Principal System RAMS Engineer

Hitachi Rail; Pittsburgh (Allegheny County); On-site; USD 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Hitachi Rail in Pittsburgh, PA, is seeking a Principal System RAMS Engineer responsible for developing and maintaining RAMS schedules for railway systems. You will evaluate system reliability, coordinate RAMS inputs from various stakeholders, and ensure compliance with engineering standards.

The ideal candidate will have a Bachelor's degree in engineering and 8 years of RAMS experience. This role requires application of RAMS methodologies and safety analyses in operational environments, contributing to the design and execution of railway transportation projects.

Qualifications

• 8 years of experience executing RAMS activities for railway transportation projects.
• Strong knowledge of safety analyses including FTA, PHA, FMECA.
• Experience in applying rail industry standards.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain RAMS specific schedules for railway systems.
• Evaluate Reliability and Safety of systems and compliance with standards.
• Coordinate contributions to RAMS from suppliers and stakeholders.
• Collaborate with teams to schedule RAMS documentation reviews.
• Support design and certification phases of projects.

Skills

RAMS methodologies

Rail signaling technologies

Leading RAMS programs

VCycle engineering principles

Field project execution

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering

Bachelor's degree in Electronics Engineering

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Bachelor's degree in Industrial & Systems Engineering

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 STS USA, Inc., headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA, seeks a Principal System RAMS Engineer to be responsible for developing, updating and maintaining a RAMS (Reliability, Availability, Maintainability and Safety) specific schedule of activities in connection with railway systems, sub‑systems and products.

This position is for a roving employee who will work in unanticipated locations throughout the United States. The employee will have to relocate, but travel is not required from any particular location.

Accountabilities

Specific duties include:

• Evaluate the Reliability and Safety of systems / sub‑systems / products and compliance with applicable national and international standards, by developing RAMS deliverables, such as RAMS Plans, RAM Prediction model and Assessment, Hardware and Software Safety Analyses and Safety & Security Checklists, Hazards Log and RAM Monitoring plan / reports.
• Provide feedback to RAMS Manager, Work Package Lead (WPL) and project team during all program phases to support design, development and certification of systems, sub‑systems and products.
• Coordinate and consolidate RAMS inputs / contribution from different entities (suppliers, vendors, stakeholders).
• Collaborate with RAMS Manager and WPLs to ensure provision of schedule and cost progress of RAMS documentation and plan sufficient time for reviews to guarantee delivery, in compliance with RAMS and quality standards.
• Ensure correct identification and apportionment of RAMS requirements and guarantee verification and integration into applications and overall design, by assisting / collaborating with cross‑functional teams, including design, quality and production.
• Independently validate safety‑related functions by supporting Safety governance on V&V, providing technical reviews of test and V&V plans / test and V&V reports, and witnessing RAMS field tests.
• Participate in technical meetings and reviews, including design reviews and readiness reviews.
• Serve as Safety WPL in support of RAMS Manager in coordinating and ensuring execution of RAMS activities on the project / system / product, as defined from the tender phase up to Operational phase, within budget allocation.
• Support tenders by providing preliminary RAMS Plan, resource allocations and deliverables list.
• Anticipate and alert RAMS Manager on potential blocking issues with regard to expectations of the project / system / product milestones and be pro‑active in the definition / implementation of related resolution plan.
• Act as independent reviewer for safety related documentation and clearly identify non‑compliances.
• Act as Subject Matter Expert for RAMS Department.
• Ensure definition and improvement of corporate RAMS processes.
• Conduct audits of safety engineering activities and report findings to senior management.
• Support management of / interface with Independent Safety Assessor, Client and other external Authorities.

Required Skills / Knowledge

Must have experience with:

• Implementing RAMS methodologies and safety analyses, including RBD, FTA, PHA, SHA/SSHA, FMECA, O&SHA, Hazard Logs, and Safety Cases, to ensure reliability and safety across rail signaling and train control systems.
• Applying technical knowledge of rail signaling technologies, electronic interlocking, CBTC systems, rolling‑stock interfaces, and complex multisystem integration in operational environments.
• Leading RAMS programs, performing requirements apportionment, and managing safety and system requirements.
• Applying VCycle engineering principles throughout project lifecycles, including O&M and field readiness.
• Overseeing field project execution—managing stakeholders, interfaces, budgets, planning, cost control, and quality processes—to ensure efficient coordination across engineering and operations teams.
• Applying rail industry standards and executing conformance processes (DCCC, CSCC, and CoC).
• Brownfield project upgrades and migration hazard assessments.

Education / Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Electronics Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or Industrial & Systems Engineering.
• 8 years of experience executing RAMS activities for railway transportation projects.

In accordance with the DOT's FRA and FTA programs, Hitachi's substance screening program tests pre‑employment candidates and current employees, as required for safety‑sensitive positions.

Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE)-Females/Minorities/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

If you need a reasonable accommodation to apply for a job at Hitachi, please send the nature of request and contact information to [e-mail].