Design Associate Jobs (NOW HIRING)

About Burns:

Burns Engineering provides professional engineering design and project management services for transportation, facilities, and infrastructure projects. We help our clients attain their strategic goals and initiatives through successful large-scale infrastructure projects.  Burns’ full-service capabilities include mechanical, electrical, civil, structural, transportation, and energy consulting engineering.

Recently voted a Top Workplace by Philly.com, we credit our strength as an organization to our talented, driven, vibrant team.  Burns is an ENR Top 500 Firm, and has been named an MEP Giant by Consulting-Specifying Engineer Magazine, as well as a Hot Firm by Zweig.  We are industry experts, proven leaders, innovative thinkers, and team players. We put our clients’ successes and best interests first, because their success is our success. We have fun at work because we love making a difference in the world.  We are looking for high-energy, bright, collaborative individuals who want the opportunity to “write their own story” with us.

Railroad & Transit Team

Burns provides design and construction solutions to help maintain, improve, and expand the nation’s railroad and transit infrastructure.  We have designed the implementation of critical programs across the country, and support the renewed emphasis on a public transit-oriented lifestyle.

Burns is currently seeking a Systems Design Associate to join our Railroad & Transit team in Pittsburgh or Philadelphia, PA.

SUMMARY

The System Design Associate provides technical support for the development, integration, and verification of complex train control and signaling systems. This role participates in systems engineering activities across the project lifecycle, with a focus on requirements management, system architecture, interface coordination, and system integration.

The System Design Associate also focuses on developing technical expertise through mentorship with more senior engineering and design staff. 

ESSENTIAL JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

• Perform systems engineering activities for complex rail train control and signaling projects, including requirements development, system design, system verification, and integration.
• Develop and manage system requirements throughout the project lifecycle, including traceability, change control, and stakeholder alignment.
• Develop system architecture and define functional allocations to support implementation of train control solutions.
• Author technical papers to document potential system functionality enhancements, balancing railroad operational objectives (such as train performance and capacity) with safety-critical requirements.
• Provide interface identification, definition, and coordination across subsystems.
• Assist in the coordination of project designs with other disciplines and teams. 
• Develop and maintain interface control documentation and lead collaboration efforts to resolve interface issues throughout the project lifecycle.
• Development of verification and validation plans, procedures, and reports to demonstrate compliance with requirements and safety-critical design principles.
• Attend client and/or project meetings when requested. 
• Support Project Managers by providing technical input to project planning, resource allocation, and risk management.
• May lead development of design approaches and concepts on projects of low complexity.  Consult with senior technical staff when needed. 
• Perform all tasks in compliance with Burns (and, when applicable, a client’s) standards, policies, procedures, and engineering codes. 
• Perform all tasks efficiently, accurately, within the allotted project hours, and complete tasks on or before the due date.   

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILTIES

No supervisory responsibilities. Under the oversight of the Project Manager, the System Design Associate may provide technical oversight and guidance to Co-Ops, and Interns to ensure work adheres to the Burns (and, when applicable, a client’s) discipline specific policies, procedures, and standards.  

EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS

Bachelor’s degree (B.S.) in Engineering from an accredited four-year college or university, or a combination of relevant education and equivalent engineering experience. 

PREFERRED EXPERIENCE

• Experience with train control systems 
• Experience with requirements management or verification activities

CERTIFICATION OR LICENSE REQUIREMENTS

No certifications or licenses required; however, an Engineering Intern (EI), or similar, is a plus.