Project Engineer, Communications

Burns Engineering • Sacramento, CA

9d • Onsite

About The Position

Burns Engineering is seeking a Project Engineer, Communications to join its Transit and Rail Team in Sacramento, California. The role provides engineering leadership for railway communications and operational telecommunications systems on the California High-Speed Rail Program, supporting design, integration, testing, and commissioning. Systems include fiber optic backbone networks, operational telecommunications systems, IP/MPLS networks, Operations Control Center communications, wayside and maintenance radio systems, dispatch communications, public address, CCTV transport networks, cybersecurity interfaces, and integrated operational communications and control systems.

The Project Engineer prepares, reviews, and approves communications engineering deliverables across design, construction, testing, and commissioning; supports requirements management, system architecture development, and interface definition; and reviews supplier and contractor designs for compliance with Program specifications and operational requirements. The role also supports FCC licensing and frequency coordination, radio spectrum management, interference assessment, and coverage studies, and develops and reviews testing and commissioning strategies. Reporting to the Project Manager, Communications, the position provides coordinated technical deliverables, compliance and coverage evidence, and documentation needed for telecommunications and regulatory approval and entry into revenue service. The position is based in Sacramento, California, with 25 to 50 percent travel along the alignment.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Telecommunications Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a related field.
• At least 10 years of experience in railway communications, operational telecommunications, or transportation systems engineering.
• Demonstrated experience taking communications systems from design through testing, commissioning, and final acceptance.
• Experience developing and reviewing engineering deliverables on large transportation infrastructure projects.
• Strong working knowledge of systems integration and operational railway communications applications.
• Experience supporting requirements management, system architecture development, and interface definition.
• Experience reviewing supplier and contractor designs, network designs, and telecommunications documentation.
• Experience developing and reviewing test plans, test procedures, and commissioning documentation.
• Experience supporting radio coverage studies, interference assessment, or spectrum management activities.
• Experience preparing documentation supporting telecommunications, operational, and regulatory approvals.
• Strong technical writing, coordination, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Availability for 25 to 50 percent travel along the alignment.

Nice To Haves

• Professional Engineer (PE) licensure; additional years of relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of licensure.
• Experience with railway operational telecommunications systems.
• Experience with wayside radio and maintenance radio systems.
• High-speed rail project experience.
• Familiarity with FCC licensing requirements and U.S. telecommunications regulations.
• Experience with fiber optic transport systems, IP networking, LTE, mission-critical communications, or FRMCS.
• Experience supporting system certification, operational approvals, and entry into revenue service.
• Experience leading design reviews and resolving technical issues in the field.

Responsibilities

• Prepare, review, and approve communications engineering deliverables throughout design, construction, testing, and commissioning.
• Ensure technical documentation is complete, coordinated, and developed in accordance with Program requirements and applicable standards.
• Support requirements management, system architecture development, and interface definition for communications systems.
• Review supplier and contractor designs for compliance with Program specifications and operational requirements.
• Coordinate interfaces between communications, signaling, traction power, SCADA, stations, operations, maintenance facilities, and information technology teams.
• Provide technical oversight for fiber optic backbone networks, operational telecommunications systems, and IP/MPLS networks.
• Provide technical oversight for Operations Control Center communications, wayside radio, maintenance radio, and dispatch communications systems.
• Provide technical oversight for public address systems, CCTV transport networks, cybersecurity interfaces, and integrated operational communications and control systems.
• Support FCC licensing and frequency coordination, and prepare and review documentation required for telecommunications, operational, and regulatory approvals.
• Work with regulatory authorities, telecommunications providers, operators, and Program stakeholders to obtain approvals and certifications.
• Support radio spectrum management, interference assessments, radio coverage studies, and compliance documentation.
• Address technical review comments and closeout actions raised by regulatory agencies and independent assessors.
• Develop and review communications system test plans, test procedures, and commissioning strategies.
• Support and witness Factory Acceptance Testing, Site Acceptance Testing, System Integration Testing, network validation testing, and operational trial running to verify compliance with operational and performance requirements.
• Coordinate defect management, corrective actions, and final system acceptance, and support revenue service demonstration and operational handover.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior