Sr. Technical Advisor – Systems Engineering & CBTC

HNTB Corporation•New York, NY

2d•Onsite

About The Position

This opportunity involves serving as a senior technical lead with expertise in Communication-Based Train Control (CBTC) and other advanced train control systems within the HNTB Advanced Train Control Systems group. This includes responsibility for overseeing technical staff on multidisciplinary rail systems projects throughout their full lifecycle – from planning, requirements development, and procurement through design, systems integration, testing, commissioning, and entry into revenue service. Working closely with clients, project leadership, and engineering teams, this individual will guide technical decisions, resolve complex engineering and interface issues, and develop practical approaches to implementing new train control systems on operating railroads. This position is responsible for providing guidance and direction to the technical team and supporting all technical aspects of project development and delivery to achieve HNTB’s 4-for-4 performance: delivery of quality work, on time, on budget, and to the client’s satisfaction. Responsible for applying advanced engineering methods, techniques, and analyses to provide solutions, make recommendations and resolve issues for clients and the department. Ensures industry and HNTB standards of design are applied consistently and effectively across projects ranging in discipline, size and complexity. Independently applies knowledge and experience in partnership with internal project team members and external client counterparts. Serves as an advisor on complex projects to provide technical designs, plans and specifications.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering and 12 years of relevant experience, or Master’s degree in Engineering and 11 year of relevant experience, or PhD in Engineering and 10 years of relevant experience
Demonstrated technical leadership in the design, implementation, or oversight of complex CBTC and rail signaling projects.
Ability to translate client needs and operational objectives into clear, verifiable functional and performance requirements, technical specifications, and acceptance criteria.
Experience applying systems engineering processes, including requirements management, interface management, configuration management, verification, and validation.
Understanding of interfaces among train control, rolling stock, communications, control center systems, and other supporting rail systems.
Experience developing and assessing migration and cutover strategies that address interim configurations, operational constraints, service continuity, and the transition from existing signaling systems to CBTC.
Ability to develop and review test strategies, procedures, and results and assess readiness for systems integration testing, commissioning, and entry into revenue service.
Ability to evaluate technical designs and supplier submittmits for compliance, completeness, constructability, operability, and maintainability.
Experience developing or reviewing CBTC implementation schedules and cost estimates, including integration dependencies and track access constraints.
Ability to identify and assess technical risks, develop mitigation strategies, and communicate recommendations to technical and nontechnical stakeholders.
Experience advising clients on procurement, design, implementation, systems integration, and long-term maintenance strategies for signaling and train control systems.
Ability to develop plans and procedures for transitioning operations, maintenance, and control center functions to new train control systems.
Ability to guide engineering teams through coaching, priority setting, work assignments, progress monitoring, and support for professional development.
Strong engineering judgment and the ability to serve as a trusted technical advisor while building productive relationships with clients and project partners.
Ability to communicate industry best practices, emerging trends, and lessons learned through presentations, publications, and participation in professional committees.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in Engineering.
20 years of relevant experience, including at least 15 years in rail signaling and train control systems.
Professional Engineer (PE) license.
Experience implementing CBTC on an operating transit system, including migration, systems integration, testing, and commissioning.
Working knowledge of applicable IEEE 1474 and CENELEC standards and experience applying them to project delivery.
Experience with requirements management tools such as IBM DOORS or DOORS Next.

Responsibilities

Performs independent technical reviews, makes recommendations, and provides technical guidance as requested on complex or unusual engineering projects.
Provides direction to resolve technical issues as requested.
Provides technical expertise and advice to project leadership, and mentoring/support to production staff.
Assists in marketing responsibilities, including proposal generation on complex or unusual engineering projects within discipline.
Coordinates technical aspects with client counterpart and teaming partners at local leadership level for work within and across disciplines on complex or unusual engineering projects.
Develops and advises on technical consistency within and across disciplines on processes and projects.
Ensures same standard and practices are being applied.
Performs other duties as assigned.