Project Manager - Traction Power

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Client / Engagement: California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA)
Location: Sacramento, California (on-site)
Salary Range: $140,000-$220,000 (based on experience)
Employment Type: Full-Time
Position Summary The Project Manager, Traction Power supports the planning, coordination, and delivery of traction power, medium voltage distribution, and auxiliary power systems for a major High-Speed Rail program. This role supports electrical infrastructure activities throughout design, procurement, installation, testing, commissioning, energization, and operational handover. Responsibilities include coordinating traction power substations, auxiliary power substations, medium voltage distribution networks, utility interconnections, wayside power systems, switching stations, SCADA interfaces, protective relay systems, and associated electrical infrastructure. The position works collaboratively with engineering teams, utility providers, contractors, consultants, regulatory agencies, and multidisciplinary project stakeholders to support the successful integration, approval, and delivery of electrical systems required for safe and reliable railway operations. 

What You'll Do Project Delivery 

• Support the planning, coordination, and delivery of traction power, medium voltage, and auxiliary power systems throughout design, procurement, installation, testing, commissioning, energization, and operational handover 
• Assist with monitoring project scope, schedule, budget, risks, and deliverables associated with traction power and electrical infrastructure work packages 
• Coordinate activities between traction power, overhead contact systems (OCS), signaling, communications, SCADA, stations, maintenance facilities, civil works, track, operations, and maintenance teams 
• Support coordination with utility providers, electrical suppliers, contractors, consultants, commissioning teams, and system integrators 
• Assist with project reporting, forecasting, change management, stakeholder coordination, and executive-level communications 
• Support electrical safety planning, energization readiness, outage coordination, and operational readiness activities 

Traction Power Systems 

• Support the planning, coordination, and integration of traction power systems, including: 
  • 25kV AC Traction Power Systems 
  • Traction Power Substations (TPSS) 
  • Switching Stations 
  • Paralleling Stations 
  • Utility Interconnection Facilities 
  • Traction Power SCADA Systems 
  • Protective Relay Systems 
  • Power Transformers 
  • High Voltage and Medium Voltage Switchgear 
  • Grounding and Bonding Systems 
  • OCS Power Supply Interfaces 
  • Traction Return Systems 
  • Power Monitoring Systems 
  • Integrated Railway Power Management Systems 
  • Static Frequency Converters 
• Coordinate traction power interfaces with OCS, signaling, communications, stations, maintenance facilities, operational control systems, and utility providers 
• Support the review and coordination of traction power studies, protection schemes, load flow analyses, equipment specifications, and design packages 
• Coordinate installation, testing, commissioning, and energization activities associated with traction power facilities 
• Assist with tracking technical deliverables, design reviews, equipment submittals, and system integration requirements 

Medium Voltage and Auxiliary Power Systems 

• Support the coordination and integration of medium voltage distribution and auxiliary power systems, including: 
  • Auxiliary Power Substations (APS) 
  • Medium Voltage Distribution Networks 
  • Station Power Systems 
  • Maintenance Facility Power Systems 
  • Wayside Power Distribution Systems 
  • Ring Main Units (RMUs) 
  • Distribution Transformers 
  • Medium Voltage Switchgear 
  • Motor Control Centers (MCCs) 
  • Emergency Power Systems 
  • Standby Generator Systems 
  • Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) Systems 
  • Low Voltage Distribution Systems 
  • Electrical Metering Systems 
  • Power Monitoring Systems 
  • Electrical SCADA Interfaces 
• Coordinate design and installation activities for corridor-wide medium voltage and auxiliary power infrastructure supporting railway operations 
• Coordinate electrical power interfaces supporting signaling systems, communications systems, train control systems, stations, maintenance facilities, security systems, and operational control centers 
• Support the coordination of wayside electrical equipment, substations, cable routes, duct banks, equipment shelters, and distribution infrastructure throughout the railway corridor 
• Assist with tracking electrical system deliverables, equipment installation progress, technical reviews, and integration requirements 

