Position Summary:
This position is located in the Office of Railroad Policy and Development (RPD), Research, Development and Technology (RD&T) Division of the Federal Railroad Administration. The research and development program deals with reliability and system safety issues for freight, commuter, intercity passenger, and high-speed passenger railroads. The employee provides professional engineering services, program and project management, and technical guidance for the RD&T Program.
Key Responsibilities:
- Conceives, formulates, proposes, and plans advanced engineering studies, including extensive research, development, demonstration, test, and evaluation programs. These programs and projects develop improved design, maintenance, inspection concepts and enhance occupant comfort and safety; increase reliability and safety of new component design and construction concepts; improve wheel/rail interface condition and energy efficiency and reduced emissions; enhance safe and secure movements of hazardous materials; or address additional requirements to support higher speeds or heavier axle loads.
- Conducts, manages, and directs R&D investigations, which includes selecting a contractor and overseeing the design of analysis methods, the procedures and instrumentation used for testing, and the writing of the final report for track-related projects or rolling stock related projects or train control and communication projects.
- Conducts detailed technical reviews of reports and literature from contractors, Government agencies, and other research organizations, both domestic and foreign, and maintains cognizance over new developments and requirements.
- Identifies the scope of work needed, defines specific engineering requirements and design criteria, and develops testing and evaluation criteria for the development of improved design and operation concepts for railroad signaling and train control systems.
- Provides technical management of R&D projects including work at the Transportation Technology Center, the Volpe National Transportation Systems Center, other Government organizations and laboratories, contractor facilities, and various elects and prioritizes research program elements within available resources as defined by the Division Chief and the Office Director and makes technical decisions to ensure that overall program and project scope, objectives, and requirements are met.
Required Education & Experience:
- Experience with railroad operating and track maintenance practices; OR Experience with passenger and freight railroad equipment, operating and maintenance practices ;OR Experience with train control and communication and grade crossing safety systems
- Experience with engineering in fields such as civil, structural, mechanical, electrical, computer science, engineering and mechanics, materials, or industrial.
- Experience preparing, presenting, and evaluating plans, reports, and correspondence.
- 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree.
- Experience in project management that includes planning, developing, and evaluating projects.
- Experience with railroad operating and track maintenance practices; OR Experience with passenger and freight railroad equipment, operating and maintenance practices ;OR Experience with train control and communication and grade crossing safety systems design and deployment.
- Experience applying statistical analysis.
- Knowledge of the concepts, principles, and theories of engineering and their practical applications.
- Experience applying theories, concepts, principles, standards, and methods from several engineering disciplines to complex engineering assignments comprised of many variables.
- Experience in project management that includes planning, developing, and evaluating research projects.