Systems Design Specialist- Senior

Hitachi Automotive Systems Americas, Inc.; Toronto; On-site; CAD 93,000 - 116,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, Dental and Vision insurance

Retirement savings plan

Paid holidays

Life and accident Insurance

Flextime and training opportunities

Job summary

Hitachi Rail Canada Inc. in Toronto is hiring a Signaling Design Specialist - Senior to lead system and signaling design, data requirements, and interface specifications for CBTC-based signaling projects.

The role involves mentoring junior engineers, performing analyses and simulations, and delivering design artifacts within scope, cost, and schedule. Fluency in rail signaling concepts and strong written communication are required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or Computer Science or closely related field.
• 4–10 years of experience in software-based system applications development.
• Knowledge of modern software engineering practices and SDLC.
• Medium-level expertise in URS Systems and CBTC domain knowledge.

Responsibilities

• Define application databases for software subsystems and analyze design feasibility.
• Develop system, subsystem, and interface requirements from customer needs.
• Create data models, block design, interlocking tables, and data requirements.
• Provide technical design presentations to customers and teams.
• Mentor junior engineers and support bid activities with technical estimates.

Skills

System design

Signaling design

CBTC domain

URS Systems

Software engineering practices

Mentoring

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering (Systems, Electrical, Computer) or Computer Science

Tools

DOORS

Polarion

Melody Advance

Job description

Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada Job ID: R1011307 Date Posted: 2026-07-07 Company Name: Hitachi Rail Canada Inc. Profession (Job Category): Engineering & Science Job Schedule: Full time Remote: No

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

We are hiring a Signaling Design Specialist - Senior for our Toronto office. The Signaling Design Specialist - Senior will, among other responsibilities, perform system design, signaling design, analysis, modelling, and simulation to specify communication-based train control systems; develop and define system design features to meet Customer requirements; develop and define System, Subsystems and Data requirements to fulfill any specific customer requirements on the project; develop block design, interlocking control tables, and application database for Software subsystems; analyze and evaluate system performance and prepare associated technical contract deliverables. The incumbent is accountable for performing the design work correctly, within cost and schedule limits, as defined in approved work packages. As a Senior Resource, the incumbent can mentor more junior resources and provide guidance on complex topics. As needed, the incumbent will seek guidance from more senior resources in the team for very complex activities. The work is typically defined by the Work Package Manager and assigned to the system/signaling engineers. The System/signaling Engineer typically works with a team of engineers to define the requirements/design for the project under the technical supervision of the System/Signaling Design Lead. As a signaling engineer, there is a focus on the development of the data-related requirements and producing a database for the system.

Key Accountabilities

• Performs technical/engineering tasks to define application databases for software subsystems.
• Conducts analysis and simulations as necessary to identify design feasibility and driving requirements.
• Prepares specialized signaling design skills, covering one or more of the following: Signaling Principles Data Requirements Block Design Interlocking Control tables Safe Braking model Performance analysis and Headway simulations Application Database design.
• Delivers the project guideway application data, signal plan, crossover coordinates, track maps, and guideway database to software groups.
• Ensures the signaling design is implemented in accordance with applicable standards and signaling principles.
• Analyzes train characteristics and safety requirements to define the safe braking model.
• Transforms 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, decomposing, modeling, and refining customer requirements and typical train control domain requirements.
• Supports bids and proposals, including customer requirements compliance assessment, gap analysis, architecture design, simulation, trade‑off of key features, estimation, etc.
• Present(s) technical design and reports to customers and/or other engineering/management groups in clear, complete, concise, and non-ambiguous terms.
• Proposes updates of processes and standards covering the work and its products based on knowledge of systems engineering and/or technical specialty.
• Evaluates operational design limits, defines performance analyses and simulations, and develops/provides outputs for system evaluation and improvement.
• Interfaces and builds strong working relationships with Software, Hardware, and IVVQ groups to ensure timely analysis and resolution of in‑house and field test issues.

Safety

• Promotes a safety culture where product safety is paramount.
• Ensures that safety is built into the design by early identification and resolution of safety-related defects.

Management

• Mentors more junior Signaling Engineers, coaching them on deliverables preparation and reviewing their work.
• Contributes to work package estimates and descriptions based on the knowledge of the work and project requirements.

Key Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering (Systems, Electrical, Computer), Computer Science, or a closely related field
• 4-10 years’ experience in the development of software-based system applications
• Knowledge of modern software engineering practices, methods, and tools
• Knowledge of systems development life cycle
• Medium-level expertise in URS (Urban Rail Signaling) Systems: Minimum 5 years on systems of similar complexity
• Intermediate level of expertise on specialized engineering skills of the CBTC (Communication-Based Train Control) domain

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in using DOORS, Polarion, Melody Advance, or other system design and requirement management tools
• Knowledge of systems engineering principles and practices
• Experience in the development of databases used for software development
• Experience in developing/reviewing test scenarios and/or procedures to test database implementation
• Understanding of the use of tools to create/verify data for safety-critical systems
• Rail signaling knowledge
• Experience mentoring other engineers
• Strong planning and organizational skills
• Excellent technical writing, communication, and presentation skills

Base Salary Range

$93,000-116,000

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. Our hiring process uses both human and technology‑assisted (AI) tools to support candidate screening and assessment. All results are reviewed by people, and all hiring decisions are made by people. Thank you for your interest in Hitachi Rail. If your application is of interest, we will be in contact. Please do not hesitate to discover more about us and our latest jobs at https://www.hitachirail.com/careers. 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. We would be delighted if you would be one of our followers at https://www.linkedin.com/company/hitachirail 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. E-mail us for data privacy inquiries or technical support.