OCS Engineering Specialist

STV is seeking an OCS Engineering Specialist to join our growing Systems Department in our Lake Oswego, OR office. This is an exciting opportunity for an early- to mid-career engineer who is passionate about rail and transit electrification and wants to contribute to transformative transportation programs throughout the Pacific Northwest and across the country.

The successful candidate will support the planning, design, analysis, and delivery of Overhead Contact System (OCS) infrastructure for light rail, commuter rail, heavy rail, and other electrified transportation projects.

Position Overview

The OCS Engineering Specialist will work as part of a multidisciplinary rail systems team supporting the design and implementation of overhead contact and catenary systems for transit and railroad projects. This individual will contribute to engineering analyses, design calculations, plan production, specifications, and construction support activities while working alongside senior OCS, traction power, track, structures, and systems professionals.

This role is ideal for an engineer with 2-6 years of OCS, transportation electrification, structural, civil, or electrical systems experience seeking long-term growth in the rail and transit industry.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the design and development of Overhead Contact Systems (OCS) for light rail, commuter rail, high-speed rail, and heavy rail projects.

• Prepare OCS plans, profiles, details, and construction documents.

• Perform engineering calculations related to:

  • Catenary geometry

  • Wire tensions

  • Pole and foundation loading

  • Support structures

  • Clearances and system interfaces

• Assist in the development of OCS support structures including:

  • Cantilevers

  • Portals

  • Headspans

  • Bracket assemblies

• Prepare technical specifications, design reports, cost estimates, and engineering studies.

• Coordinate OCS designs with track, traction power, civil, structural, signals, communications, and construction teams.

• Support field investigations, condition assessments, and site inspections.

• Participate in construction support activities including shop drawing reviews, RFI responses, and field issue resolution.

• Assist with testing, commissioning, and startup activities for rail electrification systems.

• Maintain compliance with AREMA, APTA, IEEE, client-specific, and applicable regulatory requirements.

• Participate in QA/QC reviews and engineering coordination meetings.

• Support project managers in maintaining project schedules, budgets, and technical deliverables.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Structural Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.

• 2-6 years of relevant engineering experience in one or more of the following:

  • Overhead Contact Systems (OCS)

  • Rail electrification

  • Traction power

  • Utility or power systems

  • Structural engineering

  • Transportation infrastructure

• Working knowledge of engineering principles related to overhead contact systems and supporting infrastructure.

• Experience preparing engineering drawings and design documents.

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite.

• Strong analytical, organizational, and technical problem-solving skills.

• Ability to work collaboratively within multidisciplinary project teams.

• Effective written and verbal communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Exposure to rail, transit, commuter rail, or transportation infrastructure projects.

• Engineer-in-Training (EIT) certification with a goal of obtaining a Professional Engineer (PE) license.

• Knowledge of software for support structure analysis (RISA, MathCAD)

• Experience using one or more of the following:

  • AutoCAD

  • MicroStation

  • OpenRail

  • Bentley products

  • ProjectWise

• Familiarity with:

  • OCS structural support systems

  • AC and DC traction power systems

  • Utility coordination

  • Construction support and commissioning activities

• Experience performing field inspections or construction oversight.

• Understanding of AREMA and APTA standards.

Key Competencies

• OCS Engineering & Design

• Rail Electrification Systems

• Technical Analysis & Calculations

• Multidisciplinary Coordination

• Construction Support

• Engineering Documentation

• Problem Solving & Innovation

• Quality Assurance / Quality Control

• Communication & Collaboration

Compensation Range:

$79,979.92 - $102,831.32

STV offers the following benefits • Health insurance, including an option with a Health Savings Account • Dental insurance • Vision insurance • Flexible Spending Accounts (Healthcare, Dependent Care and Transit and Parking where applicable) • Disability insurance • Life Insurance and Accidental Death & Dismemberment • 401(k) Plan • Retirement Counseling • Employee Assistance Program • Paid Time Off (starting at 16 days) • Paid Holidays (9 days) • Back-Up Dependent Care (up to 10 days per year) • Parental Leave (up to 80 hours) • Continuing Education Program • Professional Licensure and Society Memberships

STV is committed to paying all of its employees in a fair, equitable, and transparent manner. The listed pay range is STV’s good-faith salary estimate for this position. Please note that the final salary offered for this position may be outside of this published range based on many factors, including but not limited to geography, education, experience, and/or certifications.

Not sure this role is the perfect match? We encourage you to apply if STV’s work and values resonate with you. We know great candidates don’t always meet every qualification, and research shows women and people of color are less likely to apply unless they do. At STV, we believe strong talent comes from a wide range of backgrounds, and your skills and experience may align with this or another opportunity as we continue to grow.