Systems Engineer - Traction Electrification

Salary range is $81K to $155K with a midpoint of $108K. New hires typically receive between minimum and midpoint, however, we may go slightly higher based on experience, internal equity and market. 

Sound Transit also offers a competitive benefits package with a wide range of offerings, including:

• Health Benefits: We offer two choices of medical plans, a dental plan, and a vision plan all at no cost for employee coverage; comprehensive benefits for employees and eligible dependents, including a spouse or domestic partner.
• Long-Term Disability and Life Insurance.
• Employee Assistance Program.
• Retirement Plans: 401a – 10% of employee contribution with a 12% match by Sound Transit; 457b – up to IRS maximum (employee only contribution).
• Paid Time Off: Employees accrue 25 days of paid time off annually with increases at four, eight and twelve years of service. Employees at the director level and up accrue additional days. We also observe 12 paid holidays and provide up to 2 paid floating holidays and up to 2 paid volunteer days per year.
• Parental Leave: 12 weeks of parental leave for new parents.
• Pet Insurance.
• ORCA Card: All full-time employees will receive an ORCA card at no cost.
• Tuition Reimbursement: Sound Transit will pay up to $5,000 annually for approved tuition expenses.
• Compensation Practices: We offer competitive salaries based on market rates and internal equity. In addition to compensation and benefits, you’ll find that we provide work-life balance, opportunities for professional development and recognition from your colleagues.

GENERAL PURPOSE: 

This is a technical role as an engineer responsible for traction electrification systems. Traction electrification includes incoming AC utility feeds and medium voltage AC power distribution, DC traction power substations, overhead contact systems (OCS), and related automated monitoring and control systems.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

The following duties are a representative summary of the primary duties and responsibilities. Incumbent(s) may not be required to perform all duties listed and may be required to perform additional, position-specific duties.

• Develops and maintains agency design criteria and standards for systems and assets in assigned engineering discipline.
• Reviews and provides input to formal contract deliverables and submittals to provide assurance of project compliance with established agency technical criteria, policies, and procedures for design development, systems interface coordination and integration, construction, and testing and commissioning.
• Reviews and makes recommendations on changes and deviations from established agency standards and criteria.
• Provides support to senior staff working closely with city code and fire department officials to ensure code requirements and operational best practices are incorporated into design projects.
• Develops designs for follow on and service delivery projects from beginning to end including coordination of schedule, scope, and budget of assigned projects.
• Provides engineering economic analysis in determining total cost of ownership. 
• Provides support to the department/division and others on matters as directed; serves as staff on a variety of committees as assigned; prepares and presents reports and presentations; attends and participates in professional group meetings.
• Supports Agency Sustainability efforts to develop efficient designs and evaluate new technologies intended to improve efficiencies and reduce impact.
• Collaborates with staff across the agency to ensure continuous improvement and best practice is applied to engineering criteria, policies, and procedures.
• Champions and models Sound Transit's core values and demonstrates values-based behaviors in everyday interactions across the agency.
• Contributes to a culture of diversity, equity and inclusion in alignment with Sound Transit’s Equity & Inclusion Policy.
• It is the responsibility of all employees to follow the Agency safety rules, regulations, and procedures pertaining to their assigned duties and responsibilities, which could include systems, operations, and/or other employees.  
• It is the responsibility of all employees to integrate sustainability into everyday business practices.
• Other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Education and Experience: Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or closely related field and four years of mechanical systems engineering experience in design, construction or operations and maintenance of complex industrial mechanical systems; OR an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Required Knowledge and Skills:

• Industrial power distribution systems and rail transit traction electrification. 
• Operational characteristics, services, and activities of traction power and/or overhead contact systems engineering projects and programs.
• Application of principles and practices of electrical and traction power systems engineering, design, and construction. 
• Oversight and monitoring the integration and design of traction electrification systems within a transit system. 
• Federal, state, and local codes, OSHA requirements, and related regulations.
• Principles of business letter writing and basic report preparation.
• Troubleshooting, diagnostics, and root cause analysis - ability to systematically investigate equipment failures, determine the root cause, and recommend corrective action.
• Time management - ability to control a large workload, prioritize effort, and manage commitments.
• Collaboration - ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other agency staff, consultants, contractors, authorities having jurisdiction, and other stakeholder groups.
• Communication - ability to communicate clear and accurate technical information to technical and non-technical audiences in verbal and written form.
• Meeting management - ability to plan, conduct, and record effective meetings.
• Systems thinking - ability to understand the whole problem, seek different perspectives, understand interdependencies, and decompose complex problems into solvable elements.

Physical Demands / Work Environment:  

• Work is performed in a hybrid office, field, and shop environments.
• Positions working in field may occasionally be exposed to dangerous machinery, extreme weather conditions, physical harm, hazardous chemicals, and/or extreme noise.
• This position will be expected to work three days per week in the office. 
• Position is responsible for field inspections. May be subject to standing and walking.
• Position includes 24-hour on call program and weekend/night shifts; position is responsible for providing field inspections that need to be performed at night and weekends. 
• The Agency promotes a safe and healthy work environment and provides appropriate safety and equipment training for all personnel as required. 

Sound Transit is an equal employment opportunity employer. No person is unlawfully excluded from employment action based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status or other protected class.