Director, Engineering Systems - USA

Director, Engineering Systems - USA

Job Location: United States

Office Location: Remote

Employment Type: Salary

Job Type: Full Time

Start a Watco Career and Discover the Difference

Keep the world's supply chain moving. That's what the Watco team does every day at our short line railroads, switching sites, terminals, ports, and logistics hubs. Whether you're at one of these locations or in a support-services role, there's one thread that ties everyone together. We're all on the same team. One Watco.

Here's what you can expect from Watco:
Outstanding culture recognized by Forbes and Newsweek
Competitive compensation and benefits
Leadership and development programs offered through Watco University
Career advancement opportunities

Job Summary

The Director- Engineering Systems is responsible for strategic leadership, engineering oversight, technical standards, and continued modernization of the railroad's signal and control systems. The position provides technical direction across a portfolio of railroad properties and serves as a senior engineering resource for signal infrastructure, grade crossing warning systems, interlockings, wayside signaling, communications, dispatching interfaces, and related technology.

The Director will establish engineering standards & practices, oversee complex signal projects, provide technical leadership to field and engineering personnel and ensure systems are designed, installed, maintained, and modified in accordance with applicable FRA regulations, AREMA standards, railroad operating rules, and company requirements.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Provide technical leadership and engineering direction for railroad signal systems across the company.
Establish and maintain company-wide signal engineering standards, specifications, design practices, and technical requirements
Review and approve complex signal designs, system modifications, signal plans, circuit designs, and engineering studies.
Lead the planning and execution of signal capital projects, including project scope, budgets, engineering, schedules, technical reviews & commissioning.
Build and maintain strong working relationships with State DOTs, FRA, FHWA, and local agencies on signal and grade crossing projects, including funding, design, regulatory, and project delivery coordination.
Lead the procurement and standardization of signal materials and equipment working with procurement & operations to manage costs, availability, inventory, & long lead materials.

Qualifications
10+ years of progressive railroad signal engineering experience, with significant experience in increasingly responsible technical or leadership positions.
Demonstrated experience with railroads signal systems, including several of the following:
-Wayside Signaling
-Interlockings
-Wayside Detectors
-Grade Crossing Warning Systems
-Train Detection
-Communications
-Centralized Traffic Control
-Positive Train Control
-Grade Crossing Preemption
-228, 234, 236 Compliance
Demonstrated experience managing engineering projects, consultants, contractors, and technical vendors
Experience developing or reviewing signal engineering plans, specifications, circuit design and technical studies
Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Ability to travel extensively through the railroad network

Preferred Qualifications
Professional Engineer (PE) License
Experience leading signal engineering for a Class 1, regional or short line railroad.
Experience managing multi-million-dollar capital programs
Working knowledge of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUCTD) and its application to railroad grade crossing & signal projects

Education

Must be 18 years of age or older with High School or GED equivalent