Rail & Transit Traction Power Leader

Job Description

Overview 

We are seeking a Rail & Transit Traction Power Leader to drive market growth and provide technical and delivery leadership for traction power and rail electrical systems across the New York City region. This is a seller-doer role: you will develop and expand client relationships, lead strategic pursuits, and serve as Project Director/Principal-in-Charge and technical authority on complex rail/transit programs and projects.

This leader will be the go-to expert for traction power systems across third rail and overhead contact system (OCS) environments (role is agnostic to either), including substations, power distribution, protection/controls, grounding/bonding, and systems integration—while ensuring projects are delivered safely, compliantly, and with minimal disruption to operating railroads and transit systems.

Your role 

Key Responsibilities

Market Growth & Strategy (Seller-Doer)

• Own and grow key client relationships across the NYC area rail/transit market, including MTA (C&D, NYCT, LIRR, Metro-North), Amtrak, PATH, NJ Transit, and major contractors.

• Identify, qualify, and shape pursuits in traction power, rail systems, program/construction management support, and alternative delivery (DBB, Design-Build, Progressive Design-Build, CM/GC).

• Lead or support capture planning, teaming strategy, win themes, and differentiated technical approaches for major pursuits.

• Represent the firm at regional industry events (APTA/IEEE-focused forums, conferences, panels) to build visibility and strengthen market presence.

• Coordinate pursuit/no-bid and teaming decisions with regional leadership to maximize positioning and probability of win.

• Develop and execute an annual growth plan with measurable goals (e.g., backlog/revenue growth targets over 2–3 years, expansion of framework/IDIQ/task order work, and increased share-of-wallet with priority accounts).

Technical Leadership & Delivery Excellence

• Serve as technical lead and subject matter expert for traction power and rail electrical systems, including:

  • Lead traction power studies and calculations (load flow/power-flow, short-circuit, cable sizing, protection coordination, grounding/step-touch, arc-flash) and translate results into robust designs, specifications, and drawings.

  • Hands on experience developing detailed design and specifications for DC systems (600/750/1000/1500V) and AC systems (12.5/25KV).

  • Traction power substations (AC utility interfaces, transformers, rectifiers/inverters as applicable), distribution, switching/sectionalization

  • Power supply and distribution for third rail and/or OCS, including feeder arrangements and interface requirements

  • Protection & relaying, controls, SCADA/communications interfaces, and system monitoring

  • Grounding/bonding, negative return, stray current mitigation concepts, and power quality considerations

• Direct and oversee the development of:

  • Conceptual through final designs; technical specifications; contract documents

  • Drawings and deliverables such as site plans, duct bank/cable plans, grounding grids, single-line diagrams, schematics, conduit/wire schedules

• Ensure compliance with relevant standards and requirements, including MTA/agency standards, NFPA 130, NEC, IEEE and other applicable codes and guidelines.

• Provide oversight of quality, safety, scope, schedule, budget, and risk across assigned projects and task orders.

• Collaborate with PMs and discipline leads (track, signals, communications, civil/structural, architecture, OCS/third rail, systems integration) to deliver coordinated solutions.

• Support construction delivery by providing technical support for:

  • Field investigations, site walks, constructability reviews

  • Submittal/shop drawing review, RFI responses, and design clarifications

  • Factory/shop testing, witness testing where required, and commissioning/closeout support

• Coordinate with utility companies and stakeholders to define service requirements, outages, interface responsibilities, and operational constraints.

Team Leadership, Mentorship & Capability Building

• Build, mentor, and lead a high-performing traction power team—creating a culture of technical excellence, accountability, and collaboration.

• Recruit, retain, and develop traction power and rail electrical talent in NYC and across the broader region; support succession planning and capability growth.

• Provide hands-on technical coaching to engineers/designers and review deliverables for quality and compliance.

• Promote continuous improvement, innovation, and best practices in modeling, design standards, documentation, and quality management.

• Leverage national resources and specialty expertise to scale delivery capacity for peak needs and complex assignments.

Financial & Business Management

• Develop scopes, budgets, staffing plans, and risk strategies for traction power-focused and systems-heavy rail/transit assignments.

• Monitor project financial performance (e.g., burn rates, change management, profitability) and drive corrective actions as needed.

