TCUP Technology Project Engineer (Electrical Assistant Engineer) – Administration Division – SF Municipal Transportation Agency (5203)

The Train Control Upgrade Project (TCUP) is a multi-year, multimillion dollar project with the goal of replacing the existing train control system onboard vehicles and in the Muni Metro subway with a state-of-the-art radio-based technology. TCUP will expand supervision of trains by the train control system from the subway to the entire surface Muni light rail system. The TCUP vendor contract and installation work will be managed by a project management team within the Transit Division (“Muni”).

Information Technology is at the core of TCUP. SFMTA’s Technology Solutions and Integration (TSI) team will be delivering the technology scope for TCUP. The role will be supporting delivery of the information technology components.

Success requires significant investments in expanded network infrastructure, data architecture, wireless communication systems, servers, databases, and cybersecurity. Project systems will need data integration with existing enterprise and intelligent transportation systems. Changes need to be baselined, documented, designed, implemented, and tested.

This is an opportunity to work with stakeholders and business units across the SFMTA and take a pivotal step in your career. Your work will impact the lives of all users of our transportation services and infrastructure.

Position Description:

Under the direction of the TCUP Technology Project Manager, the Assistant Engineer supports systems engineering and communications integration activities for the Train Control Upgrade Project (TCUP).

During design, the Assistant Engineer reviews and evaluates technical submittals from the Communications- Based Train Control (CBTC) Supplier to ensure conformance with project requirements and compatibility with existing and planned systems. The role supports integration between the CBTC system and related technologies, including CAD/AVL, asset management systems, SCADA, and agency network infrastructure.

The Assistant Engineer will contribute to communications enabling works, including development and review of electrical drawings, schematics, and plans for fiber, copper, conduit, cabinets, power, and network connectivity required to support CBTC deployment. The position participates in design reviews, technical workshops, and coordination meetings with the Supplier, the information technology teams, and field installers to ensure alignment across disciplines.

During construction, testing, and commissioning phases, the Assistant Engineer provides field support to verify installation against approved designs, resolve interface issues, and document field conditions. The role supports inspection of communications infrastructure along the wayside and within control center facilities, monitors network and system testing activities, and assists in validating performance against project specifications.

The Assistant Engineer also contributes to the development and review of installation, integration, and test plans to ensure successful system acceptance and operational readiness.

Examples of Important and Essential Duties:

• Provides engineering support to the Train Control Upgrade Project delivering communication-based train control (CBTC) technology to Muni’s rail system.
• Organize and lead technical meetings aimed at identifying, analyzing, and resolving engineering issues internally.
• Reviews vendor submissions of plans, technical documents, and reports to support SFMTA design reviews at key milestones.
• Works with vendors, SFMTA transit staff, and consultants to design integrations between the CBTC system and other systems.
• Generate drawings, plans, guides, manuals, as-built drawings.
• Develop root causes analyses and corrective action reports.
• Witnesses post-installation tests and other tests necessary to commission the communications system; performs QA/QC tasks.
• Plan and execute SFMTA led field test to validate vendor's functionality supporting system interfaces. Create test plans and procedures including creating test environments/scenarios as required.
• Monitors performance of network infrastructure for compliance with contractually required performance specifications.
• Reviews the delivered system for compliance with SFMTA requirements; communicates findings to SFMTA management with recommended solutions.
• Identifies, tracks and catalogs defects and bugs and communicates them to project staff and contractor. Maintain traceability between requirements, test cases, and results to support formal acceptance.
• Conducts periodic field visits to wayside equipment rooms, control centers, wayside locations, and rail yards to research and document issues; conducts preliminary field studies and surveys and collects data for the preparation of designs and drawings; reviews and analyzes field data to determine necessary corrective measures.
• Conducts routine field inspections of works in progress to ensure conformance with plans, specifications, and codes, checks and records work progress at various construction sites and monitors system testing.
• Performs data entry and formatting tasks as needed to support the project.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.