Sr. Technical Advisor – Systems Engineering & CBTC

HNTB Corporation; New York (NY); On-site; USD 188,000 - 301,000; Full time

Job summary

HNTB Corporation seeks a Senior Technical Lead with deep CBTC and rail signaling expertise to guide the technical team through all lifecycle phases of major projects. You will coordinate with clients, leadership, and engineering teams to resolve interface issues and drive design decisions.

You will mentor staff, oversee system integration activities, and help develop technically robust, cost-effective solutions that meet schedule and budget targets.

Qualifications

• Requires a Bachelor's degree in Engineering with significant relevant experience or higher degrees (Master's/PhD).
• At least 10–12 years of relevant experience for senior roles, including CBTC or rail signaling.
• Proven track record leading technical teams on complex rail projects.

Responsibilities

• Perform independent technical reviews and provide guidance on complex projects.
• Direct and mentor production staff and project leadership on technical matters.
• Support marketing efforts, including proposals, for complex engineering projects.

Skills

CBTC

Rail signaling

Technical leadership

Systems engineering

Requirements management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Master's degree in Engineering

PhD in Engineering

Tools

IBM DOORS

Job description

What We're Looking For At HNTB

you can create a career that is meaningful to you while building communities that matter to all of us. For more than a century, we have been delivering solutions for some of the largest, most complex infrastructure projects across the country. With our historic growth, it is an exciting time to join our team of employee-owners. This opportunity involves serving as a senior technical lead with expertise in Communication-Based Train Control (CBTC) and other advanced train control systems within the HNTB Advanced Train Control Systems group. This includes responsibility for overseeing technical staff on multidisciplinary rail systems projects throughout their full lifecycle – from planning, requirements development, and procurement through design, systems integration, testing, commissioning, and entry into revenue service. Working closely with clients, project leadership, and engineering teams, this individual will guide technical decisions, resolve complex engineering and interface issues, and develop practical approaches to implementing new train control systems on operating railroads. This position is responsible for providing guidance and direction to the technical team and supporting all technical aspects of project development and delivery to achieve HNTB’s 4-for-4 performance: delivery of quality work, on time, on budget, and to the client’s satisfaction. Responsible for applying advanced engineering methods, techniques, and analyses to provide solutions, make recommendations and resolve issues for clients and the department. Ensures industry and HNTB standards of design are applied consistently and effectively across projects ranging in discipline, size and complexity. Independently applies knowledge and experience in partnership with internal project team members and external client counterparts. Serves as an advisor on complex projects to provide technical designs, plans and specifications.

What You'll Do:

• Performs independent technical reviews, makes recommendations, and provides technical guidance as requested on complex or unusual engineering projects.
• Provides direction to resolve technical issues as requested.
• Provides technical expertise and advice to project leadership, and mentoring/support to production staff.
• Assists in marketing responsibilities, including proposal generation on complex or unusual engineering projects within discipline.
• Coordinates technical aspects with client counterpart and teaming partners at local leadership level for work within and across disciplines on complex or unusual engineering projects.
• Develops and advises on technical consistency within and across disciplines on processes and projects.
• Ensures same standard and practices are being applied.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

What You'll Need:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering and 12 years of relevant experience,
• or Master's degree in Engineering and 11 year of relevant experience,
• or PhD in Engineering and 10 years of relevant experience

What You'll Bring:

• Demonstrated technical leadership in the design, implementation, or oversight of complex CBTC and rail signaling projects.
• Ability to translate client needs and operational objectives into clear, verifiable functional and performance requirements, technical specifications, and acceptance criteria.
• Experience applying systems engineering processes, including requirements management, interface management, configuration management, verification, and validation.
• Understanding of interfaces among train control, rolling stock, communications, control center systems, and other supporting rail systems.
• Experience developing and assessing migration and cutover strategies that address interim configurations, operational constraints, service continuity, and the transition from existing signaling systems to CBTC.
• Ability to develop and review test strategies, procedures, and results and assess readiness for systems integration testing, commissioning, and entry into revenue service.
• Ability to evaluate technical designs and supplier submittals for compliance, completeness, constructability, operability, and maintainability.
• Experience developing or reviewing CBTC implementation schedules and cost estimates, including integration dependencies and track access constraints.
• Ability to identify and assess technical risks, develop mitigation strategies, and communicate recommendations to technical and nontechnical stakeholders.
• Experience advising clients on procurement, design, implementation, systems integration, and long‑term maintenance strategies for signaling and train control systems.
• Ability to develop plans and procedures for transitioning operations, maintenance, and control center functions to new train control systems.
• Ability to guide engineering teams through coaching, priority setting, work assignments, progress monitoring, and support for professional development.
• Strong engineering judgment and the ability to serve as a trusted technical advisor while building productive relationships with clients and project partners.
• Ability to communicate industry best practices, emerging trends, and lessons learned through presentations, publications, and participation in professional committees.

What We Prefer:

• Master's degree in Engineering. 20 years of relevant experience, including at least 15 years in rail signaling and train control systems.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license.
• Experience implementing CBTC on an operating transit system, including migration, systems integration, testing, and commissioning.
• Working knowledge of applicable IEEE 1474 and CENELEC standards and experience applying them to project delivery.
• Experience with requirements management tools such as IBM DOORS or DOORS Next.

#AS #TransitAndRail

Locations: New York, NY . . . . . . .

The approximate pay range for New York is $188,125.20 - $300,511.68.

Please note that the pay range provided is a good faith estimate for the position based on all selected locations within the state at the time of posting. Actual compensation will be dependent on factors, including but not limited to, the individual’s qualifications, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities as well as physical work location within the state.

At HNTB, we are harnessing the power of collaboration and innovation to establish a new vision for the future of mobility across our country. You don’t have to look far to see our impact. For more than a century, HNTB’s spark has connected people and places, expanded opportunity, and left a lasting impact on our communities. Our culture of integrity and inclusion, combined with groundbreaking solutions, has affirmed our reputation and positioned our firm as the industry leader in delivering extraordinary value. When you join HNTB, you are joining an employee‑owned firm founded on the values of integrity, collaboration, personal accountability, respect for others, and the development of all employees. We are committed to the continual improvement of an inclusive workplace. We encourage our employees to bring their whole and authentic selves to work, provide them a meaningful welcoming environment where they are valued, celebrated and respected. Diversity of thought and unique perspectives drives innovation, engagement and retention, which makes HNTB better and brings value to our clients and our communities.

Equal Opportunity Employer HNTB is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status or other status protected by law. We will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with a disability where appropriate.

Work Authorization In compliance with the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, we will only employ qualified individuals legally authorized to work in the United States (if the position is or will be one which is subject to U.S. law). Verification of employment eligibility will be required.

HNTB participates in E-Verify Know your rights: Right to Work