Rail & Transit Traction Power Leader

Job Description

Overview

We are seeking a Rail & Transit Traction Power Leader to drive market growth and provide technical and delivery leadership for traction power and rail electrical systems across the New York City region. This is a seller-doer role: you will develop and expand client relationships lead strategic pursuits and serve as Project Director/Principal-in-Charge and technical authority on complex rail/transit programs and projects.

This leader will be the go-to expert for traction power systems across third rail and overhead contact system (OCS) environments (role is agnostic to either) including substations power distribution protection/controls grounding/bonding and systems integrationwhile ensuring projects are delivered safely compliantly and with minimal disruption to operating railroads and transit systems.

Your role

Key Responsibilities

Market Growth & Strategy (Seller-Doer)

• Own and grow key client relationships across the NYC area rail/transit market including MTA (C&D NYCT LIRR Metro-North) Amtrak PATH NJ Transit and major contractors.

• Identify qualify and shape pursuits in traction power rail systems program/construction management support and alternative delivery (DBB Design-Build Progressive Design-Build CM/GC).

• Lead or support capture planning teaming strategy win themes and differentiated technical approaches for major pursuits.

• Represent the firm at regional industry events (APTA/IEEE-focused forums conferences panels) to build visibility and strengthen market presence.

• Coordinate pursuit/no-bid and teaming decisions with regional leadership to maximize positioning and probability of win.

• Develop and execute an annual growth plan with measurable goals (e.g. backlog/revenue growth targets over 23 years expansion of framework/IDIQ/task order work and increased share-of-wallet with priority accounts).

Technical Leadership & Delivery Excellence

• Serve as technical lead and subject matter expert for traction power and rail electrical systems including:

  • Lead traction power studies and calculations (load flow/power-flow short-circuit cable sizing protection coordination grounding/step-touch arc-flash) and translate results into robust designs specifications and drawings.

  • Hands on experience developing detailed design and specifications for DC systems (600/750/1000/1500V) and AC systems (12.5/25KV).

  • Traction power substations (AC utility interfaces transformers rectifiers/inverters as applicable) distribution switching/sectionalization

  • Power supply and distribution for third rail and/or OCS including feeder arrangements and interface requirements

  • Protection & relaying controls SCADA/communications interfaces and system monitoring

  • Grounding/bonding negative return stray current mitigation concepts and power quality considerations

• Direct and oversee the development of:

  • Conceptual through final designs; technical specifications; contract documents

  • Drawings and deliverables such as site plans duct bank/cable plans grounding grids single-line diagrams schematics conduit/wire schedules

• Ensure compliance with relevant standards and requirements including MTA/agency standards NFPA 130 NEC IEEE and other applicable codes and guidelines.

• Provide oversight of quality safety scope schedule budget and risk across assigned projects and task orders.

• Collaborate with PMs and discipline leads (track signals communications civil/structural architecture OCS/third rail systems integration) to deliver coordinated solutions.

• Support construction delivery by providing technical support for:

  • Field investigations site walks constructability reviews

  • Submittal/shop drawing review RFI responses and design clarifications

  • Factory/shop testing witness testing where required and commissioning/closeout support

• Coordinate with utility companies and stakeholders to define service requirements outages interface responsibilities and operational constraints.

Team Leadership Mentorship & Capability Building

• Build mentor and lead a high-performing traction power teamcreating a culture of technical excellence accountability and collaboration.

• Recruit retain and develop traction power and rail electrical talent in NYC and across the broader region; support succession planning and capability growth.

• Provide hands-on technical coaching to engineers/designers and review deliverables for quality and compliance.

• Promote continuous improvement innovation and best practices in modeling design standards documentation and quality management.

• Leverage national resources and specialty expertise to scale delivery capacity for peak needs and complex assignments.

Financial & Business Management

• Develop scopes budgets staffing plans and risk strategies for traction power-focused and systems-heavy rail/transit assignments.

• Monitor project financial performance (e.g. burn rates change management profitability) and drive corrective actions as needed.

• Manage resource planning and deployment in coordination with operations leadership to meet delivery commitments.

• Contribute to annual business planning forecasting and strategic initiatives aligned with regional growth objectives.

About you

Required Qualifications

• Bachelors degree in electrical engineering (masters preferred).

• Professional Engineer (PE) license (New York strongly preferred; or ability to obtain within a defined period).

