Traction Power Expert - Rail Systems

Parsons; Dubai; On-site; AED 450,000 - 650,000; Full time

Job summary

Parsons Corporation in Dubai seeks a senior Traction Power Expert - Rail Systems to lead planning, design review, and commissioning of traction power infrastructure for major rail projects.

You will coordinate with multidisciplinary teams, ensure compliance with international standards, and deliver safe, reliable power systems from substations to overhead contact networks.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or equivalent.
• Minimum 15 years of experience in design, construction, integration, or commissioning of railway systems.
• Extensive experience with traction power systems for metro, high-speed, intercity, or express rail projects.
• Knowledge of traction substations, overhead contact systems, and power distribution.
• Familiarity with EN/IEC/IEEE railway standards.

Responsibilities

• Lead planning, technical development, and integration of railway traction power systems across all project phases.
• Review traction power strategies, system architecture, electrical configurations, redundancy provisions, and operational philosophies.
• Coordinate the design of traction substations, switching stations, feeder systems, return circuits, earthing arrangements, and power distribution networks.
• Review overhead contact system designs, including catenary layouts, sectioning arrangements, support structures, clearances, and electrical performance.
• Coordinate interfaces between traction power, rolling stock, signalling, SCADA, communications, platform systems, depot equipment, and railway operations.

Skills

Railway traction power

Traction substations

Overhead contact systems

AC/DC traction architectures

System integration

Electrical safety & protection

Technical leadership

Requirements management

Testing & commissioning

Stakeholder communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering

Job description

Job Snapshot

Role: Traction Power Expert - Rail Systems

Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Industry: Transportation-Trucking-Railroad

Function: Electrical-Electronics Engineering

Experience: Minimum 15 years

Job Type: Full-time

Overview

Traction Power Expert - Rail Systems in Dubai, United Arab Emirates is a senior Transportation-Trucking-Railroad opportunity with Parsons Corporation for an experienced railway electrification specialist. The position will lead the planning, design review, systems integration, testing, commissioning, and operational handover of traction power infrastructure for a major metro, high-speed, intercity, or express rail development.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the planning, technical development, and integration of railway traction power systems across all project phases.
• Review traction power strategies, system architecture, electrical configurations, redundancy provisions, and operational philosophies.
• Coordinate the design of traction substations, switching stations, feeder systems, return circuits, earthing arrangements, and associated power distribution networks.
• Review overhead contact system designs, including catenary layouts, sectioning arrangements, support structures, clearances, and electrical performance.
• Assess third rail systems where applicable, including conductor rail layouts, protection arrangements, isolation requirements, and operational interfaces.
• Confirm that traction power designs meet railway capacity, headway, reliability, maintainability, and energy‑performance requirements.
• Coordinate interfaces between traction power, rolling stock, signalling, SCADA, communications, platform systems, depot equipment, and railway operations.
• Work with civil, structural, mechanical, electrical, architectural, and railway systems teams to resolve multidisciplinary design conflicts.
• Support the preparation of system requirements, design criteria, performance specifications, employer requirements, and technical standards.
• Apply Systems Engineering principles to requirements management, interface control, verification, validation, configuration, and traceability.
• Review Design and Construct tender documentation, technical schedules, contractor proposals, and specialist supplier submissions.
• Evaluate traction power calculations, load flow studies, short‑circuit assessments, voltage‑drop analyses, harmonic studies, and power‑quality reports.
• Review equipment specifications for transformers, rectifiers, switchgear, protection systems, cables, control panels, and remote monitoring equipment.
• Identify technical, operational, safety, and integration risks and develop practical mitigation measures.
• Verify compliance with applicable railway standards, electrical codes, fire and life‑safety requirements, and project specifications.
• Support procurement evaluations, technical clarifications, design workshops, and contractor coordination meetings.
• Develop and review testing and commissioning strategies for traction power and railway electrification systems.
• Coordinate factory acceptance testing, site acceptance testing, system integration testing, energization, dynamic testing, and trial operations.
• Review testing procedures, commissioning records, inspection documentation, test results, and defect‑resolution plans.
• Ensure safe energization through approved switching procedures, isolation plans, permit systems, and emergency arrangements.
• Support operational readiness activities, including staff training, maintenance procedures, spare‑parts planning, asset documentation, and handover.
• Provide technical advice to project leadership, contractors, consultants, operators, and authority representatives.
• Monitor contractor performance and ensure technical issues are resolved without compromising safety, reliability, schedule, or quality.
• Prepare technical reports, design review comments, risk assessments, interface records, presentations, and executive recommendations.
• Promote consistent engineering governance across all traction power packages and project interfaces.

Ideal Profile

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or an equivalent engineering discipline from a recognized university.
• Minimum 15 years of experience managing the design, construction, integration, or commissioning of railway systems.
• Extensive technical experience with traction power systems for metro, high‑speed, intercity, commuter, or express rail projects.
• Proven knowledge of traction substations, switching stations, overhead contact systems, third rail equipment, and railway power distribution.
• Strong understanding of AC and DC railway electrification architectures and their operational applications.
• Experience coordinating traction power interfaces with rolling stock, signalling, SCADA, communications, depots, and control centers.
• Demonstrated involvement in testing, commissioning, energization, integrated testing, trial running, and operational handover.
• Strong Systems Engineering capability covering requirements, interfaces, verification, validation, configuration, and technical assurance.
• Ability to review complex electrical calculations, technical specifications, design reports, and contractor submissions.
• Familiarity with EN, IEC, IEEE, AREMA, and other recognized international railway and electrical standards.
• Strong awareness of electrical safety, earthing, bonding, protection coordination, isolation, and emergency response requirements.
• Experience working with multidisciplinary consultants, contractors, railway operators, specialist suppliers, and public authorities.
• Ability to identify integration risks and lead the resolution of complex technical issues.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to present recommendations to senior stakeholders.
• Professional certification or membership with a recognized engineering institution is preferred.

Skills Set

• Railway traction power
• Railway electrification
• Traction substations
• Switching stations
• Overhead contact systems
• Third rail systems
• AC traction systems
• DC traction systems
• Power distribution networks
• Load flow studies
• Short‑circuit analysis
• Voltage‑drop calculations
• Harmonic analysis
• Earthing and bonding
• Electrical protection
• SCADA integration
• Rolling stock interfaces
• Signalling interfaces
• Communications interfaces
• Depot systems integration
• Systems Engineering
• Requirements management
• Interface management
• Verification and validation
• Technical assurance
• Tender documentation
• Design review
• Factory acceptance testing
• Site acceptance testing
• System integration testing
• Energization
• Testing and commissioning
• Operational readiness
• Railway standards
• EN standards
• IEC standards
• IEEE standards
• AREMA standards
• Risk management
• Technical leadership

Why Join Us

This position provides the opportunity to influence the technical direction of a landmark railway development in Dubai. The successful candidate will work across the full traction power lifecycle and contribute to infrastructure that must meet demanding requirements for safety, availability, capacity, and long‑term operational reliability. Rail expansion across the region continues to create strong demand for senior railway electrification specialists. The role offers exposure to complex system interfaces, international engineering standards, multidisciplinary delivery teams, and advanced testing and commissioning programs while supporting continued progression in technical leadership.

About the Company

Parsons Corporation delivers engineering, systems integration, project management, and technical advisory services for major transportation and infrastructure programs. Its railway teams support complex projects through disciplined systems engineering, rigorous technical assurance, coordinated delivery, and a strong focus on safe and reliable operations.