Job Description
The Train Control Upgrade Project (TCUP) is a multi-year, multimillion dollar project with the goal of replacing the existing train control system onboard vehicles and in the Muni Metro subway with a state-of-the-art radio-based technology. TCUP will expand supervision of trains by the train control system from the subway to the entire surface Muni light rail system. The TCUP vendor contract and installation work will be managed by a project management team within the Transit Division (“Muni”).
Information Technology is at the core of TCUP. SFMTA’s Technology Solutions and Integration (TSI) team will be delivering the technology scope for TCUP. The role will be supporting delivery of the information technology components.
Success requires significant investments in expanded network infrastructure, data architecture, wireless communication systems, servers, databases, and cybersecurity. Project systems will need data integration with existing enterprise and intelligent transportation systems. Changes need to be baselined, documented, designed, implemented, and tested.
This is an opportunity to work with stakeholders and business units across the SFMTA and take a pivotal step in your career. Your work will impact the lives of all users of our transportation services and infrastructure.
Position Description:
Under the direction of the TCUP Technology Project Manager, the Assistant Engineer supports systems engineering and communications integration activities for the Train Control Upgrade Project (TCUP).
During design, the Assistant Engineer reviews and evaluates technical submittals from the Communications- Based Train Control (CBTC) Supplier to ensure conformance with project requirements and compatibility with existing and planned systems. The role supports integration between the CBTC system and related technologies, including CAD/AVL, asset management systems, SCADA, and agency network infrastructure.
The Assistant Engineer will contribute to communications enabling works, including development and review of electrical drawings, schematics, and plans for fiber, copper, conduit, cabinets, power, and network connectivity required to support CBTC deployment. The position participates in design reviews, technical workshops, and coordination meetings with the Supplier, the information technology teams, and field installers to ensure alignment across disciplines.
During construction, testing, and commissioning phases, the Assistant Engineer provides field support to verify installation against approved designs, resolve interface issues, and document field conditions. The role supports inspection of communications infrastructure along the wayside and within control center facilities, monitors network and system testing activities, and assists in validating performance against project specifications.
The Assistant Engineer also contributes to the development and review of installation, integration, and test plans to ensure successful system acceptance and operational readiness.
Examples of Important and Essential Duties:
- Provides engineering support to the Train Control Upgrade Project delivering communication-based train control (CBTC) technology to Muni’s rail system.
- Organize and lead technical meetings aimed at identifying, analyzing, and resolving engineering issues internally.
- Reviews vendor submissions of plans, technical documents, and reports to support SFMTA design reviews at key milestones.
- Works with vendors, SFMTA transit staff, and consultants to design integrations between the CBTC system and other systems.
- Generate drawings, plans, guides, manuals, as-built drawings.
- Develop root causes analyses and corrective action reports.
- Witnesses post-installation tests and other tests necessary to commission the communications system; performs QA/QC tasks.
- Plan and execute SFMTA led field test to validate vendor's functionality supporting system interfaces. Create test plans and procedures including creating test environments/scenarios as required.
- Monitors performance of network infrastructure for compliance with contractually required performance specifications.
- Reviews the delivered system for compliance with SFMTA requirements; communicates findings to SFMTA management with recommended solutions.
- Identifies, tracks and catalogs defects and bugs and communicates them to project staff and contractor. Maintain traceability between requirements, test cases, and results to support formal acceptance.
- Conducts periodic field visits to wayside equipment rooms, control centers, wayside locations, and rail yards to research and document issues; conducts preliminary field studies and surveys and collects data for the preparation of designs and drawings; reviews and analyzes field data to determine necessary corrective measures.
- Conducts routine field inspections of works in progress to ensure conformance with plans, specifications, and codes, checks and records work progress at various construction sites and monitors system testing.
- Performs data entry and formatting tasks as needed to support the project.
- Performs other related duties as assigned.
Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications:
1. A)Possession of a baccalaureate degree or graduate degree in Electrical Engineering
AND
B) One (1) year of verifiable professional engineering experience performing at least three of the following tasks:
a. Preparing or assisting in preparing studies, designs, drawings, sketches, and plans using AutoCAD and other software tools.
b. Collecting data to assess project needs and define project scope through site visits, surveying, review of existing documents, reports, drawing and manuals, performing measurements, collecting samples, or/and interviews with the stakeholders.
c. Preparing or assisting in the preparation of contract specifications, lists of materials, cost estimates, schedules, and progress payments.
d. Preparing or assisting in the preparation of engineering reports and reports concerning field conditions, the progress of projects, the results of studies, and other matters.
e. Conducting data analyses and mathematical calculations, in order to determine type or size of material or equipment.
f. Conducting routine field inspections of construction and repair projects in progress to ensure conformance with plans, specifications and codes; checks and records work progress at various construction sites.
Note: Internships, drafting experience and student design work do not qualify as professional engineering experience.
AND
C) Possession of a valid Engineer-in-Training (EIT) certificate issued by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES).
OR
2. Possession of a Professional Engineer (PE) license in Electrical Engineering from the California Board of Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors and Geologists.
Note: Most positions require a valid California driver license.
Notes:
1. Applicants must meet the minimum qualifications by the final filing date unless otherwise noted.
2. One (1) year full-time experience is equivalent to 2000 hours. (2000 hours of qualifying work experience is based on a 40-hour work week). Any overtime hours that you work above forty (40) hours per week are not included in the calculation to determine full-time experience.
Desirable Qualifications:
The stated desirable qualifications may be used to identify candidates advancing to the interview process and/or to identify job finalist(s) at the end of the selection process when referred for hiring.
- Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a related field
- Knowledge of general systems engineering concepts and ability to use them in real-world applications
- Exposure to communication-based train control (CBTC) systems, rail transit systems, signaling systems, enterprise network infrastructure, or telecommunications systems
- Experience with computer systems, computer networks, and communications/network systems
- Experience with and/or an understanding of packet-based networks, human-machine interfaces, and number systems
- Exposure to field engineering, testing, or other hands-on engineering work
- Experience working as a contractor for public transit agencies or as an employee of a public transit agency
- Technical writing and editing experience
- Experience with engineering accounting and preparing engineer’s cost estimates
- Experience with reading engineering schematics and using AutoCAD to prepare designs, drawings, sketches, and plans
- Experience with P6 Primavera, Microsoft Project, or other project management software applications
- Experience working with system engineers, project managers, operations teams, and regulatory bodies to ensure alignment of system requirements and performance goals
- Experience with Microsoft Office products such as Excel, Visio, Outlook, and Word
- Experience interpreting and analyzing telematics data, using Python, SQL, Tableau or other tools to perform calculations and visualize data
- Ability to work well with a multi-disciplinary, diverse workforce, including operations staff, maintenance technicians, technical professionals, contractors, executives and elected officials, and stakeholder groups
Additional Information
Verification:
Applicants may be required to submit verification of qualifying education and experience at any point during the recruitment and selection process. More information can be found at: https://careers.sf.gov/knowledge/#verification. Falsifying one’s education, training, or work experience or attempted deception on the application may result in disqualification for this and future job opportunities with the City and County of San Francisco.
Note: Falsifying one’s education, training, or work experience or attempted deception on the application may result in disqualification for this and future job opportunities with the City and County of San Francisco.
All work experience, education, training and other information substantiating how you meet the minimum qualifications must be included on your application by the filing deadline. Information submitted after the filing deadline will not be considered in determining whether you meet the minimum qualifications.
Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of a completed City and County of San Francisco application.
Applications completed improperly may be cause for ineligibility, disqualification or may lead to lower scores.
Selection Process:
Applications will be screened for relevant qualifying experience. Additional screening mechanisms may be used to determine candidates' qualifications. Only those applicants who most closely meet the needs of the Agency will be invited to move forward in the selection process.
This recruitment may be utilized to fill similar positions in this classification at SFMTA.
All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.
For questions or inquiries, please contact the Human Resources Analyst, Melissa Lee at [email protected].
The City and County of San Francisco encourages women, minorities and persons with disabilities to apply. Applicants will be considered regardless of their sex, race, age, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition (associated with cancer, a history of cancer, or genetic characteristics), HIV/AIDS status, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, military and veteran status, or other protected category under the law.
Electrical Engineering (2)