Systems Engineering & Safety Assurance Project Manager

Mott MacDonald•Austin, TX

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

We are seeking a Systems Engineering & Safety Assurance Project Manager to join our team in Austin, Texas, supporting a major, high-profile transit program that will transform mobility and connectivity across the city. Based within the client’s office, you will work in a fully integrated delivery environment on a complex rail corridor project. In this role, you will manage systems engineering and safety assurance activities across a large-scale transit program, ensuring that all systems are fully integrated, compliant, and safe for operation. You will play a key role in overseeing requirements, interfaces, verification, and certification, ensuring the program meets regulatory, operational, and safety expectations across its full lifecycle.

Requirements

7+ years of experience in systems engineering, safety assurance, or RAMS within transportation or infrastructure sectors
BSc / MSc in Engineering (Systems, Electrical, Mechanical, Civil, or related discipline)
Proven experience supporting or managing systems engineering and safety assurance activities on complex rail or transit programs
Strong understanding of systems engineering principles, including requirements management, interface management, and V&V
Demonstrated experience in hazard analysis, risk management, and safety case development
Experience applying rail safety standards and frameworks (e.g., EN 50126/8/9, RAMS, SMS, or equivalent)
Experience supporting safety certification, regulatory approval, and commissioning processes
Understanding of multidisciplinary system integration across rail environments
Experience working in client-facing or embedded delivery environments preferred
Strong communication, coordination, and stakeholder engagement skills

Responsibilities

Reporting to the Systems Engineering Manager, support the whole scope of systems engineering and safety assurance (SESA) activities across the program lifecycle
Oversee the development and management of system requirements, ensuring full traceability through design, delivery, and operation
Coordinate interface management across multidisciplinary systems, including rail systems, stations, civil infrastructure, and utilities
Develop and maintain system safety strategies, plans, and governance frameworks aligned with project and regulatory requirements
Lead hazard identification, risk assessment, and hazard log management, ensuring risks are mitigated to acceptable levels
Oversee the preparation and acceptance of safety cases and assurance documentation, demonstrating systems are safe and fit for purpose
Ensure compliance with applicable standards and frameworks (e.g., RAMS / EN 50126, EN 50128, EN 50129, and U.S. transit safety requirements)
Manage verification and validation (V&V) processes, ensuring systems meet defined performance and safety requirements
Support and coordinate safety certification and regulatory approval activities, ensuring readiness for safe entry into service
Oversee contractor and supplier SESA deliverables, ensuring alignment with program requirements and quality expectations
Act as a key interface with client teams, regulators, independent assessors, and stakeholders, supporting audits and reviews
Support integration, testing, commissioning, and handover of systems into operations
Drive a proactive Safety Management System (SMS) approach across the program
Mentor and guide engineers, supporting development of systems engineering and safety capability within the team