Project System Design Specialist

Hitachi Automotive Systems Americas, Inc.; Toronto; On-site; CAD 141,000 - 181,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, Dental and Vision plans

Retirement Savings Plan

3 weeks of vacation

Life and accident Insurance

Worklife programs

Job summary

Hitachi Rail Canada Inc. in Toronto, ON, seeks a Project System Design Specialist to lead system and signaling design for CBTC projects.

You will define requirements, perform analyses and simulations, and coordinate with customers and internal teams to deliver safe, cost-effective guideway designs. The role requires a engineering degree, 6–10 years in software-based system development, and strong knowledge of URS and CBTC.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering (Systems, Electrical, Computer) or closely related field.
• 6-10 years of experience in software-based system applications development.
• Knowledge of modern software engineering practices, methods, and tools.
• Knowledge of systems development life cycle.
• UR S (Urban Rail Signaling) expertise: 3-5 years of similar complexity.
• Ability to coach specialized engineering skills within CBTC domain.
• Experience leading a team of technical resources.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and support customer requirements compliance assessment, gap analysis, and architecture design.
• Convert customer requirements into conceptual designs and documentation via analyses and simulations.
• Develop system, subsystem, and interface requirement specifications.
• Prepare Operational Concept Document and associated design reports.
• Lead technical discussions and present solutions to stakeholders.
• Mentor other systems engineers and manage work packages within budget and schedule.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Presentation skills

Analytical thinking

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering

Tools

DOORS

Polarion

Melody Advance

Job description

About Us

Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada Job ID: R1012353 Date Posted: 2026-07-07 Company Name: Hitachi Rail Canada Inc. Profession (Job Category): Engineering & Science Job Schedule: Full time Remote: No

Job Description

The Project System Design Specialist will perform system design, signaling design, analysis, modelling, and simulation to specify communication-based train control systems. They will develop and define system design features to meet Customer requirements. They will analyze and evaluate customer requirements and verify compliance with our product system technical requirements. They will develop and define System and Subsystems requirements in order to fulfill any specific customer requirements on the project. They will communicate and gain acceptance of the design with the customer and internal stakeholders. The incumbent is accountable for performing the design work independently, within cost and schedule limits, as defined in approved work packages. Responsible for leading the team to perform system design activities to deliver a high-quality and safe guideway design, on time, at the lowest cost, and meeting customer requirements. The incumbent will also adapt system design processes to meet the needs of the project deployment and industry standards and ensure this process is followed by the team. Able to perform the role of Work Package Manager to organize and assign work to the system engineers on the project, as well as managing the budget and schedule for the system design work. Responsible for the overall system design for the project.

Key Accountabilities

• Technical: Prepares and supports customer requirements compliance assessment, gap analysis, and architecture design.


• Converts Customer (internal and/or external) requirements into conceptual designs and prepares associated documentation by performing operational analyses, simulations, and technical trade-off studies evaluating alternative design configurations and functional features.


• Creates new concepts or modifies existing concepts to fulfill customer requirements.


• Prepares system, subsystem, and interface requirement specifications by analyzing and decomposing, modelling, and refining customer requirements and train control domain requirements.


• Prepares Operational Concept Document.


• Prepares and supports bids and proposals, including customer requirements compliance assessment, gap analysis, architecture design, simulation, trade-off of key features, and cost estimation.


• Present[s] technical design and reports to customers and/or other engineering/management groups in clear, complete, concise, and non-ambiguous terms.


• Identifies and updates system processes based on specific project/product needs while aligning with industry standards to ensure efficient, high-quality designs.


• Evaluates and defines operational design limits.


• Ensures strong working relationships between the system design team and Software, Hardware, Safety, and IVVQ groups.


• Encourages adherence to development processes within the system team.


• Safety: Promotes a safety culture where product safety is paramount.


• Ensures that safety is incorporated into the design by identifying and resolving safety-related defects early in the process.


• Management: Supervises contractors and system specialists by defining tasks, coaching them, monitoring progress, and setting priorities.


• Proposes work package estimates and descriptions based on project knowledge and requirements.


• Leads technical discussions, presents solutions, and provides regular status reports to internal and external stakeholders.


• Mentors other systems engineers by coaching, monitoring progress, and providing technical guidance while directing priorities.


• Collaborates with Work Package Managers and other project team members to ensure inputs and outputs are managed effectively within the system design team.


• Identifies and implements process improvement initiatives.

Key Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering (Systems, Electrical, Computer), Computer Science, or a closely related field.


• 6-10 years of experience in the development of software-based System applications.


• Knowledge of modern software engineering practices, methods, and tools.


• Knowledge of systems development life cycle.


• Senior-level expertise in URS (Urban Rail Signaling) Systems: Minimum 3-5 years of similar system complexity.


• Ability to act as a reference/coach for specialized engineering skills within the CBTC (Communication Based Train Control) domain.


• Experience in leading a group of technical resources.


• Strong planning and organizational skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience using DOORS, Polarion, Melody Advance, or other system design and requirements management tools.


• Strong application domain knowledge of automated train control systems, as well as systems engineering principles and practices.


• Rail signaling knowledge.


• Work Package Management experience.


• Excellent technical writing, communication, and presentation skills.


• Ability to confidently sell and defend the product to customers with varying levels of understanding about automated systems.

Total Compensation Range (Base Salary + Annual Incentive plan)

$117,022 $150,028 Base Salary Range : $99,000- 127,000

Benefits

• Health, Dental and Vision plans - 100% of premiums are company-paid


• Retirement Savings Plan with a company match


• Company paid holidays - 3 weeks of vacation


• Company provided Life and accident Insurance, LTD


• Worklife programs such as Flextime and a variety of Development and Training opportunities

This posting relates to an existing vacancy.

Thank you for your interest in Hitachi Rail. If your application is of interest, we will be in contact.

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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.

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Hitachi brings together the world’s greatest minds to help breathe life into new possibilities – and drive innovation for a better future.

That’s why we look for individuals who share our pioneering spirit, have imaginative ideas and are fearless when it comes to tackling the world’s biggest challenges. Our people love technology – and they love making a difference. They have a passion for finding new solutions and working with brilliant colleagues. Every day they dedicate themselves to a huge range of exciting projects, contributing to the Hitachi vision around the globe. From engineering new sustainability solutions that conserve water and energy to creating the infrastructure for the smart cities of tomorrow, there’s no challenge too great for our pioneers. And there’s no shortage of opportunities for you to make a difference. Come and experience the dynamic, collaborative and creative environments where your ideas are welcome and new discoveries are waiting. To help you grow to your full potential, we strive to support our employees in their career aspirations and promote the freedom to explore new horizons.

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https://www.hitachirail.com/careers