Senior Systems Engineer

Job Title

Senior Systems Engineer

Job Description

Santa Clara Valley Transportation Agency (VTA) is seeking a collaborative, solutions-oriented engineer with strong experience in rail transit systems and a passion for improving system performance.

The Senior Systems Engineer plays a key role in advancing the safety, reliability, and performance of the Light Rail System. Based at the Light Rail Maintenance Yard, this position provides high-level engineering support across rail system assets and helps ensure compliance with regulatory requirements while driving continuous system improvement.

Light Rail Vehicle Maintenance is located at the Guadalupe Light Rail Division. LRV Maintenance is responsible for timely and reliable maintenance, preventive maintenance, inspections, repair and servicing of light rail vehicles and service equipment.

What You'll Be Doing: Under direction, the Senior Systems Engineer plans, organizes, and directs varied and difficult electrified rail engineering work performed by staff and consultants, and provides technical assistance in systems engineering to rail operating managers.

The ideal candidate is a collaborative, solutions-oriented engineer with strong experience in rail transit systems and a passion for improving system performance. They bring a solid foundation in engineering design, troubleshooting, and project delivery, and are comfortable working in a public agency or other highly regulated environment.

About VTA: The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority employs more than 2,000 people dedicated to providing solutions that move Silicon Valley.

Essential Job Functions

Typical tasks include selecting, training, supervising, and assigning work to professional and technical engineering staff; overseeing the work of staff, consultants, and contractors; providing expertise for systems integration of vehicles, track, overhead electrification, traction power, signals, communications equipment, and fare vending machines; evaluating systems, equipment, and operations for safety, cost effectiveness, efficiency, and reliability; developing and reviewing specifications and preparing budget estimates for vehicles, systems, and components; developing and designing changes to upgrade systems and equipment; monitoring performance of critical components and systems and providing data on failure trends; participating in accident investigation to determine cause and damage to systems and recommending corrective action; developing or assisting in developing programs and procedures for quality assurance, testing, major overhaul and rebuild, or systems and equipment; ensuring coordination of construction work by others within or near the right-of-way with the operations of the rail system; establishing and maintaining control of equipment and technical documents; maintaining contacts with other agencies, suppliers, and consultants; preparing and presenting oral and written reports; and performing related work as required.

Minimum Qualifications

Employment standards include sufficient education, training, and professional engineering experience on electrified rail systems which demonstrates the ability to perform the above tasks and possession of the following knowledge and abilities. Registration as a professional electrical or mechanical engineer in the State of California, at the time of appointment.

Supplemental Information

Knowledge of design and construction of electrified rail systems and components; principles of supervision and training; systems and component testing; principles of quality assurance and quality control; investigative techniques; operations and maintenance of rail transit vehicles and equipment; federal, state and local safety and other legal requirements; maintenance requirements and practices of rail vehicles, wayside equipment and systems; and specialized tools and equipment used in the maintenance of rail systems and equipment. Ability to supervise systems engineering functions; evaluate and monitor work and performance of others; analyze engineering problems and work out effective solutions; make accurate engineering computations; communicate effectively both verbally and in writing; write accurate and concise engineering reports, analyses, specifications, and procedures; and establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with those encountered in the course of work.