Sr. Project Engineer – Railway and Transit (Signals & Train Control Design)

About the role

HNTB is seeking a seasoned Senior Project Engineer to lead the engineering and delivery of complex rail and transit signaling and train control systems. The role involves directing the design, production, and review of vital and non-vital signal circuit designs, interlocking schemes, control tables, route and aspect charts, braking calculations, phasing plans, schematics, specifications, procurement packages, and cost estimates. You will oversee technical aspects of projects, coordinate with clients, and mentor the next generation of signal engineers.

Responsibilities

• Uses senior-level technical expertise to consider broad range of engineering solutions.
• Responsible for the discipline-specific planning, work distribution, and leadership and adherence to the schedule and budget on complex or unusual engineering projects.
• Assists in marketing responsibilities, including proposal generation.
• Develops scope of work and level of effort and manages adherence to scope and budget on complex or unusual engineering projects within discipline.
• Oversees completeness and accuracy of project team’s work within the technical discipline.
• Provides technical guidance and mentoring to team members to achieve overall project objectives on complex or unusual engineering projects.
• Covers technical aspects of the project with client counterpart and teaming partners at staff level for work within the discipline on complex or unusual engineering projects.
• Leads discipline delivery on larger, multi-disciplinary projects. Works closely with other disciplines on multi-discipline projects.
• Assists with coordination and planning of schedules, hours, and distribution of work for other disciplines on multi-discipline projects on complex or unusual engineering projects.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering and 8 years of relevant experience, or
• Master’s degree in Engineering and 7 years of relevant experience, or
• PhD in Engineering and 6 years of relevant experience.

Qualifications

• 12+ years of progressive experience in railroad/transit signaling and train control system design in a consulting environment.
• Demonstrated leadership of multi-disciplinary design teams, including scope, schedule, budget, and QA/QC management on complex signal/train control projects.
• Working knowledge of vital logic design and programming (Boolean and ladder logic) on platforms such as VHLC, MicroLok II (MLK-II), and ElectroLogIXS.
• Familiarity with interlocking simulation and development tools such as SATS, Vitalsim, or equivalent.
• Hands-on experience producing scheme plans, books of plans for interlockings, grade crossings, control lines, route and aspect charts, and typical installation drawings using AutoCAD and/or MicroStation.
• Working knowledge of Solid-State Interlocking (SSI), cab signaling, digital and conventional block signaling, and at-grade highway-rail grade crossing warning systems.
• Familiarity with PTC and CBTC systems.
• Familiarity with AREMA Communications & Signals Manual, FRA Part 234/235/236, MUTCD, NFPA, and Amtrak / SEPTA / NJ Transit / MARC / PRT / standards and operating rules.
• Familiarity with data communications, fiber optics, and wired/wireless protocols supporting signal and train control systems.
• Experience preparing engineering cost estimates, fee proposals, and level-of-effort breakdowns for signal/train control pursuits.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present and defend designs to agency clients, contractors, and regulatory stakeholders.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license in one or more U.S. states strongly preferred but not required.
• AREMA committee participation, technical publications, or recognized industry contributions a plus.