Traction Power Engineer

STV is seeking a Traction Power Engineer to join our Systems team in Bellevue, Washington. In this role, you will support the planning, design, analysis, and delivery of traction power systems for rail and transit infrastructure projects.

The ideal candidate will have 5+ years of electrical engineering experience, with experience in traction power, rail/transit electrical systems, or comparable medium- and high-power electrical infrastructure. This position will work closely with multidisciplinary engineering teams to develop reliable, safe, and maintainable power systems supporting transit operations.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the design and engineering of traction power systems for light rail, heavy rail, commuter rail, and other transit applications.
• Develop and review traction power system designs including traction power substations, DC distribution systems, AC power distribution, switchgear, transformers, rectifiers, circuit breakers, protective devices, grounding, and associated equipment.
• Perform or support traction power load flow, voltage drop, short-circuit, grounding, and system performance analyses.
• Prepare engineering calculations, technical specifications, design criteria, reports, drawings, single-line diagrams, equipment layouts, site plans, and other design documentation.
• Support the development of traction power designs through various project phases, including conceptual, preliminary, final design, construction, testing, and commissioning.
• Coordinate traction power requirements and interfaces with other rail systems, including OCS/catenary, signals, communications, track, facilities, utilities, vehicles, and civil/structural disciplines.
• Review vendor and contractor submittals, shop drawings, technical data, and requests for information.
• Assist with equipment selection and technical evaluation of traction power equipment and components.
• Support system interface definition and resolution of multidisciplinary design issues.
• Participate in design reviews, technical meetings, constructability reviews, and project coordination meetings.
• Provide engineering support during construction, installation, testing, commissioning, and system integration activities as required.
• Perform field investigations, site assessments, and inspections of existing traction power facilities and equipment.
• Support the preparation of technical proposals, scopes of work, schedules, estimates, and other project documentation.
• Ensure designs comply with applicable client requirements, project criteria, codes, standards, and industry practices.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or a closely related engineering discipline.
• 10+ years of relevant electrical engineering experience, preferably involving traction power, rail/transit systems, substations, power distribution, or comparable electrical infrastructure.
• Working knowledge of electrical power distribution principles, equipment, protection, grounding, and electrical system design.
• Experience preparing or reviewing engineering calculations, drawings, specifications, and technical reports.
• Ability to interpret electrical single-line diagrams, schematics, wiring diagrams, equipment layouts, and construction documents.
• Experience coordinating electrical designs with multidisciplinary engineering teams.
• Strong technical problem-solving and analytical skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to effectively manage technical assignments, priorities, and deliverables in a multidisciplinary project environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Direct experience designing traction power systems for light rail, heavy rail, commuter rail, or other electrified transportation systems.
• Experience with DC traction power systems, including traction power substations, rectifiers, DC switchgear, feeder systems, negative return systems, and grounding.
• Experience with AC traction power or utility power systems is also valuable.
• Familiarity with traction power simulation, load flow, short-circuit, protection coordination, grounding, or power system analysis tools.
• Experience with software such as ETAP, SKM PowerTools, EasyPower, or comparable electrical analysis platforms.
• Experience with AutoCad or Microstation drafting software
• Familiarity with relevant IEEE, NFPA, NEC, NEMA, and transit/rail authority standards and requirements.
• Experience coordinating interfaces between traction power and OCS/catenary, vehicles, signals, communications, utilities, and other rail systems.
• Experience supporting construction, testing, commissioning, or acceptance of traction power equipment.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license or Engineer-in-Training (EIT) certification is preferred.
• Previous experience working on large, multidisciplinary transportation infrastructure programs.

Compensation Range:

STV offers the following benefits

• Health insurance, including an option with a Health Savings Account
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Flexible Spending Accounts (Healthcare, Dependent Care and Transit and Parking where applicable)
• Disability insurance
• Life Insurance and Accidental Death & Dismemberment
• 401(k) Plan
• Retirement Counseling
• Employee Assistance Program
• Paid Time Off
• Paid Holidays
• Back-Up Dependent Care
• Parental Leave
• Continuing Education Program
• Professional Licensure and Society Memberships

STV is committed to paying all of its employees in a fair, equitable, and transparent manner. The listed pay range is STV’s good-faith salary estimate for this position. Please note that the final salary offered for this position may be outside of this published range based on many factors, including but not limited to geography, education, experience, and/or certifications.

Not sure this role is the perfect match? We encourage you to apply if STV’s work and values resonate with you. We know great candidates don’t always meet every qualification, and research shows women and people of color are less likely to apply unless they do. At STV, we believe strong talent comes from a wide range of backgrounds, and your skills and experience may align with this or another opportunity as we continue to grow.