Senior Project System Design Specialist

Location:

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Job ID:

R1011161

Date Posted:

2026-07-07

Company Name:

Hitachi Rail Canada Inc.

Profession (Job Category):

Engineering & Science

Job Schedule: 

Full time

Remote:

No

About Us

A career at Hitachi Rail will help create a legacy. With operations in every corner of the world, our work goes to the cutting-edge of digital transformation and technology. From the multi-cultural strength of our global organisation to the sustainable and innovative ways we work to bring people together, there’s something for everyone to get stuck into. And that’s where you come in.

Job Description:

The Senior Project System Design Specialist will perform system design, signaling design, analysis, modelling and simulation to specify communication-based train control systems. They will develop and define system design features to meet Customer requirements.
They will analyze and evaluate designs to verify compliance with system technical requirements. They will develop and define System, and Subsystem requirements. They will develop block design, interlocking control tables, and application database for Software subsystems. They will analyze and evaluate system performance and prepare associated technical contract deliverable. The incumbent is accountable for performing the design work correctly, within cost and schedule limits, as defined in approved work packages. The work is typically defined by the Work Package Manager, then reviewed and approved by the Systems Architect and/or Manager. The System Engineer typically works with a team of engineers to define what will be designed, how it will perform and how it will be determined that it is working correctly. The Senior Project System Design Specialist may be assigned to lead a group of system engineers on a Project or Product. This would include reviewing, correcting and mentoring other System Design Engineers. This role includes creating and implementing strategies for overall system engineering development to ensure the team is developing an overall solution in an efficient and effective manner.

Key Accountabilities:

• Technical:

  • Converts Customer (internal and/or external) requirements into conceptual designs and prepares associated documentation by performing operational analyses, simulations, and technical trade-off studies evaluating alternative design configurations and functional features.

  • Creates new concepts or modifies existing concepts to fulfill customer requirements.

  • Prepares system, subsystem, and interface requirement specifications by analyzing, decomposing, modelling, and refining customer and train control domain requirements.

  • Prepares Operational Concept Document.

  • Performs technical/engineering tasks such as system design, subsystem requirements, and application databases for software subsystems, including analysis and simulation to identify design feasibility and requirements.

  • Designs signaling components like:

    • Signaling principles

    • Block design

    • Interlocking control tables

    • Safe braking model

    • Performance analysis and headway simulations

    • Application database design

  • Prepares and supports bids and proposals, including customer requirements compliance assessments, gap analysis, architecture design, simulations, trade-off of key features, and estimation.

  • Presents technical designs and reports to internal/external stakeholders.

  • Defines or updates processes and standards for work and products based on system engineering expertise.

  • Supports the implementation of signaling designs according to standards and principles.

  • Interfaces effectively with software, hardware, and IVVQ teams to resolve in-house and field test issues.

  • Leads technical discussions and solution presentations to stakeholders.

  • Develops comprehensive strategies to ensure project alignment across teams while promoting efficient and effective solution development.

  • Monitors workloads and skills of the team, escalating concerns as needed to systems management.

  • Identifies risks and implements mitigation plans to ensure project success.

• Management:

  • Supervises contractors and system specialists by defining tasks, coaching, monitoring progress, and setting priorities.

  • Provides work package descriptions and estimates.

  • Prepares and delivers regular status reports for stakeholders.

  • Encourages process improvement initiatives.

• Safety:

  • Promotes a safety-first culture within product development.

  • Embeds safety considerations in design processes to resolve related defects early.

Key Requirements:

• Education and Experience:

  • Bachelor’s degree in a related discipline such as Electrical Engineering, Software Engineering, Systems Design Engineering, Physics or equivalent.

  • Senior-level expertise in URS Systems or at least 12 years of experience with similarly complex systems.

• Specialized Knowledge:

  • Communications-based train control.

  • Railway signaling expertise.

  • Requirements engineering and systems design.

  • System modelling.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Strong domain knowledge of automated train control systems.

• Proficiency in systems engineering principles and practices.

• Knowledge of modern software engineering methods, tools, and practices.

• Familiarity with systems development lifecycle.

• Excellent technical writing and verbal communication skills.

• Strong presentation skills.

• Ability to persuade or align customers with varying levels of knowledge.

• Proficiency with tools like DOORS or Polarion.

• Rail signaling knowledge is desirable.

• Strong organizational and planning skills.

This role offers a challenging and rewarding opportunity to lead efforts in the design and development of cutting-edge communication-based train control systems in a hybrid environment. Flexibility, effective leadership, and technical acumen are essential for success in this position.

Total Compensation Range: $130,000 - $169,000

  

The Company provides an extensive benefits program for all full-time employees working 24 or more hours per week and their eligible dependents, including the following: 

• Health, Dental and Vision plans - 100% of premiums are company-paid 

• Retirement Savings Plan with a company contribution and a match, and without vesting period 

• Company paid holidays - 3 weeks of vacation, Holiday closure, personal  emergency leave days and sick days 

• Maternity/Parental/Adoption top up pay 

• Annual Incentive plan 

• Company provided Life Insurance, STD and Employee Assistance Plan 

This posting relates to an existing vacancy.

 Artificial intelligence may be used in the screening or assessment process for this role. 

Thank you for your interest in Hitachi Rail. If your application is of interest, we will be in contact. Please do not hesitate to discover more about us and our latest jobs at  https://www.hitachirail.com/careers.

At Hitachi Rail, there is a place for everyone. We welcome and value differences in background, age, gender, sexuality, family status, disability, race, nationality, ethnicity, religion, and world view. It is our commitment to create an inclusive environment - we are proud to be an equal opportunity employer.

We would be delighted if you would be one of our followers at https://www.linkedin.com/company/hitachirail