Project Engineer, Overhead Contact System (OCS)

Burns Engineering • Sacramento, CA

2d • Onsite

About The Position

Burns Engineering is seeking a Project Engineer, Overhead Contact System (OCS), to join its Transit and Rail Team in Sacramento, California. The position provides engineering leadership for 25kV AC railway electrification systems on the California High-Speed Rail Program. The work covers catenary, contact and messenger wire systems, cantilever assemblies, registration equipment, auto-tensioning systems, sectioning facilities, switching stations, neutral sections, overlap zones, grounding and bonding systems, traction return systems, and OCS monitoring systems.

The Project Engineer leads review of OCS designs, wiring plans, structure layouts, electrification studies, interface documentation, and construction packages. The role evaluates catenary layouts, structural interfaces, grounding and bonding requirements, electrical clearances, geometry, system performance, and dynamic interaction criteria. It coordinates interfaces across OCS, traction power, SCADA, trackwork, structures, signaling, communications, stations, maintenance facilities, operations, and rolling stock.

Reporting to the Project Manager, Overhead Contact System, the Project Engineer serves as technical liaison among designers, contractors, suppliers, and operations stakeholders. The role supports installation, testing, commissioning, and energization, and provides verified electrification engineering deliverables and technical evidence for energization and system acceptance. The position is based in Sacramento, California, and requires 25 to 50 percent travel along the alignment.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Railway Engineering, Systems Engineering, Civil Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Minimum of 10 years of railway electrification or OCS engineering experience.
• Demonstrated experience supporting OCS systems from design through testing, commissioning, and final acceptance.
• Experience reviewing engineering deliverables on large transportation infrastructure projects.
• Strong working knowledge of railway electrification interfaces and operational requirements.
• Experience reviewing catenary layouts, structure layouts, wiring plans, and electrification studies.
• Working knowledge of grounding and bonding, traction return systems, and electrical clearance requirements.
• Experience coordinating OCS interfaces with traction power, trackwork, structures, signaling, and rolling stock.
• Experience developing and reviewing testing procedures, commissioning documentation, and energization programs.
• Experience participating in Factory Acceptance Testing, Site Acceptance Testing, and integrated testing programs.
• 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.
• High-speed rail project experience.
• Experience delivering 25kV AC OCS systems.
• Experience with high-speed catenary systems and electrification infrastructure.
• Familiarity with EN standards, FRA requirements, and AREMA guidance.
• Experience supporting dynamic testing and pantograph-catenary interaction assessment.
• Experience supporting operational readiness activities and system certification.
• Experience supporting entry into revenue service on an electrified passenger railway.

Responsibilities

• Develop and review OCS engineering deliverables, construction packages, technical specifications, interface documentation, design changes, and technical submissions.
• Lead review of OCS designs, wiring plans, structure layouts, electrification studies, and construction packages.
• Review catenary layouts, structural interfaces, grounding and bonding requirements, and electrical clearances.
• Review geometry requirements, system performance requirements, and dynamic interaction criteria.
• Coordinate interfaces between OCS, traction power, trackwork, structures, signaling, communications, and rolling stock.
• Coordinate OCS interfaces with traction power substations, SCADA systems, stations, maintenance facilities, and operations.
• Provide engineering support for 25kV AC OCS, catenary, contact wire, and messenger wire systems.
• Provide engineering support for cantilever assemblies, registration equipment, and auto-tensioning systems.
• Provide engineering support for sectioning facilities, switching stations, neutral sections, and overlap zones.
• Provide engineering support for grounding and bonding systems, traction return systems, and OCS monitoring systems.
• Support installation, testing, commissioning, and energization activities.
• Support technical issue resolution, field design clarifications, and implementation challenges.
• Review contractor technical submissions and turnover documentation.
• Develop and review testing procedures, commissioning documentation, and energization programs.
• Participate in Factory Acceptance Testing, Site Acceptance Testing, integrated testing, dynamic testing, and operational readiness activities, and review test results supporting system acceptance.

What This Job Offers

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