Manager-Transit Systems Engineering

ST Public Branding; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 107,000 - 213,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Long‑term disability & life insurance

Retirement plans: 401a and 457b

Paid time off and holidays

Parental leave

Job summary

Sound Transit is seeking a technical engineering manager to supervise the Transit Systems Engineering (TSE) unit within the Transit Systems Technology (TST) team. The role ensures delivery of systems across vehicles, stations, and facilities with a focus on reliability and safety.

The ideal candidate has a strong background in engineering leadership, systems integration, and project execution, plus experience coordinating multi‑vendor systems and driving continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related field with five years of technical systems engineering experience; three years of leadership, budgetary, planning and workforce management experience.
• Professional Engineer License preferred and WA state licensure evident.
• Experience coordinating multi‑vendor systems integration, testing, and project delivery.

Responsibilities

• Plans, directs, coordinates, and reviews the work of assigned staff within the Transit Systems Engineering unit.
• Provides engineering support to expansion projects and system integration testing.
• Reviews contracts, submittals, and ensures compliance with agency criteria and procedures.
• Recommends process and system improvements for efficiency and future growth.
• Recruits, coaches, trains, and manages staff, including performance development.
• Collaborates with stakeholders to maintain systems across facilities and vehicles.

Skills

Leadership

Budget development

Systems thinking

Coaching

Time management

Communication

Meeting management

Collaboration

Problem solving

Strategic planning

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering

Professional Engineer License

Job description

If you are a job seeker with a disability and require a reasonable accommodation to apply for one of our jobs, you will find the contact information to request the appropriate accommodation by visiting the following our Accessibility Accomodation for Applicants page.

• Posted on August 12, 2026

Locations

Showing 1 location

Seattle, WA 98104, USA

• Full-Time
• Requisition #: MANAG003686

Description

Salary range is $107k to $213k, with a midpoint of $160k. New hires typically receive between minimum and midpoint, however, we may go slightly higher based on experience, internal equity and market.

Sound Transit also offers a competitivebenefits package with a wide range of offerings, including:

• Health Benefits: We offer two choices of medical plans, a dental plan, and a vision plan all at no cost for employee coverage; comprehensive benefits for employees and eligible dependents, including a spouse or domestic partner.
• Long-Term Disability and Life Insurance.
• Employee Assistance Program.
• Retirement Plans: 401a – 10% of employee contribution with a 12% match by Sound Transit; 457b – up to IRS maximum (employee only contribution).
• Paid Time Off: Employees accrue 25 days of paid time off annually with increases at four, eight and twelve years of service. Employees at the director level and up accrue additional days. We also observe 12 paid holidays and provide up to 2 paid floating holidays and up to 2 paid volunteer days per year.
• Parental Leave: 12 weeks of parental leave for new parents.
• ORCA Card: All full-time employees will receive an ORCA card at no cost.
• Tuition Reimbursement: Sound Transit will pay up to $5,000 annually for approved tuition expenses.
• Inclusive Reproductive Health Support Services.
• Compensation Practices: We offer competitive salaries based on market rates and internal equity. In addition to compensation and benefits, you’ll find that we provide work-life balance, opportunities for professional development and recognition from your colleagues.

GENERAL PURPOSE:

This is a technical engineering management role supervising the Transit Systems Engineering (TSE) unit of the Transit Systems Technology (TST) team.

Transit Systems Engineering herein refers to the engineering work performed to support facilities, light rail, heavy rail, access control, CCTV, streetcar systems and equipment in their entirety during the life of the system/asset while under the control of the Service Delivery department (i.e., post-construction). Systems supported include, but are not limited to, vehicle systems, intrusion detection, passenger information management systems, radio communications, vertical conveyance, access control, fare collection, and also support for the design, development and implementation for new innovative systems.

The purpose of TSE is to provide expert engineering judgement and manage work teams providing technical support for vehicles, communications, control systems, and automated control systems for Sound Transit operations technology, non-expansion projects, and operations support. TSE also provides technical review of systems in expansion programs as well as performing systems integration testing for supported systems on expansion projects.

