Project Manager, Signaling and Train Control

Burns Engineering•Sacramento, CA

3d•Onsite

About The Position

Burns Engineering is seeking a Project Manager, Signaling and Train Control to join its Transit and Rail Team in Sacramento, California. The role oversees delivery of ETCS Level 2 and associated digital signaling systems on the California High-Speed Rail Program, covering the full lifecycle from design development, procurement, installation, testing, and commissioning through trial running and operational handover. Systems include Computer Based Interlocking, Radio Block Centres, Automatic Route Setting, Traffic Management Systems, axle counter train detection, and broken rail detection. The Project Manager is accountable for scope, schedule, budget, risk, contractor performance, and stakeholder engagement across signaling work packages. The role coordinates signaling interfaces with telecommunications, rolling stock, operations, track, traction power, and civil engineering; manages suppliers, contractors, and specialist consultants; and ensures compliance with FRA requirements, Program specifications, and applicable railway standards. The position leads testing, commissioning, operational readiness, safety assurance, hazard management, and system certification activities. It reports to the Rail Systems Lead and provides delivery accountability, interface coordination, and assurance evidence to support safety certification and entry into revenue service. The position is based in Sacramento, with travel of 25 to 50 percent along the alignment.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Engineering or a related technical discipline, or demonstrable on-the-job work experience.
At least 10 years of experience in railway signaling, train control, and rail systems delivery.
Demonstrated signaling or train control delivery experience on projects valued above $250 million.
Experience delivering ETCS Level 2 or CBTC projects in a project management capacity.
Experience with modern digital signaling technologies, including ETCS, CBTC, ATP, and ATO.
Experience integrating signaling systems with telecommunications, rolling stock, and operational control systems.
Strong working knowledge of railway systems engineering and systems integration.
Experience managing multidisciplinary project teams and external suppliers.
Demonstrated record delivering complex transportation infrastructure projects through testing, commissioning, and acceptance.
Working knowledge of Positive Train Control, axle counter train detection, and broken rail detection technologies.
Working knowledge of GSM-R, LTE, FRMCS, or comparable railway communications networks as they interface with train control.
Working knowledge of safety assurance and CENELEC processes, including EN 50126, EN 50128, and EN 50129.
Availability to travel 25 to 50 percent along the alignment.

Nice To Haves

Experience on high-speed rail projects operating above 125 mph (200 km/h).
Experience with California High-Speed Rail, HS2, European ETCS deployments, or comparable large-scale rail programs.
Experience delivering wayside signaling systems and signaling equipment rooms.
Experience with railway operational signaling and train control systems in a revenue service environment.
Experience managing regulatory approvals, communications licensing, and entry into revenue service activities.
Budget and schedule accountability on contracts valued at $250 million or greater.
PMP, PRINCE2, or comparable project management certification.
Membership of a recognized professional institution such as IRSE, or Professional Engineer (PE) licensure.

Responsibilities

Oversee ETCS Level 2 signaling delivery through the full project lifecycle, from design development to operational handover.
Manage scope, schedule, budget, risk, contractor performance, and stakeholder engagement for signaling work packages.
Coordinate signaling interfaces with telecommunications, rolling stock, operations, track, traction power, and civil engineering.
Oversee integration of ETCS with Automatic Train Operation, Automatic Route Setting, Computer Based Interlocking, and Radio Block Centres.
Oversee integration of Traffic Management Systems, axle counter train detection, and broken rail detection with the train control architecture.
Support development and implementation of operational concepts for high-speed train operations.
Manage signaling suppliers, contractors, and specialist consultants, including performance monitoring and delivery risk management.
Ensure compliance with FRA requirements, Program specifications, and applicable railway signaling standards.
Oversee review and acceptance of supplier and contractor signaling designs, technical submissions, and construction packages.
Lead testing, commissioning, trial running, and operational readiness activities for signaling and train control systems.
Oversee Factory Acceptance Testing, Site Acceptance Testing, System Integration Testing, and route-proving programs.
Support safety assurance, hazard management, safety case development, and system certification activities.
Manage defect resolution, corrective action closure, punch-list completion, and final system acceptance.
Support project reporting, forecasting, change management, and executive-level communications for signaling delivery.
Support revenue service demonstration and operational handover of train control systems.