Senior Systems Engineer-SCADA

Salary range is $87k to $191k, with a midpoint of $139k. 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 discount.
• 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:

Under general direction, plans, develops, implements and supports the Agency's light rail Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition system. Provides technical leadership to staff, contractors and vendors. Serves as subject matter expert on Enterprise Systems, SCADA & PLC's and embedded control systems for monitoring and control of: train signaling, traction power substations and Fire/Life & Building Management systems. Coordinates assigned activities with other divisions, departments, and outside agencies. Troubleshoots and resolves system errors, issues, and warning messages as needed. Performs technical support duties to assigned area of responsibility ensuring quality of work meets the standards set forth by the Agency.

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.

• Conducts technical analysis, hazard and risk analysis, develops business cases, and participates as technical lead on major projects.
• Collaborates with operations and engineering staff to translates agency needs into long-term architecture solutions.
• Assesses industry standards and where appropriate, incorporates them into Sound Transit architecture standards.
• Develops cost/benefit analysis and business case justifications that include risk assessment.
• Leads efforts to architect complex technical solutions, coordinating with all necessary subject matter experts.
• Evaluates and oversees the design, development, implementation, testing and maintenance support of SCADA systems used to monitor and control the operational technology. An associated systems including but not limited to train control systems, traction power, fire/life safety and building management systems.
• Evaluates, leads, and supports the state of good repair for operations technology assets and systems in revenue service.
• Collaborates with the IT infrastructure team to architect the SCADA system, design installation and testing of servers, storage and data centers in production and test environments; design and maintain highly available, secure, and reliable systems.
• Develops, maintains, and enforces Operations Technology standards, maintenance, and procedures in coordination with the other agency technology groups.
• Develops and promotes standard operations documentation including procedures, checklists, and instructions.
• Provides technical leadership, mentorship, and coaching to team members, contractors and vendors.
• Enables business continuity and disaster recovery architecture and plan.
• Develops and implements system enhancements to improve system reliability and performance.
• Performs root cause analysis and repairs of escalated technical issues and trends; assists team members as needed to resolve advanced technical issues.
• Researches, designs, develops and implements solutions for fault tolerance, performance enhancement, capacity optimization, and configuration management for applications.
• Provides expert knowledge of industry principles and practices for the area of responsibility.
• 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 Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or closely related field. Five years of experience that includes working with consultants and contractors, and engineering field work in area of assignment, preferably in a rail or transit related environment; Or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Required Licenses and Certifications:

• Valid state driver's license. Position will require transport equipment to job sites, including during non-revenue hours.

Required Knowledge and Skills:

• Operational characteristics of a variety of computer and network systems, applications, hardware, software and peripheral equipment.
• Methods and techniques involved in designing, installing and maintaining multi-vendor systems and connectivity.
• Methods and techniques of performing advanced troubleshooting activities on applications, workstations, servers, software, printers, networks, peripheral equipments and maintenance of systems.
• Design and maintenance of SCADA based systems, such as Factory Link, Cimplicity, Wonderware, Johnson Controls Metasys, GEisys, and so forth.
• Design and maintenance of PLC & embedded control systems.
• Project management techniques and principles.
• Working practical knowledge of programmable controller (PLC) programming. For example: ladder logic and PLC function block.
• Strong communications skills to coordinate with co-workers, customers, and vendors.
• Established electrical engineering principles, methods, and techniques of electrical equipment and systems.
• Electrical and fire codes, OSHA requirements and related regulations.
• Engineering consulting services and methods including reports, studies, cost estimates, plans, and specifications.
• Recent developments, current literature, and sources of information related to innovations and trends in applications design, development and maintenance.
• Methods and techniques involved in designing, installing and maintaining industrial control systems and connectivity.
• Applying project management techniques and principles and defining a detailed project scope and control scope as a means of achieving overall project objectives.
• Monitoring program/project operating budgets, costs, and schedules.
• Techniques to work effectively under pressure, meet deadlines, and adjust to changing priorities.
• Principles of business letter writing and basic report preparation.
• English usage, spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
• Modern office procedures, methods, and equipment including computers and computer applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, and statistical databases.
• Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with other department staff, management, vendors, outside agencies, community groups and the general public.
• Operational characteristics of a variety of computer and network systems, applications, hardware, industrial controls, and Internet of Things (IoT) software and peripheral equipment.
• Effectively coordinating integration efforts of numerous consultant firms.
• Presentation development and public speaking skills.
• Applying appropriate oral and written communication skills to various individuals ranging from Agency employees, engineering consultants, and local, state, and federal agencies.

Preferred Knowledge and Skills:

• Rail signaling systems communication and operation; interfacing traction power control equipment; SQL Server, data processing and virtual environment processes.
• Working with Rail operation control center and maintenance staff.

Physical Demands / Work Environment:

• Work is performed in a standard hybrid office, field, shop, transit vehicles environments.
• Positions working in field may occasionally be exposed to dangerous machinery, extreme weather conditions, physical harm, hazardous chemicals, and/or extreme noise.
• Position includes 24-hour on call program; position is on a rotating shift and required to provide support for the alignment.
• This position is responsible for replacing and testing equipment in various job sites in various work environments. May be subject to bending, crawling, hearing, kneeling, pushing, pulling, reaching, seeing, walking, and carrying and lifting up to 50 pounds.
• 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.