System Safety Engineer

Metra is one of the largest and most complex commuter rail systems in North America, serving Cook, DuPage, Will, Lake, Kane, and McHenry Counties. The agency links communities in Northeastern Illinois by providing safe, reliable, and efficient commuter service.

About the role

The System Safety Engineer will define, plan, and coordinate regulatory safety activities, training, regulatory compliance, and the continuous improvement of safety performance through the development and implementation of various programs and procedures, with interdepartmental cooperation. This role utilizes methodologies and strategies that promote safe operations and accident prevention, with emphasis on system safety, increasing safety awareness, and compliance throughout Metra's six-county service area.

Serve as subject matter expert for safety training programs and classes, railroad safety, and hazard analyses; also liaison between management, staff, and external stakeholders. The position is responsible for the safety objectives, goals, and program of the organization ensuring compliance with applicable safety rules and regulations. This role is not a supervisory position but will coordinate the team’s day-to-day activities, assign tasks/projects, and monitor performance.

Works under both inside and outside environmental conditions, including heat, cold, rain, and snow. May be exposed to high noise levels and other environmental conditions. This position is subject to random drug and/or alcohol testing.

Responsibilities

• Identify, investigate, and report on safety defects and unsafe/hazardous conditions utilizing the hazard identification and resolution procedure, including performing root cause analyses, contributing factor determinations, and corrective action recommendations; identify trends to create proactive risk mitigation plans.
• Perform comprehensive observations, on-site inspections, audits, and assessments of facilities, equipment, work stations, locations, and employees' activities, including hazardous chemicals/substances, to ensure compliance with all applicable local, state, and federal regulations as well as the agency's operating rules.
• Respond to and investigate all reported incidents, accidents, and significant safety events, including injuries, fatalities, and equipment failures; provide detailed written documentation for use in internal reports and notifications submitted to the appropriate government agencies.
• Respond to requests for information and represent the agency for motions to depose or other legal proceedings.
• Serve as the agency's representative when participating in outside safety events; prepare and conduct presentations for public outreach programs.
• Perform other related duties as assigned to meet the ongoing needs of the organization.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in safety and occupational health, safety engineering, or a related field. In lieu of a specified degree, any combination of education and experience may be substituted that equals four (4) years of experience in the administration of safety regulations or occupational health.
• Five (5) years of professional occupational health or safety management-related experience applying applicable safety standards and best practices.
• Willing to travel throughout Metra's six-county service area as per project requirements.
• Knowledge of OSHA, FRA, and FTA regulations as well as safety rules and practices related to contracted operations, maintenance, and capital work.
• Working knowledge of safety management systems, methods, and techniques of investigating safety-related accidents and injuries.
• Demonstrated knowledge of system and subsystem hazard and environmental analyses, safety and risk management practices, operations, facilities, and vehicles rules and procedures.
• Functional knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite, specifically Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Access.
• Clear and concise written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills in dealing with all levels of management, employees, external groups, and/or outside organizations.
• Excellent problem-solving skills.
• Ability to perform job safety analysis and incident investigations to determine probable cause and provide recommendations to resolve railroad safety issues based on root cause analysis.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with the general public.
• Ability to respond to incidents and perform assignments after regular business hours during various district work shifts.
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple projects in a demanding environment.
• Ability to maintain strict confidentiality when working with sensitive information.
• Ability to interpret and apply federal regulations.
• Ability to observe operations to actively identify hazardous conditions, address, and mitigate immediately.
• Ability to lead and direct incident investigations and coordinate activities over cross-functional work groups.
• Ability to work independently or as a member of a team.
• Must pass the Roadway Worker Protection Safety Officers Rules Exam and become qualified on assigned district within 90 days of hire date.
• General Code of Operations Rule (GCOR) qualified within 90 days of hire date.
• Must obtain the OSHA 30 certification within 6 months of hire date.
• Must obtain a Certified Safety Professional (CSP) certification by the Board of Certified Safety Professionals or a Certified Safety and Security Director (CSSD) certification accredited through the World Safety Organization (WSO) within 1 year of hire date.
• Able to obtain a Transit Safety and Security Program Certificate (TSSP) through the Transportation Safety Institute (TSI) within 2 years of date of hire conditioned on budgetary requirements.
• Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license.
• Ability to stand, walk, and/or sit for extended periods of time.
• Hearing/visual acuity, far/near, depth perception, field of vision, color vision.
• Ability to lift and move up to 30 pounds.
• Must be able to operate a vehicle.
• Must be available on-call 24-hours/day, 7 days/week, 365 days/year, including weekends and holidays.

Preferences

• OSHA 40 HAZWOPER training certification.
• Safety industry certifications.
• Knowledge of the International Code Council (ICC), FTA regulations, root cause analysis techniques, and functional work areas such as Signal, Mechanical, Operations Engineering, and Transportation/Operations.

Pay

Salary Range: $80,986.00 - $121,479.00. The final salary will depend on the candidate's qualifications. Those with 8 years or more of required experience can expect offers up to the midpoint of the salary range. Metra provides full pay ranges so candidates can consider their growth potential.

Benefits

Click here to learn more about our benefits! Metra is a railroad employer subject to the provisions of the Railroad Retirement Tax Act, not the Social Security Administration.