Field Engineer, Overhead Contact System (OCS)

About Burns:

Burns Engineering provides professional engineering design and project management services for transportation, facilities, and infrastructure projects. We help our clients attain their strategic goals and initiatives through successful large-scale infrastructure projects. Burns’ full-service capabilities include mechanical, electrical, civil, structural, transportation, and energy consulting engineering.

Recently voted a Top Workplace by Philly.com, we credit our strength as an organization to our talented, driven, vibrant team. Burns is an ENR Top 500 Firm, and has been named an MEP Giant by Consulting-Specifying Engineer Magazine, as well as a Hot Firm by Zweig. We are industry experts, proven leaders, innovative thinkers, and team players. We put our clients’ successes and best interests first, because their success is our success. We have fun at work because we love making a difference in the world. We are looking for high-energy, bright, collaborative individuals who want the opportunity to “write their own story” with us.

Burns is currently seeking a Field Engineer, Overhead Contact System (OCS) to join our Transit Rail Team in Sacramento.

The Field Engineer, Overhead Contact System (OCS), serves as the Owner and PDS field representative for the installation, testing, energization, commissioning, and acceptance of 25kV AC railway electrification infrastructure on the California High-Speed Rail (CAHSR) Program. The position covers contact and messenger wire systems, cantilever assemblies, registration equipment, sectioning facilities, disconnect switches, grounding and bonding systems, traction return systems, and associated electrification infrastructure.

In this role, the Field Engineer verifies OCS implementation against approved drawings, specifications, railway standards, and Program requirements; supports geometry verification including wire height validation, stagger measurements, clearance verification, tensioning activities, and grounding and bonding verification; and reviews technical records and turnover documentation supporting system acceptance. The position participates in Factory Acceptance Testing, Site Acceptance Testing, continuity testing, grounding testing, high-voltage testing, integrated systems testing, dynamic testing, pantograph interaction testing, and energization and operational readiness programs.

The position is based in Sacramento, California. Reporting to the Project Manager, Overhead Contact System, the Field Engineer supplies the Program with independent field verification of electrification installation and geometry, documented deficiency and corrective action records, and the on-site technical presence required to support energization readiness and entry into service. Local, national, and international travel of approximately 50 percent is expected to support supplier facilities, Factory Acceptance Testing, and commissioning programs.

Position Responsibilities

- Provide field technical oversight of OCS implementation activities and verify alignment with approved drawings, specifications, railway standards, and Program requirements

- Support technical coordination between contractors, designers, traction power teams, track teams, structures teams, railway operators, and suppliers

- Review field conditions and support resolution of technical issues affecting installation, testing, and commissioning

- Support deployment and acceptance of contact wire systems, messenger wire systems, and cantilever assemblies

- Support deployment and acceptance of registration equipment, sectioning facilities, and disconnect switches

- Support deployment and acceptance of grounding and bonding systems, traction return systems, and associated electrification infrastructure

- Support geometry verification activities including wire height validation, stagger measurements, and clearance verification

- Support tensioning activities, grounding and bonding verification, and system readiness assessments

- Review technical records and turnover documentation supporting system acceptance

- Participate in Factory Acceptance Testing and Site Acceptance Testing for OCS equipment and components

- Participate in continuity testing, grounding testing, and high-voltage testing programs

- Participate in integrated systems testing, dynamic testing, and pantograph interaction testing

- Participate in energization readiness activities and operational readiness programs

- Document deficiencies, track corrective actions, and drive closure in support of energization and system acceptance

- Support system acceptance and entry into service activities, including supplier facility visits and factory inspections requiring local, national, and international travel of approximately 50 percent

Minimum Qualifications

- Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Railway Engineering, Systems Engineering, Civil Engineering, or a related discipline or demonstrable on-the-job work experience, and a minimum of ten (10) years of railway electrification or OCS experience

- Demonstrated experience supporting OCS systems through installation, testing, commissioning, energization, and acceptance

- Strong working knowledge of 25kV AC railway electrification systems, grounding and bonding, traction return systems, and OCS interfaces

- Experience supporting field delivery activities on major transportation infrastructure projects

- Experience with OCS geometry verification including wire height, stagger, clearance, and tensioning

- Experience reviewing technical records, test results, and turnover documentation supporting system acceptance

- Experience participating in continuity, grounding, and high-voltage testing programs

- Demonstrated ability to document deficiencies and drive corrective action closure in a field environment

- Strong communication, coordination, and stakeholder engagement skills

- Availability for local, national, and international travel of approximately 50 percent

Preferred Qualifications/ Certifications/ Licensures

- High-speed rail project experience

- Experience with high-speed catenary systems operating above 125 mph (200 km/h)

- Experience supporting Factory Acceptance Testing, Site Acceptance Testing, dynamic testing, and integrated commissioning programs

- Experience supporting pantograph-catenary interaction testing

- Knowledge of EN standards, FRA requirements, and railway electrification standards

- Experience supporting energization readiness and outage planning activities

- Experience supporting operational readiness and entry into revenue service

- Professional Engineer (PE) licensure or equivalent professional certification

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