Senior Project Engineer Traction Power

Mott MacDonald; Austin (TX); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401k

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Disability insurance

Paid holidays

PTO

Parental leave

Life insurance

Job summary

Mott MacDonald is seeking a Senior Traction Power Engineer in Austin, TX. Join a client-embedded team delivering a major transit electrification project.

You will lead traction power design, mentor engineers, and coordinate with utilities, clients, and multidisciplinary teams to ensure safe, reliable, and efficient rail power systems. The role emphasizes leadership, technical excellence, and collaboration within a hybrid in-office setup in Austin.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical Engineering or related field.
• PE license in Texas (or ability to obtain within 6 months).
• 10+ years in traction power, rail electrification, or power systems for transit/rail.
• Experience designing/ delivering traction power systems (TPSS, OCS) and related civil interfaces.
• Familiarity with AREMA, IEEE, NFPA, and local standards.

Responsibilities

• Lead design and delivery of traction power systems for large rail programs.
• Act as technical lead for TPSS, OCS, and power distribution interfaces.
• Oversee load flow, short-circuit, protection coordination studies.
• Mentor junior engineers and coordinate multidisciplinary interfaces.
• Ensure compliance with codes and client requirements.
• Coordinate with utilities, transit agencies, and contractors.
• Support construction, testing, commissioning, and handover activities.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Rail electrification

Power systems engineering

Mentoring

Project coordination

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in Electrical Engineering

Job description

At Mott MacDonald, we trust our brilliant people to do brilliant things in engineering, management, and development services, supporting multisector project work in over 150 countries. As one of the largest employee‑owned companies in the world, we pride ourselves on our ability to deliver exceptional outcomes through our network of 20,000+ talented consultants. With sustainability and innovation at the heart of all our sectors in North America, including Buildings, Energy, Transportation, and Water.

We believe in empowering our people to excel, learn, and grow, offering diverse opportunities to contribute to career‑defining work. Join us and be part of a collaborative environment where your ambitions are united with ours, and you can truly shape your story.

If you share that vision, even if you don't meet every requirement listed, we'd still love to hear from you. We value potential and diverse perspectives as much as experience. Let's explore how we can support your growth and help you take the next step in your career, while contributing to an exciting new chapter for Mott MacDonald in North America.

We are seeking a Senior Traction Power Engineer to join our team in Austin, Texas, supporting a major, high‑profile transit program that will transform mobility and connectivity across the city. Based within the client’s office, you will work in a fully integrated delivery environment on a complex urban rail corridor program.

In this role, you will provide technical leadership for the design and delivery of traction power systems across a large‑scale light rail program. You will lead the development of safe, reliable, and efficient electrification solutions while coordinating closely with multidisciplinary teams, project stakeholders, and client representatives. You will serve as a subject matter expert for traction power systems, helping to guide design decisions, manage technical risks, and ensure successful project outcomes throughout the program lifecycle.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the planning, design, and delivery of traction power systems, including traction power substations (TPSS), overhead contact systems (OCS), and associated power distribution infrastructure
• Act as the technical lead for traction power engineering activities, ensuring designs meet project requirements, industry standards, and client expectations
• Develop and oversee TPSS designs, including equipment selection, system architecture, layouts, protection schemes, and interface requirements
• Lead power system analyses and studies, including load flow, short‑circuit, voltage regulation, harmonics, fault coordination, and system reliability assessments
• Provide technical guidance and mentorship to junior and intermediate engineers, supporting professional development and best engineering practices
• Manage technical coordination across multidisciplinary teams, including track, civil, structural, stations, signaling, communications, utilities, and systems integration disciplines
• Lead coordination with utility providers and external stakeholders to establish power supply strategies, service connections, and interface agreements
• Review and approve engineering calculations, design packages, reports, specifications, and technical documentation; identify, assess, and mitigate technical risks related to traction power systems throughout design and delivery phases
• Lead design reviews, interdisciplinary workshops, constructability assessments, and value engineering initiatives to optimize project outcomes
• Ensure compliance with applicable codes, standards, regulations, and industry best practices, including AREMA, IEEE, NFPA, and local authority requirements
• Direct the development of grounding and bonding systems, electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) strategies, system protection schemes, and safety‑critical design elements
• Support procurement activities, including technical evaluations, vendor reviews, and equipment acceptance processes
• Provide technical support during construction, testing, commissioning, system integration, and handover activities
• Collaborate closely with client representatives and project leadership teams, providing technical input to support informed decision‑making and program delivery
• Contribute to project planning, resource forecasting, schedule development, and engineering budget management activities

Candidate Profile

We are seeking a highly experienced and collaborative engineering professional with demonstrated expertise in rail electrification and leadership of complex infrastructure projects.

• 10+ years of experience in traction power, rail electrification, or power systems engineering within transit, rail, or major infrastructure sectors
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering or a related discipline
• Professional Engineer (PE) license in Texas, or ability to obtain licensure within 6 months
• Extensive experience in the design and delivery of traction power systems, including TPSS, OCS, and associated railway power infrastructure
• Strong knowledge of power system modeling and analysis, including load flow, fault studies, protection coordination, and system performance evaluations
• Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary engineering teams and coordinate complex technical interfaces across large‑scale projects
• Experience managing technical design activities through multiple project phases, from concept development through commissioning
• Strong understanding of rail electrification standards, industry practices, and regulatory requirements, including AREMA, IEEE, NFPA, and applicable state or local standards
• Expertise in grounding and bonding, system protection, EMC, and safety requirements for electrified railway systems
• Experience working directly with transit agencies, public‑sector clients, utilities, contractors, and other external stakeholders
• Experience within client‑facing or embedded delivery environments is highly desirable
• Excellent communication, leadership, stakeholder management, and problem‑solving skills
• Demonstrated ability to manage competing priorities and deliver high‑quality technical solutions within demanding project environment

Additional Information

• Full‑time Austin‑based position embedded within the client team
• Relocation support may be available for candidates looking to move to Austin
• Opportunity to play a key leadership role on a once‑in‑a‑generation infrastructure program that will shape the future of mobility across Austin
• Collaborative, multidisciplinary work environment with opportunities for technical growth, innovation, and career advancement

Benefits & Reward

At Mott MacDonald, our employees have a stake and a voice in our business, providing them with a direct connection to our success through our personal and group performance bonuses. We provide a comprehensive benefit package that includes 401k, medical, dental and vision insurance, short‑term/long‑term disability, paid holidays, PTO, parental leave, and company paid life insurance.

Individual pay is determined based on several factors such as work location, education, experience, and unique skills.

Collaboration at Our Core

At Mott MacDonald, we believe great ideas happen when we’re together. Our hybrid approach centers on an in‑office culture, with most of your time spent collaborating face‑to‑face and a minimum of three days per week in the office. We balance flexibility with connection, so you and your manager can choose how to meet client, team, and personal commitments.

Equal opportunity is the law.

We seek to promote fair employment procedures and practices to ensure equal opportunities for all. We encourage individual expression in our workplace and are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels they have the opportunity to contribute.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, protected veteran status, creed, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, citizenship status or disability status.