Principal Engineer ET - 90257711 - Philadelphia (Philadelphia, PA, US, 19104) - Amtrak

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As we move America’s workforce toward the future, Amtrak connects businesses and communities across the country. We employ more than 20,000 diverse, energetic professionals in a variety of career fields throughout the United States. The safety of our passengers, our employees, the public and our operating environment is our priority, and the success of our railroad is due to our employees.

Are you ready to join our team?

Our values of ‘Do the Right Thing, Excel Together and Put Customers First’ are at the heart of what matters most to us, and our Core Capabilities, ‘Building Trust, Accountability, Effective Communication, Customer Focus, and Proactive Safety & Security’ are what every employee needs to know and do to be most impactful at Amtrak. By living the Amtrak values, focusing on our capabilities, and actively embracing and fostering diverse ideas, backgrounds, and perspectives, together we will honor our past and make Amtrak a company of the future.

SUMMARY OF DUTIES:
This position is responsible for preparation and review of designs for complex electrification engineering projects and studies to repair, rehabilitate or construct new electrification facilities. These facilities include but are not limited to 60Hz-25Hz power conversion facilities, traction power substations (25Hz and 60Hz), signal power generation (100Hz & 91-2/3Hz), etc. Review engineering designs prepared by outside consultants for projects to be constructed by Amtrak and projects constructed by others on behalf of Amtrak to ensure compliance with industry and Amtrak standards. Provide technical expertise to other departments and make engineering decisions for Division Engineers and their staff. Provide Construction Related Engineering assistance when requested by Division Personnel and when necessary, make field inspections pursuant to making engineering decisions. Lead development of new electrical standards and develop prototype electrical equipment with manufacturers for use on the 25 Hz system and the 60 Hz system. Perform other duties as assigned. 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
• Execute capital upgrade programs and maintenance programs relating to the traction power substations, including transformers, circuit breakers, signal power generators and relay protection schemes 
• Report on assigned projects including progress, budgeting, forecasting, and scheduling 
• Provide training to employees on the maintenance and troubleshooting of the traction power substation equipment 
• Perform field audits and provide expert advice to ensure compliance with engineering practice and policy 
• Work with electric traction operations, maintenance, design staff and other departments to ensure a safe and reliable power network  
• Provide data and assist with root cause analysis on electric traction system outages and failures  
• Respond to emergency calls involving the traction power substations 
• Perform detailed engineering design reviews on all assigned projects. 

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
• Minimum 7 years of demonstrated experience with railroad electric traction systems, frequency converters, protection relays, high voltage circuit breakers and transformers 
• Experienced in the design, operation and maintenance of substations for the traction power or electric utility sectors 
• Demonstrated understanding of power generation, transmission and distribution systems and related equipment 
• Must be able to review, interpret and generate electrical schematics, wiring diagrams and equipment layouts for the protection and control of substation equipment 
• Experience with word processing, trending, spreadsheets, databases, CAD and logic programming (Microprocessor protection relays and PLC’s). 
• Ability to perform or direct troubleshooting of substation electrical equipment and associated protection and control systems. 

 
PREFERRED WORK EXPERIENCE: 
• 10 plus years of demonstrated experience with railroad electric traction systems, frequency converters, protection relays, high voltage circuit breakers and transformers 
• Familiar with design, operation and maintenance of single-phase AC electric traction systems, both direct-fed and autotransformer-feeder types. 
• Experience performing and/or reviewing load flow reports for electric traction systems 
• Experience performing and/or reviewing protective relay settings calculations, coordination and testing 
• Familiar with low, medium and high voltage transformers and circuit breakers  
• Familiar with rotating and/or static frequency conversion equipment 
• Experience with Micom PX38 and/or Basler series relays 
• Experience with Doble Protection Suite/F6150 relay test platform 
• 10 plus years’ experience performing or directing troubleshooting of substation electrical equipment and associated protection and control systems. 
• Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering or related field, or the equivalent combination of education, training, and experience. 

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
• Master’s Degree in Electrical Engineering or related field, or the equivalent combination of education, training, and experience. 
• PE License in either New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland or New York 

COMMUNICATIONS AND INTERPERSONAL SKILLS:
• Must have excellent oral and written communication skills as position interacts with technical and non-technical personnel. 
• Must have excellent technical writing ability. 

PAY TRANSPARENCY:

The salary/hourly range is $124,600-$161,352. Pay is based on several factors including but not limited to education, work experience, certifications, internal equity, etc. Depending on an employee’s assigned worksite or location, Amtrak may consider a geo-pay differential to be applied to the employee’s base salary. Amtrak may offer additional incentive and pay programs to recognize and reward our employees, including a short-term incentive bonus based upon factors such as individual and company performance that is commensurate with the level of the position and/or long-term incentive plan compensation. In addition to your salary, Amtrak offers a comprehensive benefit package that includes health, dental, and vision plans; health savings accounts; wellness programs; flexible spending accounts; 401K retirement plan with employer match; life insurance; short and long term disability insurance; paid time off; back-up care; adoption assistance; surrogacy assistance; reimbursement of education expenses; Public Service Loan Forgiveness eligibility; Railroad Retirement sickness and retirement benefits; and rail pass privileges. Learn more about our benefits offerings here.

Requisition ID:163700
Posting Location(s):Pennsylvania

Work Arrangement:06-Onsite Click here for more information about work arrangements at Amtrak. 
Job Family/Function:Engineering 
Relocation Offered:No 
Travel Requirements:Up to 25% 

You power our progress through your performance.
 

We want your work at Amtrak to be more than a job. We want your career at Amtrak to be a fulfilling experience where you find challenging work, rewarding opportunities, respect among colleagues, and attractive compensation. Amtrak maintains a culture that values high performance and recognizes individual employee contributions. 

Amtrak is committed to a safe workplace free of drugs and alcohol. All Amtrak positions requires a pre-employment background check that includes prior employment verification, a criminal history check and a pre-employment drug screen. 

Candidates who test positive for marijuana will be disqualified, regardless of any state or local statute, ordinance, regulation, or other law that legalizes or decriminalizes the use or possession of marijuana, whether for medical, recreational, or other use. Amtrak's pre-employment drug testing program is administered in accordance with DOT regulations and applicable law.  

In accordance with DOT regulations (49 CFR § 40.25), Amtrak is required to obtain prior drug and alcohol testing records for applicants/employees intending to perform safety-sensitive duties for covered Department of Transportation positions. If an applicant/employee refuses to provide written consent for Amtrak to obtain these records, the individual will not be permitted to perform safety-sensitive functions.

In accordance with federal law governing security checks of covered individuals for providers of public transportation (Title 6 U.S.C. §1143), Amtrak is required to screen applicants for any permanent or interim disqualifying criminal offenses. 

Note that any education requirement listed above may be deemed satisfied if you have an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.

Amtrak is an EOE/Affirmative Action Minority/Female employer, and we welcome all to apply. We consider candidates regardless of race/color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth and related conditions), national origin/ethnicity, age, disability (intellectual, mental and physical), veteran status, marital status, ancestry, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, genetic information, citizenship or any other personal characteristics protected by law.