• Manage resource planning and deployment in coordination with operations leadership to meet delivery commitments.

• Contribute to annual business planning, forecasting, and strategic initiatives aligned with regional growth objectives.

About you 

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering (master’s preferred).

• Professional Engineer (PE) license (New York strongly preferred; or ability to obtain within a defined period).

• 15+ years of progressive experience in rail/transit electrical systems with significant focus in traction power and power distribution.

• Proven experience developing traction power design including final/IFC designs and providing Engineering Services During Construction.

• Demonstrate experience providing Traction Power Design for AC and DC rail systems in North America. Demonstrated experience delivering complex, multidisciplinary infrastructure projects in dense urban environments with active operations.

• Working knowledge of MTA/NYCT standards, procedures, and approval processes; ability to navigate stakeholder and third-party coordination.

• Strong communication skills to lead client discussions, develop technical narratives, and contribute to proposals and presentations.

• Experience with relevant tools and platforms such as:

  • Traction Power Load Flow Study Software

  • Power system analysis/modeling (e.g., ETAP, SKM, or equivalent)

  • CAD/design production (e.g., MicroStation and/or AutoCAD; 3D modeling a plus)

• Ability and willingness to support site/field activities, including inspections in stations, tunnels/underground structures, aerial structures, and facilities environments as required.

Preferred Qualifications include

• Deep and current relationships with NYC-area rail/transit owners and delivery partners (MTA agencies, Amtrak, PATH, NJT) and the contractor community.

• Experience with:

  • MV/LV substations, 480V MCCs, UPS systems, emergency power interfaces

  • Protection coordination, SCADA integration, commissioning and test procedures

  • Alternative delivery procurement and delivery (Design-Build / Progressive DB)

• Record of published thought leadership, technical papers, committee participation (e.g., IEEE/APTA), or presentations at industry forums.

• Demonstrated seller-doer success: capture leadership, proposal authorship, interview leadership, and measurable wins.

Skills & Attributes

• Entrepreneurial seller-doer mindset with strong client instincts and pursuit discipline.

• Recognized technical credibility and the ability to simplify complex concepts for executive decision-makers.

• Proven leadership in mentoring teams and building collaborative, accountable project cultures.

• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills; comfortable operating with ambiguity.

• Commitment to safety, quality, compliance, and delivering work that protects service continuity and operational reliability.

Working Conditions / Travel

• Hybrid position (2 to 3 days in the office) based in New York City with local travel to project sites, client offices, and meetings as needed.

• Periodic travel may be required for supplier visits, project pursuits, factory/shop testing, and key project milestones.

Rewards & benefits 

At AtkinsRéalis, our values—Safety, Integrity, Collaboration, Innovation, and Excellence—are more than just words. They are the foundation of who we are and how we work. These principles shape our culture, guide our decisions, and inspire us to create an environment where every team member feels empowered to grow, succeed, and make a meaningful impact. 

Depending on your employment status, AtkinsRéalis benefits may include medical, dental, vision, company-paid life and short- and long-term disability benefits, employer-matched 401(k) with 100% vesting, employee stock purchase plan, Paid Time Off, leaves of absences options, flexible work options, recognition and employee satisfaction programs, employee assistance program, and voluntary benefits. You can review our comprehensive benefits page here.  

About AtkinsRéalis 

We're AtkinsRéalis, a world-class engineering services and nuclear organization. We connect people, data and technology to transform the world's infrastructure and energy systems. Together, with our industry partners and clients, and our global team of consultants, designers, engineers and project managers, we can change the world. We're committed to leading our clients across our various end markets to engineer a better future for our planet and its people. 

Find out more.  

Additional information 

Expected compensation range is between $216,700 - $270,900 annually depending on skills, experience, and geographical location. 

Are you ready to expand your career with us? Apply today and help us shape something extraordinary.

AtkinsRéalis is an equal opportunity, Drug-Free employer EOE/Veteran/Disability 

Please review AtkinsRéalis’ Equal Opportunity Statement here. 

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Worker Type

Job Type

At AtkinsRéalis, we seek to hire individuals with diverse characteristics, backgrounds and perspectives. We strongly believe that world-class talent makes no distinctions based on gender, ethnic or national origin, sexual identity and orientation, age, religion or disability, but enriches itself through these differences.