Senior Project Engineer Traction Power

About the Role

We are seeking a Senior Traction Power Engineer to join our team in Austin, Texas, supporting a major, high-profile transit program that will transform mobility and connectivity across the city. Based within the client's office, you will work in a fully integrated delivery environment on a complex urban rail corridor program. In this role, you will provide technical leadership for the design and delivery of traction power systems across a large-scale light rail program. You will lead the development of safe, reliable, and efficient electrification solutions while coordinating closely with multidisciplinary teams, project stakeholders, and client representatives. You will serve as a subject matter expert for traction power systems, helping to guide design decisions, manage technical risks, and ensure successful project outcomes throughout the program lifecycle.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the planning, design, and delivery of traction power systems, including traction power substations (TPSS), overhead contact systems (OCS), and associated power distribution infrastructure
• Act as the technical lead for traction power engineering activities, ensuring designs meet project requirements, industry standards, and client expectations
• Develop and oversee TPSS designs, including equipment selection, system architecture, layouts, protection schemes, and interface requirements
• Lead power system analyses and studies, including load flow, short-circuit, voltage regulation, harmonics, fault coordination, and system reliability assessments
• Provide technical guidance and mentorship to junior and intermediate engineers, supporting professional development and best engineering practices
• Manage technical coordination across multidisciplinary teams, including track, civil, structural, stations, signaling, communications, utilities, and systems integration disciplines
• Lead coordination with utility providers and external stakeholders to establish power supply strategies, service connections, and interface agreements
• Review and approve engineering calculations, design packages, reports, specifications, and technical documentation
• Identify, assess, and mitigate technical risks related to traction power systems throughout design and delivery phases
• Lead design reviews, interdisciplinary workshops, constructability assessments, and value engineering initiatives to optimize project outcomes
• Ensure compliance with applicable codes, standards, regulations, and industry best practices, including AREMA, IEEE, NFPA, and local authority requirements
• Direct the development of grounding and bonding systems, electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) strategies, system protection schemes, and safety-critical design elements
• Support procurement activities, including technical evaluations, vendor reviews, and equipment acceptance processes
• Provide technical support during construction, testing, commissioning, system integration, and handover activities
• Collaborate closely with client representatives and project leadership teams, providing technical input to support informed decision-making and program delivery
• Contribute to project planning, resource forecasting, schedule development, and engineering budget management activities

Candidate Profile

We are seeking a highly experienced and collaborative engineering professional with demonstrated expertise in rail electrification and leadership of complex infrastructure projects.

• 10+ years of experience in traction power, rail electrification, or power systems engineering within transit, rail, or major infrastructure sectors
• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical Engineering or a related discipline
• Professional Engineer (PE) license in Texas, or ability to obtain licensure within 6 months
• Extensive experience in the design and delivery of traction power systems, including TPSS, OCS, and associated railway power infrastructure
• Strong knowledge of power system modeling and analysis, including load flow, fault studies, protection coordination, and system performance evaluations
• Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary engineering teams and coordinate complex technical interfaces across large-scale projects
• Experience managing technical design activities through multiple project phases, from concept development through commissioning
• Strong understanding of rail electrification standards, industry practices, and regulatory requirements, including AREMA, IEEE, NFPA, and applicable state or local standards
• Expertise in grounding and bonding, system protection, EMC, and safety requirements for electrified railway systems
• Experience working directly with transit agencies, public-sector clients, utilities, contractors, and other external stakeholders
• Experience within client-facing or embedded delivery environments is highly desirable
• Excellent communication, leadership, stakeholder management, and problem-solving skills
• Demonstrated ability to manage competing priorities and deliver high-quality technical solutions within demanding project environment

Additional Information

• Full-time Austin-based position embedded within the client team
• Relocation support may be available for candidates looking to move to Austin
• Opportunity to play a key leadership role on a once-in-a-generation infrastructure program that will shape the future of mobility across Austin
• Collaborative, multidisciplinary work environment with opportunities for technical growth, innovation, and career advancement

Benefits & Reward

• Personal and group performance bonuses through employee ownership structure
• 401k
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Short-term/long-term disability
• Paid holidays and PTO
• Parental leave
• Company paid life insurance