Project Manager, Communications

Burns Engineering, Inc.; Sacramento (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Burns Engineering, Inc. in Sacramento, CA is seeking a Project Manager, Communications for the Transit and Rail program.

You will lead the delivery of telecommunications systems from design through handover, coordinating with signaling, traction power, SCADA, and maintenance teams. The role requires a 10+ year background in transportation projects, proven leadership, and ability to obtain regulatory approvals and manage complex testing programs; travel 25-50%.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent on-the-job experience.
• Minimum of ten years of project management experience on transportation or infrastructure programs.
• Experience managing communications systems from design through testing and final acceptance.
• Experience overseeing contractors, suppliers, and multidisciplinary delivery teams.
• Strong knowledge of systems integration for railway communications.
• Experience with fiber, IP networks, and critical comms infrastructure.
• Experience with radio systems including frequency planning and interference checks.
• Ability to secure regulatory approvals for communications infrastructure.
• Experience coordinating testing programs across multiple system disciplines.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Travel availability 25-50% along the alignment.

Responsibilities

• Oversee delivery of communications systems from design to commissioning and handover.
• Manage scope, schedule, budget, risk, and contractor performance for comms work packages.
• Coordinate activities between comms, signaling, SCADA, stations, and maintenance teams.
• Oversee suppliers, contractors, consultants, and telecom service providers.
• Oversee delivery/integration of fiber optic backbone networks and IP/MPLS networks.
• Oversee Operations Control Center and radio communications systems.
• Oversee public address, CCTV transport, cybersecurity interfaces, and integrated systems.
• Coordinate FCC licensing and frequency coordination activities.
• Obtain regulatory approvals for communications infrastructure.
• Lead test planning, site acceptance, and system integration testing programs.
• Report on project status, forecasting, and stakeholder engagement.

Skills

Project management

Leadership

Communication

Stakeholder management

Risk management

Budget management

Regulatory knowledge

Rail systems

Systems integration

Contract oversight

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Telecommunications Engineering, Systems Engineering, or related field

Tools

IP networking

Fiber optic networks

Radio systems

Job description

About Burns

Burns Engineering provides professional engineering design and project management services for transportation, facilities, and infrastructure projects. We help our clients attain their strategic goals and initiatives through successful large-scale infrastructure projects. Burns’ full-service capabilities include mechanical, electrical, civil, structural, transportation, and energy consulting engineering.

About Burns

Burns Engineering provides professional engineering design and project management services for transportation, facilities, and infrastructure projects. We help our clients attain their strategic goals and initiatives through successful large-scale infrastructure projects. Burns’ full-service capabilities include mechanical, electrical, civil, structural, transportation, and energy consulting engineering. Recently voted a Top Workplace by Philly.com, we credit our strength as an organization to our talented, driven, vibrant team. Burns is an ENR Top 500 Firm, and has been named an MEP Giant by Consulting‑Specifying Engineer Magazine, as well as a Hot Firm by Zweig. We are industry experts, proven leaders, innovative thinkers, and team players. We put our clients’ successes and best interests first, because their success is our success. We have fun at work because we love making a difference in the world. We are looking for high‑energy, bright, collaborative individuals who want the opportunity to "write their own story" with us.

Burns is currently seeking a Project Manager, Communications to join our Transit and Rail in Sacramento, CA.

The Project Manager, Communications, oversees the delivery of operational telecommunications systems on the California High-Speed Rail (CAHSR) Program. 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, from design through procurement, construction, testing, commissioning, and operational handover.

In this role, the Project Manager is responsible for scope, schedule, budget, risk, and contractor performance across communications work packages, and coordinates delivery with signaling, traction power, SCADA, stations, operations, and maintenance. The position oversees communications suppliers, contractors, consultants, and telecommunications service providers; oversees FCC licensing, frequency coordination, spectrum allocation, interference analysis, and coverage validation; and oversees the statutory and jurisdictional approvals associated with radio transmission systems, towers, antennas, equipment shelters, and communications facilities.

Reporting to the Rail Systems Lead, the Project Manager supplies the Program with delivery accountability for operational communications, a cleared licensing and approvals path for radio transmission and communications infrastructure, and the integrated test evidence required to support entry into revenue service. The position is based in Sacramento, California, with travel of 25 to 50 percent along the alignment.

Position Responsibilities

• Oversee the delivery of communications systems throughout design, procurement, construction, testing and commissioning, and operational handover


• Oversee project scope, schedule, budget, risk, and contractor performance for communications work packages


• Coordinate delivery activities between communications, signaling, traction power, SCADA, stations, operations, and maintenance teams


• Oversee communications suppliers, contractors, consultants, and telecommunications service providers


• Oversee delivery and integration of fiber optic backbone networks, operational telecommunications systems, and IP/MPLS networks


• Oversee delivery and integration of Operations Control Center communications, wayside radio, maintenance radio, and dispatch communications systems


• Oversee delivery and integration of public address systems, CCTV transport networks, cybersecurity interfaces, and integrated operational communications and control systems


• Oversee FCC licensing and frequency coordination activities required for operational railway communications systems


• Oversee statutory, regulatory, and jurisdictional approvals associated with radio transmission systems, communications infrastructure, towers, antennas, equipment shelters, and communications facilities


• Coordinate with regulatory authorities, telecommunications providers, public agencies, and local jurisdictions to obtain approvals required for construction and operation


• Support radio frequency planning, radio spectrum allocation, interference analysis, and coverage validation programs


• Oversee responses to regulator comments, agency reviews, and approval conditions through final authorization


• Oversee development and execution of test plans, commissioning procedures, and integrated testing strategies, including Factory Acceptance Testing, Site Acceptance Testing, System Integration Testing, radio coverage testing, and trial running


• Coordinate integrated testing with signaling, traction power, SCADA, stations, and operational control systems, and manage defect resolution, corrective actions, and final system acceptance


• Support project reporting, forecasting, change management, stakeholder engagement, revenue service demonstration, and operational handover

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Telecommunications Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a related field, or demonstrable on-the-job work experience, and a minimum of ten (10) years of experience delivering telecommunications, operational communications, or rail systems projects


• Minimum of ten (10) years of project management experience on major transportation or infrastructure programs


• Demonstrated experience managing communications systems from design through testing, commissioning, and final acceptance


• Experience overseeing contractors, suppliers, and multidisciplinary delivery teams


• Strong working knowledge of systems integration and operational railway communications


• Experience managing fiber optic backbone networks, IP networking, and mission‑critical communications infrastructure


• Experience managing radio systems delivery, including frequency planning, coverage validation, and interference assessment


• Experience securing regulatory, statutory, and jurisdictional approvals for communications infrastructure


• Experience managing integrated testing programs across multiple systems disciplines


• Excellent leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills


• Availability for travel of 25 to 50 percent along the alignment

Preferred Qualifications/ Certifications/ Licensures

• Experience on high-speed rail projects operating above 125 mph (200 km/h)


• Experience with California High-Speed Rail, HS2, European rail programs, or comparable large-scale rail programs


• Experience delivering wayside radio, maintenance radio, dispatch communications, or mission‑critical communications systems


• Familiarity with FCC licensing requirements and U.S. telecommunications regulations


• Experience with fiber optic backbone networks, IP/MPLS systems, LTE, private wireless networks, or FRMCS


• Experience managing regulatory approvals, communications licensing, and entry into revenue service activities


• Budget and schedule accountability on contracts valued at $100 million or greater


• PMP, PRINCE2, PE, or comparable project management or engineering certification

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