Systems Engineer-Communications & SCADA

Salary range is $65k to $150k, with a midpoint of $105k. New hires typically receive between minimum and midpoint, however, we may go slightly higher based on experience, internal equity and market.

Sound Transit also offers a competitive benefits package with a wide range of offerings, including:

• Health Benefits: We offer two choices of medical plans, a dental plan, and a vision plan all at no cost for employee coverage; comprehensive benefits for employees and eligible dependents, including a spouse or domestic partner.
• Long-Term Disability and Life Insurance.
• Employee Assistance Program.
• Retirement Plans: 401a - 10% of employee contribution with a 12% match by Sound Transit; 457b - up to IRS maximum (employee only contribution).
• Paid Time Off: Employees accrue 25 days of paid time off annually with increases at four, eight and twelve years of service. Employees at the director level and up accrue additional days. We also observe 12 paid holidays and provide up to 2 paid floating holidays and up to 2 paid volunteer days per year.
• Parental Leave: 12 weeks of parental leave for new parents.
• Pet Insurance.
• ORCA Card: All full-time employees will receive an ORCA card at no cost.
• Tuition Reimbursement: Sound Transit will pay up to $5,000 annually for approved tuition expenses.
• Inclusive Reproductive Health Support Services.
• Compensation Practices: We offer competitive salaries based on market rates and internal equity. In addition to compensation and benefits, you'll find that we provide work-life balance, opportunities for professional development and recognition from your colleagues.

GENERAL PURPOSE:

This is a technical role as an engineer responsible for providing subject matter expertise (SME) under close supervision across networked communications and automation systems for transit applications including fare collection, emergency telephones, passenger information, vehicle wayside interface, radio, SCADA (PLCs, & HMIs), CCTV, access control, low voltage electronics power distribution, and industrial IOT. Incumbent provides engineering and project services independently and as a team contributor with emphasis on network infrastructure and Ethernet communications for capital expansion projects, engineering service requests, operations, and maintenance.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

The following duties are a representative summary of the primary duties and responsibilities. Incumbent(s) may not be required to perform all duties listed and may be required to perform additional, position-specific duties.

• Develops and maintains agency design criteria and standards for systems and assets in assigned engineering discipline.
• Reviews and provides input to formal contract deliverables and submittals to provide assurance of project compliance with established agency technical criteria, policies, and procedures for design development, systems interface coordination and integration, construction, and testing and commissioning.
• Reviews and makes recommendations on changes and deviations from established agency standards and criteria.
• Provides support to senior staff working closely with city code and fire department officials to ensure code requirements and operational best practices are incorporated into design projects.
• Develops designs for follow on and service delivery projects from beginning to end including coordination of schedule, scope, and budget of assigned projects.
• Provides engineering economic analysis in determining total cost of ownership.
• Provides support to the department/division and others on matters as directed; serves as staff on a variety of committees as assigned; prepares and presents reports and presentations; attends and participates in professional group meetings.
• Supports Agency Sustainability efforts to develop efficient designs and evaluate new technologies intended to improve efficiencies and reduce impact.
• Collaborates with staff across the agency to ensure continuous improvement and best practice is applied to engineering criteria, policies and procedures.
• Champions and models Sound Transit's core values and demonstrates values-based behaviors in everyday interactions across the agency.
• Contributes to a culture of diversity, equity and inclusion in alignment with Sound Transit's Equity & Inclusion Policy.
• It is the responsibility of all employees to follow the Agency safety rules, regulations, and procedures pertaining to their assigned duties and responsibilities, which could include systems, operations, and/or other employees.
• It is the responsibility of all employees to integrate sustainability into everyday business practices.
• Other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Education and Experience: Bachelor's degree in Engineering from an Accredited Board for Engineering & Technology (ABET) and four years of systems engineering experience in design, construction or operations and maintenance of complex industrial communications and control systems; OR an equivalent combination of education and experience. Experience in a transit/ transportation related environment preferred.

Preferred Licenses or Certifications:

• EIT or Professional Engineer License.

Required Knowledge and Skills:

• Engineering principles, methods, and techniques applied during design, construction, testing and commissioning, operations, and maintenance.
• Codes and related regulations applicable to network communications and security (for example NFPA, BICSI, ANSI, ISAM, UL, NEC, NEMA, APTA, NIST, ISO, NERC).
• Electrical and telecommunications wiring practices, installation standards, and construction techniques.
• Ethernet TCP/IP.
• Grounding and shielding practices, power over Ethernet (POE).
• Cable (wired) networks, topologies, media (copper, fiber, RF) network device configuration, network diagnostics, network management, wireless networks (802.11, Bluetooth, RFID, Cellular).
• Network performance metrics (Availability, Bandwidth, Delay, Error, Jitter, Latency, Loss, Overhead, Response Time, Throughput, Utilization), fault resilience, and tolerance.
• Recent developments, current literature, and sources of information related to emerging trends and innovation in area of practice.
• Troubleshooting, diagnostics, and root cause analysis - ability to systematically investigate equipment failures in complex systems, determine the root cause, and recommend corrective action.
• Time management -ability to control a large workload, prioritize effort, and manage commitments.
• Collaboration - ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other agency staff, consultants, contractors, authorities having jurisdiction, and other stakeholder groups. Is able to consistently reach consensus with diverse groups of stakeholders.
• Communication - skill in the ability to communicate clear and accurate technical information to technical and non-technical audiences in verbal and written form.
• Meeting management - skill in planning, conducting, and recording effective meetings.
• Systems thinking - skill in understanding the whole problem, seeking different perspectives, understanding interdependencies, and decomposing complex problems into solvable elements.
• Task leadership - ability to develop scopes of work and estimates for engineering activities and coordinate small teams of staff, consultants, and contractors to complete technical assignments.
• Negotiation - ability to negotiate technical and commercial issues with internal and external stakeholders.
• Conflict resolution - ability to respectfully reconcile different points of view held by diverse stakeholders on matters pertaining to area of practice.

Physical Demands / Work Environment:

• Work is performed in a hybrid office environment and in the field in support of construction, testing, operations, and maintenance efforts.
• Positions working in field may occasionally be exposed to dangerous machinery, extreme weather conditions, physical harm, hazardous chemicals, and/or extreme noise.
• Position is responsible for inspections and maintenance. May be subject to bending, climbing, crawling, eye/hand coordination, grasping, hearing, kneeling, pushing, pulling, reaching, repetitive motion, standing, talking, seeing, walking, and carrying and lifting objects up to 50 pounds.
• Position is responsible for getting to job sites and meeting locations that may be across multiple locations in the transit network.
• Position may require on call for response to emergencies or urgent issues that are outside of regular hours.
• Position includes weekend/night shifts as some projects may require work outside of standard hours to minimize disruption to transit services.
• The Agency promotes a safe and healthy work environment and provides appropriate safety and equipment training for all personnel as required.

Sound Transit is an equal employment opportunity employer. No person is unlawfully excluded from employment action based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status or other protected class.