Project Manager - Overhead Contact System
About The Position
Jaquith Consulting Group is seeking a Project Manager, Overhead Contact System (OCS), to support delivery of 25kV AC railway electrification infrastructure for the California High-Speed Rail Program. The work covers OCS systems from design through procurement, installation, testing, commissioning, energization, and operational handover. Systems include catenary, contact and messenger wires, registration equipment, cantilever assemblies, auto-tensioning systems, sectioning and paralleling facilities, switching infrastructure, neutral sections and overlap zones, grounding and bonding, traction return, and OCS monitoring. The Project Manager is accountable for scope, schedule, budget, risk, contractor performance, and delivery milestones across OCS work packages. The role coordinates delivery with traction power, signaling, communications, track, structures, stations, maintenance facilities, operations, and maintenance, as well as utility providers, railroad operators, local jurisdictions, regulators, and Authorities Having Jurisdiction. Responsibilities include supporting required approvals, leading outage planning and electrical safety, and overseeing energization readiness and integrated testing. Reporting to the Rail Systems Lead, the Project Manager provides delivery accountability for railway electrification, verified installation and energization readiness, and the dynamic testing and acceptance evidence needed for trial running and entry into revenue service. The role is based on-site in Sacramento, California, with travel of 25 to 50 percent along the alignment.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Railway Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a related engineering discipline, or demonstrable on-the-job work experience.
- 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.
- 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.
- Excellent leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
- 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 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 OCS system delivery through design, procurement, construction, testing, commissioning, energization, and operational handover.
- Maintain accountability for project scope, schedule, budget, risk management, contractor performance, and delivery milestones for OCS work packages.
- Coordinate delivery activities among traction power, signaling, communications, track, structures, stations, maintenance facilities, operations, and maintenance teams.
- Support delivery of catenary systems, 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 systems, traction return systems, 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.
- Support 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
- 401(k)
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
