Public Utilities Engineer- Safety Certification

Commonwealth of Massachusetts • Boston, MA

6d

About The Position

The Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) seeks to protect, preserve, and enhance Massachusetts’ environmental resources and create a clean energy future for all residents. Through the stewardship of open spaces, the protection of environmental resources, and the advancement of clean energy, EEA works tirelessly to make Massachusetts a wonderful place to live, work, and raise a family. Our commitment to environmental justice ensures that every resident, regardless of background or location, can live in a safe, clean environment and shares equally in the benefits of the clean energy transition.
At EEA, we create meaningful, inclusive opportunities that empower our employees to make a real difference in shaping the environmental future of Massachusetts. We foster a workplace culture where diversity is valued, innovation is encouraged, and collaboration thrives. Our employees play a vital role in advancing sustainability, environmental justice, and clean energy solutions, ensuring a positive and lasting impact on Massachusetts and its residents.
The Department of Public Utilities (DPU) is the state agency responsible for overseeing investor-owned electric power, natural gas, and water companies in Massachusetts. It regulates the safety of bus companies, moving companies, transportation network companies, and oversees the safety of natural gas pipelines and the MBTA.
The Rail Safety Division is seeking a Public Utilities Engineer – Safety Certification to support the Commonwealth’s independent safety oversight of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) transit rail system. This position plays a critical role in the technical review, evaluation, and certification of MBTA safety programs, engineering controls, and corrective actions, in support of federal and state rail transit safety oversight requirements.
The Public Utilities Engineer will work closely with Rail Safety Engineers, investigators, analysts, and management to ensure that safety certification determinations are technically sound, properly documented, and advanced in a timely and consistent manner. The position requires strong engineering judgment, attention to detail, and the ability to apply Federal Transit Administration (FTA) regulations and safety principles within a highly regulated oversight environment.

Requirements

• Applicants must have at least (A) two (2) years of full-time, or equivalent part-time, technical or professional experience in an engineering field, the major duties of which may include the design, construction or operation of facilities for the generation transmission and/or distribution of light, heat and power; or in a transportation capacity, (B) have successfully completed the courses listed below, and (C) any equivalent combination of the required (A) experience and the substitutions below.
• Incumbents may be required to have a current and valid motor vehicle driver’s license at a class level specific to assignment.
• Based on assignment, incumbents must complete the Public Transportation Safety Certification Training Program within three (3) years of their start date. Once obtained, incumbents are required to maintain certification that expires every two years.

Responsibilities

• Review, evaluate, and certify rail transit safety plans, programs, and procedures to ensure compliance with FTA regulations (49 CFR Parts 670 and 671) and State Safety Oversight (SSO) requirements (49 CFR 674).
• Conduct technical and engineering reviews of safety-related submissions, including: o Public Transportation Agency Safety Plans (PTASP) o Roadway Worker Protection (RWP) Programs o Safety certification packages and hazard mitigation documentation
• Evaluate engineering controls, operating rules, and maintenance practices for alignment with FTA safety standards and industry best practices.
• Review and track Corrective Action Plans (CAPs) to verify adequacy, implementation status, and effectiveness of mitigations.
• Participate in audits, inspections, investigations, and safety event reviews, including analysis of contributing engineering and system safety factors.
• Prepare written findings, determinations, and formal correspondence documenting compliance, deficiencies, and required corrective actions.
• Coordinate with transit agencies, contractors, and internal staff to resolve safety certification issues and ensure timely regulatory compliance.
• Provide technical guidance related to rail infrastructure, vehicles, signals, power systems, and operations as they relate to safety certification.
• Maintain accurate records and documentation to support FTA reporting, audits, and oversight activities.
• Serve as the designated technical authority for rail transit safety certification matters, including concurrence or non-concurrence with certification milestones and readiness determinations.
• Establish and apply safety certification acceptance criteria to evaluate whether identified hazards and certification conditions have been satisfactorily addressed.
• Review and validate safety certification close-out evidence, including test results, field verification records, and operational readiness documentation.
• Identify, document, and communicate outstanding certification conditions that must be resolved prior to final approval or revenue service.
• Maintain and update safety certification matrices, registers, or tracking tools specific to certification status and conditions.
• Advise management on certification risk, deferral requests, and conditional approvals, including associated safety implications.
• Ensure safety certification decisions are clearly documented for FTA review and SSO audit purposes.
• Participate in a 24/7 on-call rotation.

Benefits

• When you embark on a career with the Commonwealth, you are offered an outstanding suite of employee benefits that add to the overall value of your compensation package. We take pride in providing a work experience that supports you, your loved ones, and your future.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Associate degree