• 15 years of progressive experience in rail/transit electrical systems with significant focus in traction power and power distribution.

• Proven experience developing traction power design including final/IFC designs and providing Engineering Services During Construction.

• Demonstrate experience providing Traction Power Design for AC and DC rail systems in North America. Demonstrated experience delivering complex multidisciplinary infrastructure projects in dense urban environments with active operations.

• Working knowledge of MTA/NYCT standards procedures and approval processes; ability to navigate stakeholder and third-party coordination.

• Strong communication skills to lead client discussions develop technical narratives and contribute to proposals and presentations.

• Experience with relevant tools and platforms such as:

  • Traction Power Load Flow Study Software

  • Power system analysis/modeling (e.g. ETAP SKM or equivalent)

  • CAD/design production (e.g. MicroStation and/or AutoCAD; 3D modeling a plus)

• Ability and willingness to support site/field activities including inspections in stations tunnels/underground structures aerial structures and facilities environments as required.

Preferred Qualifications include

• Deep and current relationships with NYC-area rail/transit owners and delivery partners (MTA agencies Amtrak PATH NJT) and the contractor community.

• Experience with:

  • MV/LV substations 480V MCCs UPS systems emergency power interfaces

  • Protection coordination SCADA integration commissioning and test procedures

  • Alternative delivery procurement and delivery (Design-Build / Progressive DB)

• Record of published thought leadership technical papers committee participation (e.g. IEEE/APTA) or presentations at industry forums.

• Demonstrated seller-doer success: capture leadership proposal authorship interview leadership and measurable wins.

Skills & Attributes

• Entrepreneurial seller-doer mindset with strong client instincts and pursuit discipline.

• Recognized technical credibility and the ability to simplify complex concepts for executive decision-makers.

• Proven leadership in mentoring teams and building collaborative accountable project cultures.

• Strong analytical problem-solving and decision-making skills; comfortable operating with ambiguity.

• Commitment to safety quality compliance and delivering work that protects service continuity and operational reliability.

Working Conditions / Travel

• Hybrid position (2 to 3 days in the office) based in New York City with local travel to project sites client offices and meetings as needed.

• Periodic travel may be required for supplier visits project pursuits factory/shop testing and key project milestones.

Rewards & benefits

At AtkinsRéalis our valuesSafety Integrity Collaboration Innovation and Excellenceare more than just words. They are the foundation of who we are and how we work. These principles shape our culture guide our decisions and inspire us to create an environment where every team member feels empowered to grow succeed and make a meaningful impact.

Depending on your employment status AtkinsRéalis benefits may include medical dental vision company-paid life and short- and long-term disability benefits employer-matched 401(k) with 100% vesting employee stock purchase plan Paid Time Off leaves of absences options flexible work options recognition and employee satisfaction programs employee assistance program and voluntary benefits. You can review our comprehensive benefits page here.

About AtkinsRéalis

Were AtkinsRéalis a world-class engineering services and nuclear organization. We connect people data and technology to transform the worlds infrastructure and energy systems. Together with our industry partners and clients and our global team of consultants designers engineers and project managers we can change the world. Were committed to leading our clients across our various end markets to engineer a better future for our planet and its people.

Find out more.

Additional information

Expected compensation range is between $216700 - $270900 annually depending on skills experience and geographical location.

Are you ready to expand your career with us Apply today and help us shape something extraordinary.

AtkinsRéalis is an equal opportunity Drug-Free employer EOE/Veteran/Disability

Please review AtkinsRéalis Equal Opportunity Statement here.

AtkinsRéalis cares about your privacy and is committed to protecting your privacy. Please consult our Privacy Notice on our Careers site to know more about how we collect use and transfer your Personal Data. By submitting your personal information to AtkinsRéalis you confirm that you have read and accept our Privacy Notice.

Note to staffing and direct hire agencies:

In the event a recruiter or agency who is not on our preferred supplier list submits a resume/candidate to anyone in the company AtkinsRéalis family of companies we explicitly reserve the right to recruit and hire the candidate(s) at our discretion and without any financial obligation to the recruiter or agency. TypeEmployee

Job Type

Regular

At AtkinsRéalis we seek to hire individuals with diverse characteristics backgrounds and perspectives. We strongly believe that world-class talent makes no distinctions based on gender ethnic or national origin sexual identity and orientation age religion or disability but enriches itself through these differences.