Regulatory Approvals, Utilities, and Jurisdictional Coordination 

• Support utility coordination activities associated with transmission, sub-transmission, and distribution service connections required for railway operations 
• Coordinate statutory, regulatory, and jurisdictional approval activities associated with traction power substations, auxiliary power substations, medium voltage infrastructure, utility interconnections, switching stations, and electrical facilities 
• Coordinate with utility providers, regulatory agencies, electrical inspectors, fire authorities, public agencies, railway operators, and local jurisdictions to support required construction, energization, and operational approvals 
• Assist with utility service applications, interconnection agreements, load studies, protection coordination reviews, outage planning, and energization authorizations 
• Support permitting, environmental compliance, utility relocations, and regulatory approval activities associated with electrical infrastructure delivery 
• Coordinate responses to regulatory comments, utility review comments, permit conditions, inspection findings, and outstanding approval requirements 

Electrical Infrastructure Installation and Field Coordination 

• Coordinate installation activities associated with substations, utility interconnections, medium voltage distribution systems, and wayside electrical infrastructure 
• Support coordination of contractor deliverables, installation progress, quality requirements, safety compliance, and field engineering activities 
• Coordinate interfaces between civil, structural, electrical, track, systems, and utility teams 
• Assist with resolving field issues, design changes, Requests for Information (RFIs), utility conflicts, site access constraints, and installation sequencing challenges 
• Support the coordination of outage requirements, installation readiness plans, energization strategies, and commissioning readiness activities 
• Participate in field reviews and progress assessments to support compliance with approved designs, specifications, applicable standards, and regulatory requirements 

Testing, Commissioning, and Operational Readiness 

• Support the development and coordination of test plans, commissioning procedures, energization programs, and integrated testing strategies 
• Coordinate Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT), Site Acceptance Testing (SAT), System Integration Testing (SIT), protective relay testing, transformer testing, switchgear testing, SCADA verification, and operational trial activities 
• Coordinate integrated testing activities with OCS, signaling, communications, SCADA, stations, maintenance facilities, and operational control systems 
• Assist with tracking system deficiencies, corrective actions, outstanding punch list items, and final system acceptance requirements 
• Support revenue service demonstration, operational readiness activities, and final operational handover 
• Coordinate the collection and organization of testing documentation, commissioning records, equipment certifications, and system acceptance deliverables 

Minimum Qualifications 

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, a related engineering discipline, or equivalent demonstrable professional experience 
• 10+ years of experience supporting the delivery of traction power, electrical infrastructure, utility, medium voltage, or railway systems projects 
• 10+ years of project management experience supporting major transportation, utility, energy, or infrastructure programs exceeding $250 million in value 
• Experience coordinating electrical systems from design through installation, testing, commissioning, energization, and final acceptance 
• Experience coordinating contractors, utility providers, equipment suppliers, consultants, and multidisciplinary project teams 
• Strong understanding of traction power systems, medium voltage distribution networks, substations, protective relays, utility interfaces, and railway electrical infrastructure 
• Experience with project schedules, budgets, technical deliverables, risk tracking, and stakeholder coordination 

Preferred Qualifications/ Certifications/ Licensures 

• Experience supporting High-Speed Rail projects operating above 125 mph (200 km/h) 
• Experience with California High-Speed Rail, HS2, European High-Speed Rail programs, or comparable large-scale railway programs 
• Experience with 25kV AC traction power systems 
• Experience supporting traction power substations, auxiliary power substations, switching stations, and utility interconnections 
• Experience coordinating medium voltage distribution and auxiliary power systems supporting railway operations 
• Experience with wayside electrical infrastructure and corridor-wide power distribution systems 
• Experience with electrical SCADA systems, power monitoring systems, and integrated railway power management systems 
• Experience coordinating utility interfaces, jurisdictional approvals, statutory requirements, and regulatory compliance activities 
• Experience supporting substation installation, wayside electrical equipment integration, energization planning, and commissioning programs 
• Project Management Professional (PMP), PRINCE2, Professional Engineer (PE), or comparable project management or engineering certification 
• Experience supporting integrated testing, revenue service demonstration, and entry into revenue service activities 
• Experience supporting budget and schedule management and accountability on contracts valued at $100 million or greater 

Jaquith Consulting Group is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, age, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic.