Sr. Systems Engineering Manager

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Job Description:

Parsons has an exciting career opportunity for a Sr. Systems Engineering Manager!  In this position, you will be the technical lead for major Light Rail Transit (LRT), commuter rail, and conventional train control projects, serving as the Systems Engineering Lead, Systems Integration Manager, or Design Lead throughout the project lifecycle.

You will be responsible for providing leadership across multidisciplinary engineering teams and ensuring successful coordination between infrastructure, vehicles, systems, operations, testing, and construction stakeholders. The Sr. Systems Engineering Manager oversees all phases of project delivery—from concept development and design through testing, commissioning, and operational readiness—to ensure a safe, reliable, fully integrated rail transit system.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the systems engineering, design, and integration activities for Light Rail Transit (LRT), commuter rail, and conventional train control projects.
• Oversee the design and integration of rail systems including:
  • Conventional signaling and train control systems
  • Interlockings and train detection systems
  • Automatic Train Protection (ATP)
  • Wayside and onboard communications systems
  • SCADA and traction power interfaces
  • Operations Control Center (OCC) systems
  • Platform, station, and field systems
• Manage vehicle system integration activities, ensuring compatibility between onboard vehicle systems and wayside infrastructure for both new and existing rolling stock fleets.
• Serve as Systems Integration Manager, coordinating technical interfaces and ensuring seamless interoperability among all project subsystems.
• Develop and maintain systems engineering deliverables including:
  • System architecture documentation
  • Interface Control Documents (ICDs)
  • Requirements traceability matrices
  • Integration and interface management plans
  • Verification and validation documentation
• Lead interface management efforts across civil, track, systems, vehicle, communications, and operations disciplines.
• Coordinate with clients, contractors, vehicle suppliers, designers, operators, and third-party stakeholders to resolve technical and operational issues.
• Support configuration management, change management, and technical issue resolution processes throughout project delivery.
• Lead system-level requirements verification, integration testing, factory testing, field testing, commissioning, and operational readiness activities.
• Support system assurance activities including safety certification, hazard resolution, RAM (Reliability, Availability, Maintainability) coordination, and compliance verification.
• Review and respond to technical submittals, RFIs, design packages, test procedures, and change requests to ensure alignment with project requirements and operational objectives.
• Identify and manage systems integration risks impacting schedule, cost, safety, or operational performance, and lead mitigation efforts.
• Support development of cutover strategies, phased implementation plans, and transition-to-operations activities for active rail environments.
• Serve as the technical liaison between engineering, construction, testing & commissioning, and operations teams to ensure coordinated project execution.
• Mentor and guide multidisciplinary engineering teams while promoting collaboration, accountability, and technical excellence.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related technical discipline required. Master’s degree preferred.
• 15+ years of experience in rail transit systems engineering, systems integration, signaling, or transportation infrastructure projects.
• Demonstrated experience delivering Light Rail Transit (LRT), commuter rail, metro, or heavy rail projects.
• Strong experience with conventional train control and signaling systems, including interlockings, train detection, and wayside/onboard integration.
• Proven leadership experience managing multidisciplinary technical teams on large-scale transit infrastructure programs.
• Experience leading systems integration, interface management, testing & commissioning, and operational readiness activities.
• Familiarity with systems assurance processes including safety certification, RAM, requirements management, and verification & validation.
• Strong understanding of rail operations, vehicle systems, communications systems, traction power, and control center integration.
• Excellent communication, coordination, and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to manage complex technical interfaces and drive resolution across multiple organizations and disciplines.

Preferred Qualifications

• Professional Engineer (PE) license preferred.
• Experience with FTA-funded transit projects and alternative delivery methods such as Progressive Design-Build (PDB), Design-Build, or CM/GC.
• Experience working within live operational rail environments.
• Knowledge of applicable rail and transit standards including AREMA, IEEE, IEC, NFPA 130, and transit agency design criteria.
• Experience supporting system safety certification and startup operations for major transit systems.

Security Clearance Requirement:

None

This position is part of our Critical Infrastructure team.

For more than 80 years, our experts have designed and delivered the critical infrastructure that connects and protects communities around the world. We work in collaborative teams, both within the company and with our partners and customers, to plan, design, build, and modernize infrastructure. We take special pride in projects and solutions that improve communities as well as people’s quality of life by promoting economic growth, enhancing mobility, and increasing sustainability and resiliency. Powered by our people, we provide the imagination necessary to support our customers’ visions—and to help them see what's next!

Salary Range: $148,300.00 - $266,900.00

We value our employees and want our employees to take care of their overall wellbeing, which is why we offer best-in-class benefits such as medical, dental, vision, paid time off, Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), 401(k), life insurance, flexible work schedules, and holidays to fit your busy lifestyle!

Parsons is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, veteran status or any other protected status.

We truly invest and care about our employee’s wellbeing and provide endless growth opportunities as the sky is the limit, so aim for the stars! Imagine next and join the Parsons quest—APPLY TODAY!

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