Rail and Transit Traction Power Engineer

Arcadis is the world's leading company delivering sustainable design, engineering, and consultancy solutions for natural and built assets.

We are more than 36,000 people, in over 70 countries, dedicated to improving quality of life. Everyone has an important role to play. With the power of many curious minds, together we can solve the world’s most complex challenges and deliver more impact together.

Role description:

We are seeking a highly skilled and motivated Traction Power Engineer to join our Canadian Rail and Transit team, part of a global Mobility team, to contribute to the design, planning, and implementation of rail and transit infrastructure projects. As part of a dynamic and innovative team, you will play a pivotal role in delivering safe, efficient, and sustainable railway solutions for clients across freight rail, LRT or Subway commuter rail, and port rail projects. You will play a key role in the engineering and integration of traction power systems, including substations, overhead catenary systems (OCS), and third (and fourth) rail power distribution, ensuring all work meets Canadian codes and transit-specific safety and reliability standards.

Role accountabilities:

In this role, you will design and review traction power systems for electrified transit projects, including high- and medium-voltage substations, grounding and bonding systems, overhead contact systems (OCS), third and fourth rail configurations, and power distribution infrastructure. You will focus on systems supporting light rail transit (LRT), metro, or commuter rail, ensuring compliance with Canadian Electrical Code (CEC), CSA standards, and relevant municipal and provincial regulations. Your work will also include applying NFPA 130 standards to address fire protection and life safety requirements, particularly in underground or enclosed transit environments.

You will be responsible for conducting or overseeing critical engineering analyses such as power flow studies, short circuit calculations, load studies, grounding and bonding assessments, and arc flash hazard evaluations. Additionally, you will prepare and review technical specifications, drawings, calculations, reports, and tender documentation, supporting projects throughout their lifecycle—from concept and preliminary design to detailed design, construction, testing, and commissioning. Collaboration will be key, as you will coordinate with civil, structural, communications, and signaling teams to ensure system integration, constructability, and compliance with interdisciplinary requirements.

You will also participate in system safety assessments, RAMS (Reliability, Availability, Maintainability, and Safety) evaluations, and interdisciplinary reviews. You will liaise with local utilities, transit agencies, Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJs), and other stakeholders to ensure seamless project execution. Furthermore, you will review contractor submittals, respond to RFIs, perform field inspections, and witness testing as required. Staying current with emerging technologies and sustainability initiatives in electrified transit will be integral to ensuring innovative and future-ready solutions.

Qualifications & Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or a related discipline from an accredited institution
• Registered as a Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) in a Canadian province or eligible for registration within 6 months
• 5+ years of experience in the design, integration, or construction of traction power systems in the rail or transit sector
• Solid understanding of CEC, CSA C22.3, CSA C22.2, NFPA 130, and applicable safety and utility coordination standards in Canada
• Experience with AC and DC traction power systems (e.g., 600V, 750V DC; 25kV AC)
• Proficiency in power system analysis tools such as ETAP or SKM
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate technical information to both technical and non-technical audiences
• Strong organizational and problem-solving skills; able to manage multiple tasks and priorities
  
  

Why Arcadis?

We can only achieve our goals when everyone is empowered to be their best. We believe everyone's contribution matters. It’s why we are pioneering a skills-based approach, where you can harness your unique experience and expertise to carve your career path and maximize the impact we can make together.

You’ll do meaningful work, and no matter what role, you’ll be helping to deliver sustainable solutions for a more prosperous planet. Make your mark, on your career, your colleagues, your clients, your life and the world around you.

Together, we can create a lasting legacy.

Join Arcadis. Create a Legacy.

Our Commitment to Equality, Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging

We want you to be able to bring your best self to work every day which is why we take equality and inclusion seriously and hold ourselves to account for our actions. Our ambition is to be an employer of choice and provide a great place to work for all our people. We are an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. Women, minorities, people with disabilities and veterans are strongly encouraged to apply. We are dedicated to a policy of non-discrimination in employment on any basis including race, creed, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, citizenship status, disability, veteran status, or any other basis prohibited by law.

The salary range for this position is $78,000 - $117,000. The base salary represents Arcadis’ hiring range for this position. Actual salaries will vary and will be based on various factors, such as location, skills, experience, and qualification for the role.