Overhead Contact System Engineer – Rail Electrification Lead

Burns Engineering, Inc.; Sacramento (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Reporting to the Project Manager, you will interface with designers, contractors, suppliers, and operations stakeholders, ensuring timely delivery of verified electrification deliverables and adherence to safety and performance standards.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Railway Engineering, Systems Engineering, Civil Engineering, or related discipline.
• 10+ years of railway electrification or OCS engineering experience.
• Experience supporting OCS from design through testing, commissioning, and final acceptance.
• Experience reviewing engineering deliverables on large transportation infrastructure projects.
• Strong knowledge of railway electrification interfaces and operational requirements.
• Availability for travel 25–50% along the alignment.

Responsibilities

• Develop and review OCS engineering deliverables, construction packages, technical specifications, interface documentation, design changes, and technical submissions.
• Lead review of OCS designs, wiring plans, structure layouts, electrification studies, and construction packages.
• Review catenary layouts, structural interfaces, grounding and bonding requirements, and electrical clearances.
• Review geometry requirements, system performance requirements, and dynamic interaction criteria.
• Coordinate interfaces between OCS, traction power, trackwork, structures, signaling, and rolling stock.
• Provide engineering support during installation, testing, commissioning, and energization activities.
• Participate in testing procedures, commissioning documentation, and energization programs.
• Support technical issue resolution, field design clarifications, and implementation challenges.

Skills

Technical writing

Coordination

Stakeholder engagement

Cross-functional collaboration

Project leadership

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or related field

Job description

Reporting to the Project Manager, you will interface with designers, contractors, suppliers, and operations stakeholders, ensuring timely delivery of verified electrification deliverables and adherence to safety and performance standards.