Project Manager, Overhead Contact System

AECOM • Sacramento, CA

2d • Onsite

About The Position

AECOM is seeking a Project Manager, Overhead Contact System (OCS), for an onsite role at one of its offices in Sacramento, California. The position oversees the delivery of 25kV AC railway electrification infrastructure on a major transportation project, from design through procurement, installation, testing, commissioning, energization, and operational handover. Travel of approximately 25–50% along the project alignment throughout California’s Central Valley is expected.

The Project Manager is accountable for scope, schedule, budget, risk, contractor performance, and delivery milestones across OCS work packages. The role coordinates interfaces with traction power, signaling, communications, track, structures, stations, maintenance facilities, operations, and maintenance, as well as utility and regulatory approvals, outage planning, electrical safety, energization readiness, and integrated testing. The systems include catenary and contact and messenger wire systems, registration equipment, cantilever assemblies, auto-tensioning systems, sectioning and paralleling facilities, switching infrastructure, neutral sections and overlap zones, grounding and bonding, traction return systems, and OCS monitoring.

The role reports to the Rail Systems Lead. AECOM states that sponsorship and relocation are provided. Newly hired employees must attend in-person Day 1 onboarding at an AECOM office location.

Requirements

• BA/BS and 8 years of relevant experience, or demonstrated equivalency of experience and/or education.
• At least 10 years of experience delivering railway electrification or OCS infrastructure projects.
• At least 10 years of project management experience on transportation, railway, utility, or infrastructure programs.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Railway Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a related engineering discipline, or demonstrable on-the-job work experience.
• Demonstrated experience delivering 25kV AC OCS systems from design through commissioning and operational service.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary teams, contractors, suppliers, and consultants.
• Strong working knowledge of railway electrification systems, OCS interfaces, grounding and bonding, traction return systems, and railway operations.
• Experience coordinating OCS delivery with traction power, signaling, track, structures, and rolling stock disciplines.
• Experience leading outage planning, energization readiness, and railway electrical safety programs.
• Experience managing approvals with utility providers, railroad operators, regulators, and Authorities Having Jurisdiction.
• Experience leading Factory Acceptance Testing, Site Acceptance Testing, integrated testing, and energization programs.
• Experience on high-speed rail projects operating above 125 mph (200 km/h).
• Experience delivering high-speed catenary systems and electrification infrastructure.
• Experience with EN 50119, AREMA, FRA, and railway electrification standards.
• Experience supporting dynamic testing and pantograph-catenary interaction testing.
• Experience supporting entry into revenue service on an electrified passenger railway.
• Experience overseeing contracts exceeding $250 million.
• PE, PMP, CEng, APM, or equivalent professional certification.
• Experience with OCS monitoring systems and electrification asset condition management.

Responsibilities

• Support delivery of OCS systems through design, procurement, construction, testing, commissioning, energization, and operational handover.
• Manage scope, schedule, budget, risk, contractor performance, and delivery milestones for OCS work packages.
• Coordinate delivery activities across traction power, signaling, communications, track, structures, stations, maintenance facilities, operations, and maintenance teams.
• Support delivery of catenary, contact and messenger wire systems, cantilever assemblies, registration equipment, and auto-tensioning systems.
• Support delivery of sectioning and paralleling facilities, switching infrastructure, neutral sections, overlap zones, grounding and bonding, traction return, and OCS monitoring systems.
• Provide leadership for railway electrical safety, outage planning, energization readiness, and operational readiness programs.
• Coordinate with utility providers, railroad operators, local jurisdictions, regulators, and Authorities Having Jurisdiction.
• Support approval processes for energization, railway operations, and electrification infrastructure.
• Coordinate responses to technical reviews, stakeholder comments, and system acceptance requirements.
• Provide technical oversight of contractor installation activities and system implementation.
• Coordinate resolution of technical issues, field changes, interface challenges, and construction constraints.
• Review installation, testing, and energization readiness across OCS work packages.
• Lead Factory Acceptance Testing, Site Acceptance Testing, integrated testing, dynamic testing, and energization programs.
• Coordinate testing interfaces with traction power, signaling, communications, rolling stock, and operations systems.
• Support defect resolution, punch-list closure, operational readiness, and entry into revenue service.
• Support executive reporting, forecasting, change management, stakeholder engagement, and governance activities.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision, life, AD&D, and disability benefits.
• Paid time off and leaves of absence.
• Voluntary benefits and perks.
• Flexible work options.
• Well-being resources and employee assistance program.
• Business travel insurance.
• Service recognition awards.
• Retirement savings plan.
• Employee stock purchase plan.
• Sponsorship.
• Relocation assistance.
• Training and development programs.

What This Job Offers

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