Senior Controls Engineer

Wabtec; Pennsylvania; On-site; USD 104,800 - 149,300; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Retirement plans

Annual bonus

Accommodation assistance

Job summary

Wabtec seeks a Senior Controls Design Engineer to lead the controls team for Trip Optimizer Energy Management and Cruise Control on heavy haul locomotives.

You will develop and validate control algorithms in MATLAB/Simulink, coordinate work across field support, product enhancements, and long-term evolution, and mentor other engineers through reviews and collaboration.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical or Mechanical Engineering with a controls or dynamic systems focus.
• Demonstrated proficiency in model-based control system design and development using MATLAB/Simulink.
• Minimum 8 years of engineering experience.
• Willingness and ability to travel up to 10% of the time.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design of train control algorithms and system functionality for freight train cruise control and handling applications.
• Develop, implement, and validate control system solutions using MATLAB/Simulink; support simulation, validation, testing, and release.
• Coordinate technical activities within a team of controls engineers and maintain progress across field issue resolution, new features, and long-term evolution.
• Analyze field performance data, investigate issues, determine root causes, and drive corrective actions.
• Collaborate with systems, software, and product teams to deliver robust solutions.
• Provide technical guidance and mentorship through design reviews and knowledge sharing.
• Contribute to the long-term technical roadmap for train control capabilities.

Skills

Model-based controls (MATLAB/Simulink)

Team leadership

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical/Mechanical Engineering with controls focus

Master's degree or advanced study in controls/robotics/estimation

Tools

MATLAB/Simulink

Job description

How will you make a difference?

As the Senior Controls Design Engineer, you will serve as the lead technical contributor within a controls engineering team responsible for the Trip Optimizer Energy Management/Cruise Control system for heavy haul freight locomotives. The role combines hands‑on controls development with technical leadership in prioritizing and executing work across product enhancements, field support, and long‑term product evolution.

What do we want to know about you?

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or other engineering discipline with a controls or dynamic systems focus
• Demonstrated proficiency in model‑based control system design and development using MATLAB/Simulink
• Minimum 8 years of engineering experience
• Willingness and ability to travel up to 10% of the time

Desired Characteristics

• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience with feedback control systems, dynamic system modeling, or estimation techniques.
• Demonstrated ability to coordinate technical activities, establish priorities, and balance field support, product enhancements, and long‑term engineering objectives.
• Experience mentoring engineers and providing technical leadership through collaboration, design reviews, and knowledge sharing.
• Experience investigating field issues, performing root‑cause analysis, and implementing corrective actions.
• Experience analyzing operational, test, or field data to evaluate control system performance and identify improvement opportunities.
• Familiarity with locomotive systems, train operations, vehicle dynamics, or rail transportation systems.
• Master's degree or advanced study in controls, robotics, autonomous systems, estimation, optimization, or dynamic system modeling.

What will your typical day look like?

• Lead the design of train control algorithms and system functionality, including control strategies, estimation methods, performance analysis, and technical specifications for freight train cruise control and train handling applications.
• Develop, implement, and validate control system solutions using MATLAB/Simulink and related engineering tools, supporting simulation, validation, testing, and release of control system functionality.
• Coordinate technical activities within a team of controls engineers, helping establish priorities, remove obstacles, and maintain steady progress across field issue resolution, new feature development, and long‑term product evolution.
• Analyze field performance data, investigate reported issues, determine root causes, and drive effective corrective actions.
• Collaborate with systems, software, and product teams to deliver robust and practical solutions.
• Provide technical guidance and mentorship to other engineers through design reviews, collaborative problem solving, and knowledge sharing.
• Contribute to the long‑term technical roadmap for train control capabilities and continuous product improvement.

What about the physical demands of the job?

• Willingness and ability to travel up to 10% of the time to the railroad yards and field
• You can expect to lift < 10 lbs on occasion
• Ability to get on and off of a locomotive
• Handle tools, plug in cables, and operate a Portable Test Unit (PTU)
• Very rarely, but on occasion, you may be asked to work 12‑hour or longer shifts, often overnight

Our salary range for this role is currently $104,800 to $149,300. The actual salary offered may be influenced by training, transferable skills, work experience, education, business needs, market demands, and location. Benefits include health, welfare, and retirement plans. An annual bonus is also offered if eligible.

We’re proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We welcome talent of all backgrounds, experiences, and identities, including race, gender, age, disability, veteran status and more.

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