Field Engineer, Communications

Burns is currently seeking a Field Engineer, Communications to join our Transit and Rail Team in Sacramento, CA.

The Field Engineer, Communications, serves as the Owner and PDS field representative for the installation, testing, commissioning, and acceptance of railway telecommunications and operational communications systems on the California High-Speed Rail (CAHSR) Program. The position covers fiber optic backbone and outside plant infrastructure, fiber distribution panels and splice enclosures, IP/MPLS network infrastructure, mobile radio, LTE and private cellular, FRMCS, CCTV, passenger information, public address, operational telephone, data center, and network operations center systems.

In this role, the Field Engineer monitors installation and construction against approved standards, designs, and Program schedules; verifies construction quality and compliance; and provides oversight of fiber cable installation, pulling, splicing, termination, OTDR testing, end-to-end attenuation testing, fiber characterization, acceptance testing, and network cutovers. The position supports and witnesses Factory Acceptance Testing, Site Acceptance Testing, network commissioning, radio coverage testing, network failover testing, cybersecurity validation, integrated communications testing, and interface testing with signaling and SCADA systems.

The position is based in Sacramento, California. Reporting to the Project Manager, Communications, the Field Engineer supplies the Program with independent verification of communications construction and test results, reviewed fiber test and acceptance documentation, and validated backbone network performance supporting operational readiness. Domestic and international travel of up to 50 percent is expected to support factory inspections, Factory Acceptance Testing, supplier audits, and equipment acceptance.

Position Responsibilities

• Monitor installation of fiber optic backbone networks, outside plant fiber infrastructure, fiber distribution panels, and fiber splice enclosures
• Monitor installation of IP/MPLS network infrastructure, data center infrastructure, and network operations center equipment
• Monitor installation of mobile radio systems, LTE and private cellular systems, and FRMCS systems
• Monitor installation of CCTV systems, passenger information systems, public address systems, and operational telephone systems
• Verify construction quality and compliance with approved standards, designs, and Program schedules
• Provide oversight of fiber cable installation, fiber pulling operations, fiber splicing, and fiber termination
• Provide oversight of OTDR testing, end-to-end attenuation testing, fiber characterization testing, acceptance testing, and network cutovers
• Review fiber test reports and acceptance documentation, and validate backbone network performance against requirements
• Support and witness Factory Acceptance Testing, Site Acceptance Testing, and network commissioning
• Support and witness radio coverage testing, network failover testing, and cybersecurity validation
• Support and witness integrated communications testing and interface testing with signaling and SCADA systems
• Participate in operational readiness and system acceptance activities
• Coordinate with contractors, designers, suppliers, operators, and Program stakeholders on field technical issues
• Document deficiencies, track corrective actions, and drive closure in support of system acceptance
• Support supplier oversight through factory inspections, supplier audits, and equipment acceptance, including domestic and international travel of up to 50 percent

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Telecommunications Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Network Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a related field or demonstrable on-the-job work experience, and a minimum of ten (10) years of experience in railway, transportation, telecommunications, or mission-critical communications systems
• Demonstrated experience supporting communications systems through design, installation, testing, commissioning, and final acceptance
• Extensive experience with fiber optic installation, fusion splicing, fiber termination, OTDR testing, attenuation testing, and network commissioning
• Demonstrated experience with fiber optic infrastructure, operational communications systems, and IP network environments
• Experience with IP/MPLS networks and railway telecommunications systems
• Experience with radio systems including FRMCS, LTE, GSM-R, or equivalent
• Experience with CCTV and public address systems
• Experience reviewing communications engineering deliverables, network designs, fiber layouts, telecommunications drawings, radio coverage studies, and testing procedures
• Experience supporting Factory Acceptance Testing, Site Acceptance Testing, network integration testing, and operational readiness programs
• Strong working knowledge of communications system integration and operational railway requirements
• Availability for domestic and international travel of up to 50 percent

Preferred Qualifications/ Certifications/ Licensures

• Experience with railway fiber optic backbone networks
• Experience with IP/MPLS networks and mission-critical telecommunications systems
• Experience with LTE, private cellular, GSM-R, FRMCS, and railway radio systems
• High-speed rail or digital rail systems project experience
• Experience supporting passenger information systems, CCTV, public address systems, and operational telephone systems
• Familiarity with FRA requirements, cybersecurity standards, and rail communications regulations
• Experience supporting integrated testing between communications, train control, SCADA, and control center systems
• Experience supporting network migration, cutover, and commissioning activities