Field Engineer, Traction Power and Medium Voltage

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, Traction Power and Medium Voltage to join our Transit and Rail Team in Sacramento, CA.

Position Summary

The Field Engineer, Traction Power and Medium Voltage, serves as the Owner and PDS field representative for the installation, testing, energization, commissioning, and acceptance of traction power and electrical infrastructure on the California High-Speed Rail (CAHSR) Program. The position covers traction power substations, switching and paralleling stations, utility interconnection facilities, power transformers, high and medium voltage switchgear, protective relay systems, traction power SCADA, grounding and bonding, traction return systems, auxiliary power substations, medium voltage distribution networks, wayside power distribution, cable routes, duct banks, and equipment shelters.

In this role, the Field Engineer verifies that installed electrical work conforms to approved drawings, specifications, railway standards, and Program requirements; reviews field conditions and supports resolution of technical issues affecting installation, testing, and energization; and coordinates field interfaces between traction power, OCS, signaling, communications, SCADA, track, civil works, and utility contractors. The position supports and witnesses Factory Acceptance Testing, Site Acceptance Testing, protective relay testing, transformer testing, switchgear testing, cable testing, grounding and bonding verification, SCADA verification, energization readiness activities, and operational readiness programs.

Reporting to the Project Manager, Traction Power and Medium Voltage, the Field Engineer supplies the Program with independent field verification of electrical installation and test results, documented deficiency and corrective action records, and the on-site technical presence required to support energization authorization and entry into service. The position is based in Sacramento, California. Domestic and international travel of approximately 50 percent is expected.

Position Responsibilities

- Provide field technical oversight of traction power, medium voltage, and auxiliary power installation activities across the corridor

- Verify conformance of installed electrical work with approved drawings, specifications, railway standards, and Program requirements

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

- Coordinate field interfaces between traction power, OCS, signaling, communications, SCADA, track, civil works, stations, and utility contractors

- Provide field oversight for traction power substations, switching and paralleling stations, and utility interconnection facilities

- Provide field oversight for power transformers, high and medium voltage switchgear, protective relay systems, and traction power SCADA

- Provide field oversight for auxiliary power substations, medium voltage distribution networks, wayside power distribution, cable routes, duct banks, and equipment shelters

- Verify grounding and bonding installation, traction return continuity, and electrical clearance requirements

- Support and witness Factory Acceptance Testing and Site Acceptance Testing for electrical equipment and components

- Support and witness protective relay testing, transformer testing, switchgear testing, cable testing, and SCADA verification

- Participate in energization readiness reviews, outage planning activities, and operational readiness programs

- Review test records, as-built documentation, and turnover packages supporting system acceptance

- Verify compliance with Program requirements, electrical safety requirements, railway standards, and applicable regulations

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

- Support supplier coordination and attend supplier facilities for factory inspection and acceptance activities, including domestic and international travel of approximately 50 percent

Minimum Qualifications

- Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Railway Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a related discipline, or demonstrable on-the-job work experience, and a minimum of ten (10) years of traction power, electrical infrastructure, utility, or medium voltage experience

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

- Strong working knowledge of traction power systems, medium voltage distribution, substations, protective relays, switchgear, and transformers

- Working knowledge of grounding and bonding, traction return systems, and railway electrical safety requirements

- Experience supporting field delivery activities on major transportation, utility, or energy infrastructure projects

- Experience witnessing Factory Acceptance Testing, Site Acceptance Testing, protective relay testing, and electrical commissioning programs

- Experience reviewing electrical test records, as-built documentation, and turnover packages supporting system acceptance

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

- Strong communication, coordination, and stakeholder engagement skills

- Availability for domestic and international travel of approximately 50 percent

Preferred Qualifications/ Certifications/ Licensures

- Experience on high-speed rail projects operating above 125 mph (200 km/h)

- Experience with 25kV AC traction power systems and traction power substations

- Experience supporting substation construction, wayside equipment installation, and corridor-wide power distribution

- Experience supporting utility interconnection, energization planning, and outage coordination

- Experience with electrical SCADA systems and power monitoring systems

- Familiarity with FRA requirements, NFPA 70E, IEEE, and railway electrical standards

- Experience supporting integrated testing between traction power, OCS, signaling, and control center systems

- Professional Engineer (PE) licensure or equivalent professional certification; additional years of relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of licensure

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