Systems Engineering & Safety Assurance Project Manager

Mott MacDonald; Austin (TX); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401k

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Disability insurance

Paid holidays

PTO

Parental leave

Life insurance

Job summary

Mott MacDonald in Austin, TX is seeking a Systems Engineering & Safety Assurance Project Manager to lead a major rail transit program, overseeing requirements, safety cases, verification, and regulatory compliance across a large lifecycle.

Ideal candidates have 7+ years in systems engineering and safety, an engineering degree, and complex rail project experience. Full-time position with relocation support and a hybrid office-based work model in Austin.

Qualifications

• 7+ years in systems engineering, safety assurance, or RAMS in transportation or infrastructure.
• BSc / MSc in Engineering (Systems, Electrical, Mechanical, Civil, or related).
• Experience on complex rail or transit programs and strong requirements management.
• Experience applying rail safety standards (EN 50126/8/9, RAMS, SMS).
• Experience supporting safety certification, regulatory approval, and commissioning.
• Multidisciplinary rail system integration knowledge.
• Client-facing or embedded delivery experience.
• Strong communication, coordination, and stakeholder engagement skills.

Responsibilities

• Reporting to the Systems Engineering Manager and overseeing systems engineering and safety activities across the program lifecycle.
• Manage system requirements with full traceability through design, delivery, and operation.
• Coordinate interface management across rail systems, stations, civil infrastructure, and utilities.
• Develop and maintain system safety strategies, plans, and governance aligned with project and regulatory requirements.
• Lead hazard identification, risk assessment, and hazard log management.
• Oversee preparation and acceptance of safety cases and assurance documentation for safe operation.
• Ensure compliance with RAMS, EN standards, and safety requirements.
• Manage V&V processes to ensure performance and safety.
• Support safety certification and regulatory approval activities for safe entry into service.
• Oversee contractor and supplier SESA deliverables and align with program requirements.
• Interface with client teams, regulators, independent assessors, and stakeholders.
• Support integration, testing, commissioning, and handover of systems into operations.
• Drive a proactive Safety Management System (SMS) approach across the program.
• Mentor engineers to develop systems engineering and safety capability within the team.

Skills

Systems engineering

Safety assurance

RAMS

Requirements management

Interface management

Hazard analysis

Regulatory compliance

Client-facing

Education

BSc / MSc in Engineering (Systems, Electrical, Mechanical, Civil, or related discipline)

Tools

EN 50126

EN 50128

EN 50129

Safety Management System (SMS)

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 Systems Engineering & Safety Assurance Project Manager 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 rail corridor project.

In this role, you will manage systems engineering and safety assurance activities across a large‑scale transit program, ensuring that all systems are fully integrated, compliant, and safe for operation. You will play a key role in overseeing requirements, interfaces, verification, and certification, ensuring the program meets regulatory, operational, and safety expectations across its full lifecycle.

Key Responsibilities

• Reporting to the Systems Engineering Manager, support the whole scope of systems engineering and safety assurance activities across the program lifecycle
• Oversee the development and management of system requirements, ensuring full traceability through design, delivery, and operation
• Coordinate interface management across multidisciplinary systems, including rail systems, stations, civil infrastructure, and utilities
• Develop and maintain system safety strategies, plans, and governance frameworks aligned with project and regulatory requirements
• Lead hazard identification, risk assessment, and hazard log management, ensuring risks are mitigated to acceptable levels
• Oversee the preparation and acceptance of safety cases and assurance documentation, demonstrating systems are safe and fit for purpose
• Ensure compliance with applicable standards and frameworks (e.g., RAMS, EN 50126, EN 50128, EN 50129, and U.S. transit safety requirements)
• Manage verification and validation (V&V) processes, ensuring systems meet defined performance and safety requirements
• Support and coordinate safety certification and regulatory approval activities, ensuring readiness for safe entry into service
• Oversee contractor and supplier SESA deliverables, ensuring alignment with program requirements and quality expectations
• Act as a key interface with client teams, regulators, independent assessors, and stakeholders, supporting audits and reviews
• Support integration, testing, commissioning, and handover of systems into operations
• Drive a proactive Safety Management System (SMS) approach across the program
• Mentor and guide engineers, supporting development of systems engineering and safety capability within the team

Candidate Profile

We are looking for a delivery‑focused professional with a strong background in rail systems engineering and safety assurance.

• 7+ years of experience in systems engineering, safety assurance, or RAMS within transportation or infrastructure sectors
• BSc / MSc in Engineering (Systems, Electrical, Mechanical, Civil, or related discipline)
• Proven experience supporting or managing systems engineering and safety assurance activities on complex rail or transit programs
• Strong understanding of systems engineering principles, including requirements management, interface management, and V&V
• Demonstrated experience in hazard analysis, risk management, and safety case development
• Experience applying rail safety standards and frameworks (e.g., EN 50126/8/9, RAMS, SMS, or equivalent)
• Experience supporting safety certification, regulatory approval, and commissioning processes
• Understanding of multidisciplinary system integration across rail environments
• Experience working in client‑facing or embedded delivery environments preferred
• Strong communication, coordination, and stakeholder engagement skills

Additional Information

• Full-time Austin‑based position
• Relocation support may be available for candidates looking to move to Austin
• Opportunity to contribute to a once‑in‑a‑generation infrastructure program with long‑term impact on how the city moves and grows

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.