Principal Commissioning Manager - ETCS Level 2 Deployment

Hitachi, Ltd.; City of Brisbane; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary review

Professional development

Health initiatives

Employee Assistance Program

Extra days off

Social events

Job summary

Hitachi Rail is seeking a Principal Commissioning Manager in Brisbane, Australia to lead the Test & Commissioning of a major ETCS Level 2 program. You will guide unified testing across signalling, telecoms, traction, and rolling stock, coordinating with multiple partners and stakeholders to ensure a safe, reliable entry-into-service.

You will manage a multidisciplinary team, drive readiness reviews, and champion continuous improvement while ensuring alignment with project milestones, regulatory

Qualifications

• Degree in Engineering with eligibility for Engineers Australia/RPEQ (preferred)
• 15+ years in railway systems delivery with leadership in testing/commissioning

Responsibilities

• Lead the Test & Commissioning delivery strategy for an ETCS Level 2 program with multiple work packages.
• Establish integrated testing and commissioning schedules aligned with milestones and operations.
• Coordinate T&C Managers to ensure consistent processes, standards, and reporting.
• Manage interfaces between signalling, telecoms, rolling stock, infrastructure, operations and maintenance.
• Oversee factory, site, integration, dynamic testing, shadow operations, and entry into service activities.
• Ensure compliance with project requirements, railway standards, safety obligations, and regulatory requirements.
• Chair T&C governance forums and report on readiness, risks, issues and progress.
• Drive commissioning readiness reviews and ensure requirements are satisfied prior to milestones.
• Support possession planning and operational integration to minimise disruption.
• Lead program-wide lessons learned and continuous improvement initiatives.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Systems integration

Risk management

Communication

Education

Engineering degree

Tools

ETCS Level 2

CBTC

Interlocking

Job description

About Us

A career at Hitachi Rail will help create a legacy. With operations in every corner of the world, our work goes to the cutting-edge of digital transformation and technology. From the multi-cultural strength of our global organisation to the sustainable and innovative ways we work to bring people together, there’s something for everyone to get stuck into. And that’s where you come in.

Job Description

Hitachi Rail is looking for an enthusiastic, self-motivated Principal Commissioning Manager with strong leadership capability, exceptional stakeholder management skills, and extensive experience delivering complex railway signalling programs. This position is based in Brisbane, Australia.

As the Principal Commissioning Manager, you will be accountable for the strategic leadership, integration, planning, execution, and assurance of Test & Commissioning activities across multiple ETCS Level 2 work packages within a major brownfield rail transformation program.

You will lead a team of multidisciplinary T&C Managers, Commissioning Engineers, Test Engineers, and delivery partners to ensure safe, efficient, and compliant integration of ETCS Level 2 systems into an operational railway environment. The role will provide overall governance and coordination of all testing and commissioning activities, ensuring alignment across signalling, telecommunications, traction power, rolling stock, operational readiness, and infrastructure work streams.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the overall Test & Commissioning delivery strategy for an ETCS Level 2 program comprising multiple work packages and delivery teams.

• Establish and maintain integrated testing and commissioning schedules aligned with program milestones and operational requirements.

• Coordinate all work package T&C Managers to ensure consistent processes, standards, reporting, and delivery methodologies.

• Manage interfaces between signalling, telecommunications, rolling stock, infrastructure, operations, and maintenance stakeholders.

• Oversee planning and execution of factory testing, site testing, integration testing, dynamic testing, shadow operations, operational proving, and entry into service activities.

• Ensure all commissioning activities comply with project requirements, railway standards, safety obligations, and regulatory requirements.

• Chair T&C governance forums and provide executive reporting on commissioning readiness, risks, issues, and progress.

• Drive commissioning readiness reviews and ensure all technical, operational, safety, and assurance requirements are satisfied prior to commissioning milestones.

• Support possession planning and operational integration activities to minimise disruption to live railway operations.

• Lead the development and implementation of program-wide lessons learned and continuous improvement initiatives.

Skills & Experience

• Degree qualification in Engineering or a related discipline with eligibility for membership of Engineers Australia and RPEQ registration [Preferrable] or equivalent

• Minimum 15 years of railway systems delivery experience, including significant experience in testing and commissioning leadership roles.

• Demonstrated experience delivering ETCS Level 2, ETCS Level 1, CBTC, ATP, interlocking, or major rail signalling projects.

• Extensive experience working within brownfield rail environments and operational railway networks.

• Strong understanding of systems integration, safety assurance, RAMS, configuration control, and systems acceptance processes.

• Proven experience leading multidisciplinary teams and managing multiple contractors and delivery partners.

• Experience working within Alliance, Design & Construct, or major infrastructure delivery models.

• Excellent risk management, stakeholder engagement, commercial awareness, and leadership skills.

• Experience interacting with railway operators, maintainers, safety regulators, and independent assurance bodies.

About You

• Demonstrated experience leading the testing and commissioning of large-scale railway signalling programs, preferably involving ETCS, CBTC, ATP, ATO, or other complex train control systems.

• Proven ability to manage multiple concurrent work packages and coordinate delivery across diverse technical disciplines and stakeholder groups.

• Strong understanding of systems engineering, configuration management, assurance processes, and railway integration principles.

• Experience developing and implementing integrated T&C strategies, commissioning frameworks, stage works, possession plans, and entry-into-service programs.

• Strong understanding of railway operational requirements, safety assurance, systems acceptance, and regulatory compliance obligations.

• Ability to develop high-quality commissioning documentation, including commissioning management plans, integrated testing strategies, test specifications, readiness reviews, and operational commissioning reports.

• Demonstrated leadership capability in managing geographically dispersed teams and contractors across large, complex delivery environments.

• Ability to identify and manage program-level risks associated with testing, commissioning, integration, and operational transition.

• Strong communication and stakeholder engagement skills with experience interfacing with clients, operators, maintainers, regulators, alliance partners, and executive leadership teams.

• Commitment to achieving safe, efficient, and right-first-time delivery outcomes while fostering a culture of continuous improvement and collaboration.

At Hitachi Rail, we know that a diverse business is a sustainable business. Working collaboratively with a range of internal networks, we’re continuously improving our policies and products. From accessible, sustainable design to achieving a better gender balance. We base these efforts on our core values: Harmony, Sincerity, and Pioneering spirit. And by aligning with these, we’re able to create a workplace where people not only feel comfortable but are given opportunities to thrive. We’re especially keen to hear from women and people of all genders considering a career in engineering, cybersecurity, and rail technology.

What we offer:

• Annual performance, development, and salary review process.

• Ongoing professional development and training.

• Salary continuance.

• Health and Wellbeing initiatives throughout the year (incl. flu vaccinations).

• Employee Assistance Program (employees and family).

• Days off per year sponsored by the company in addition to the statutory public holidays and leave entitlements.

• Invitation to attend and participate in Company sponsored social events throughout the year.

#LI-CL1

At Hitachi Rail, there is a place for everyone. We welcome and value differences in background, age, gender, sexuality, family status, disability, race, nationality, ethnicity, religion, and world view. It is our commitment to create an inclusive environment - we are proud to be an equal opportunity employer.