This position relies upon knowledge and experience of systems integration, engineering, management, and leadership to ensure that the work performed by assigned technical teams is completed efficiently, on‑time, and to a continuously improving level of quality. The TSE team ensures that all communication and assigned control systems of transit passenger stations, vehicles, and maintenance facilities are properly maintained in a good state of repair.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: The following duties are a representative summary of the primary duties and responsibilities. Incumbent(s) may not be required to perform all duties listed and may be required to perform additional, position‑specific duties.

• Plans, directs, coordinates, and reviews the work of assigned staff; assigns work activities and coordinates schedules, projects, and programs; provides constructive feedback; reviews and evaluates work and makes effective suggestions and recommendations in support of operations.
• Provides engineering support to expansion projects as necessary.
• Supports the development and execution of systems integration testing as necessary.
• In collaboration with interfacing system owners and stakeholders, approves deviations from established agency standards and criteria in assigned engineering discipline.
• Reviews, provides input to, and accepts formal contract deliverables and submittals to provide assurance of project compliance with established agency technical criteria, policies, and procedures for design development, systems interface coordination and integration, construction, and testing and commissioning.
• May be required to review engineering drawings and specifications.
• In support of long‑term transit growth plans, recommends process and system improvements to increase Department efficiency; and assesses new technologies to generate improvements in operational efficiency.
• Recruits, coaches, trains, and motivates staff and manages employee relations. Prepares developmental work plans for staff, recommends and implements corrective actions and disciplinary procedures as appropriate.
• Provides other support to the department/ division directed including serving on committees and review boards for cross‑functional work.
• Champions and models Sound Transit's core values and demonstrates values‑based behaviors in everyday interactions across the agency.
• Contributes to a culture of diversity, equity and inclusion in alignment with Sound Transit’s Equity & Inclusion Policy.
• It is the responsibility of all employees to follow the Agency safety rules, regulations, and procedures pertaining to their assigned duties and responsibilities, which could include systems, operations, and/or other employees.
• It is the responsibility of all employees to integrate sustainability into everyday business practices.
• Other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Education and Experience: Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related field; Five years of technical systems engineering experience; Or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Three years of leadership, budgetary, planning and workforce management experience.

Preferred Licenses or Certifications:

• Professional Engineer License or Professional Architect license issued by the State of Washington.

Required Knowledge and Skills:

• Engineering principles, methods, and techniques relevant to the assigned technical discipline applied during design, construction, testing and commissioning, operations, and maintenance of transportation infrastructure projects.
• Methods and techniques involved in designing, installing, and maintaining multi‑vendor systems and connectivity.
• Codes and related regulations applicable to area of practice.
• Recent developments, current literature, and sources of information related to emerging trends and innovation in area or practice.
• Troubleshooting, diagnostic, and root cause analysis - ability to systematically investigate equipment failures in complex systems, determine the root cause, and recommend corrective action.
• Time management - ability to manage a large workload, prioritize effort, delegate effectively, and manage commitments.
• Collaboration - Excellent ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other agency staff, consultants, contractors, authorities having jurisdiction, and other stakeholder groups. Is able to consistently reach consensus with diverse groups of stakeholders.
• Communication- Excellent skill in the ability to communicate clear and accurate technical information to technical and non‑technical audiences in verbal and written form.
• Meeting management -Advanced skill in planning, conducting, and recording effective meetings.
• Budget development and management.
• Systems thinking -Advanced skill in understanding the whole problem, seeking different perspectives, understanding interdependencies, and decomposing complex problems into solvable elements.
• Technical road mapping with emphasis on forward planning system upgrades for state of good repair.
• Conflict resolution - ability to respectfully reconcile different points of view held by diverse stakeholders on matters pertaining to area of practice.
• Performance management - Ability to develop well defined goals and evaluate performance objectively.
• Coaching-Ability to foster a relationship with employees focused on continually developing technical and interpersonal skills.

Physical Demands / Work Environment:

• Work is performed in a standard hybrid office environment, with the expectation of working in the office at least 3 days per week.
• The Agency promotes a safe and healthy work environment and provides appropriate safety and equipment training for all personnel as required.

Sound Transit is an equal employment opportunity employer. No person is unlawfully excluded from employment action based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status or other protected class.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.