which you were destined.