Project Engineer - Rail Communications

Jaquith Consulting Group Inc; Sacramento (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k)

Dental insurance

Health insurance

Paid time off

Vision insurance

Job summary

Jaquith Consulting Group is seeking a Project Engineer, Rail Communications to lead engineering efforts for railway communications and operational telecommunications across the CAHSR program. You will cover fiber backbone networks, IP/MPLS, and various critical communications systems through design, testing, and commissioning.

The role requires a bachelor’s degree in electrical/telecommunications/systems engineering and 10+ years in railway communications, with strong documentation, regulatory,

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical/Telecommunications/Systems Engineering with 10+ years in railway communications.
• Experience taking communications systems from design through testing, commissioning and acceptance.
• Experience delivering engineering deliverables on large transportation projects.
• Strong systems integration knowledge for operational railway communications.
• Experience with requirements management, system architecture, and interface definition.
• Experience reviewing supplier and contractor designs, network designs and docs.
• Experience developing test plans, procedures, and commissioning docs.
• Experience with radio coverage studies, interference/spectrum management.
• Ability to prepare documentation for regulatory approvals.
• Strong writing, coordination, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Willingness to travel 25–50% along the alignment.

Responsibilities

• Prepare, review, and approve communications engineering deliverables throughout design, construction, testing and commissioning.
• Ensure technical documentation is complete and aligned with Program requirements and standards.
• Support requirements management, system architecture development, and interface definition for communications systems.
• Review supplier and contractor designs for compliance with Program specs and operations.
• Coordinate interfaces between communications, signaling, traction power, SCADA, stations, operations, maintenance facilities, and IT teams.
• Provide technical oversight for fiber optic backbones, IP/MPLS networks, and telecommunications systems.
• Provide oversight for control center communications, wayside and maintenance radios, and dispatch systems.
• Support FCC licensing and frequency coordination; prepare documentation for approvals.
• Work with regulators, telecom providers, operators, and stakeholders for approvals and certifications.
• Support radio spectrum management, interference assessments, and coverage studies.

Skills

Technical writing

Coordination

Stakeholder engagement

Systems integration

Project leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering/Telecommunications/Systems Engineering

Job description

Benefits

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Client / Engagement

California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA)

Location

Sacramento, California (on-site), up to 50% travel

Salary Range

$120,000-$200,000 (based on experience)

Employment Type

Full-Time

Position Summary

Jaquith Consulting Group is looking for a Project Engineer, Rail Communications to provide engineering leadership for railway communications and operational telecommunications systems on the California High-Speed Rail (CAHSR) Program, supporting design, integration, testing, and commissioning. The position covers fiber optic backbone networks, operational telecommunications systems, IP/MPLS networks, Operations Control Center communications, wayside and maintenance radio systems, dispatch communications, public address, CCTV transport networks, cybersecurity interfaces, and integrated operational communications and control systems.

In this role, the Project Engineer prepares, reviews, and approves communications engineering deliverables through design, construction, and testing and commissioning; supports requirements management, system architecture development, and interface definition; and reviews supplier and contractor designs for compliance with Program specifications and operational requirements. The position supports FCC licensing and frequency coordination, radio spectrum management, interference assessment, and coverage studies, and develops and reviews test plans, procedures, and commissioning strategies across Factory Acceptance Testing, Site Acceptance Testing, System Integration Testing, network validation testing, and trial running.

Reporting to the Project Manager, Communications, the Project Engineer supplies the Program with technically complete and coordinated communications deliverables, verified compliance and coverage evidence, and the documentation required for telecommunications and regulatory approval and entry into revenue service. The position is based in Sacramento, California, with travel of 25 to 50 percent along the alignment.

What You’ll Do

• Prepare, review, and approve communications engineering deliverables throughout design, construction, and testing and commissioning
• Ensure technical documentation is complete, coordinated, and developed in accordance with Program requirements and applicable standards
• Support requirements management, system architecture development, and interface definition activities for communications systems
• Review supplier and contractor designs for compliance with Program specifications and operational requirements
• Coordinate interfaces between communications, signaling, traction power, SCADA, stations, operations, maintenance facilities, and information technology teams
• Provide technical oversight for fiber optic backbone networks, operational telecommunications systems, and IP/MPLS networks
• Provide technical oversight for Operations Control Center communications, wayside radio, maintenance radio, and dispatch communications systems
• Provide technical oversight for public address systems, CCTV transport networks, cybersecurity interfaces, and integrated operational communications and control systems
• Support FCC licensing and frequency coordination activities, and prepare and review documentation required for telecommunications, operational, and regulatory approvals
• Work with regulatory authorities, telecommunications providers, operators, and Program stakeholders to obtain approvals and certifications
• Support radio spectrum management, interference assessments, radio coverage studies, and compliance documentation
• Address technical review comments and closeout actions raised by regulatory agencies and independent assessors
• Develop and review test plans, test procedures, and commissioning strategies for communications systems
• Support Factory Acceptance Testing, Site Acceptance Testing, System Integration Testing, network validation testing, and operational trial running, and witness testing to verify compliance with operational and performance requirements
• Coordinate defect management, corrective actions, and final system acceptance, and support revenue service demonstration and operational handover

What You Need

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Telecommunications Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a related field and a minimum of ten (10) years of experience in railway communications, operational telecommunications, or transportation systems engineering
• Demonstrated experience taking communications systems from design through testing, commissioning, and final acceptance
• Experience developing and reviewing engineering deliverables on large transportation infrastructure projects
• Strong working knowledge of systems integration and operational railway communications applications
• Experience supporting requirements management, system architecture development, and interface definition
• Experience reviewing supplier and contractor designs, network designs, and telecommunications documentation
• Experience developing and reviewing test plans, test procedures, and commissioning documentation
• Experience supporting radio coverage studies, interference assessment, or spectrum management activities
• Experience preparing documentation supporting telecommunications, operational, and regulatory approvals
• Strong technical writing, coordination, and stakeholder engagement skills
• Availability for travel of 25 to 50 percent along the alignment

Preferred Qualifications/ Certifications/ Licensures

• Professional Engineer (PE) licensure; additional years of relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of licensure
• Experience with railway operational telecommunications systems
• Experience with wayside radio and maintenance radio systems
• High-speed rail project experience
• Familiarity with FCC licensing requirements and U.S. telecommunications regulations
• Experience with fiber optic transport systems, IP networking, LTE, mission-critical communications, or FRMCS
• Experience supporting system certification, operational approvals, and entry into revenue service
• Experience leading design reviews and resolving technical issues in the field

Jaquith Consulting Group is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, age, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic.