Discipline Lead, Systems

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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 experienced and technically driven Technical Director to lead the design, integration, and delivery of communications and control systems for a wide range of rail infrastructure projects, including light rail (LRT), subways, regional and intercity passenger rail, high‑speed rail (HSR), and heavy freight rail systems.

This role focuses on the full lifecycle of complex communications systems in both urban transit and mainline railway environments, including radio systems, train‑to‑wayside communications, fiber and wireless networks, public safety systems, passenger information, SCADA integration, and operations control centers (OCCs). You will also play a key role in developing resilient, cyber‑secure, and scalable communications infrastructure for modern freight rail operations, including support for Positive Train Control (PTC), onboard telemetry, and yard communications.

A focus on high‑capacity, electrified transit networks in Vancouver (TransLink : SkyTrain), Calgary (City of Calgary and Calgary Transit : Green, Blue and Red Lines LRT), and Edmonton (City of Edmonton and ETS : Capital Line, Metro Line and Valley Line), freight rail (CP, CN) National Rail (Via and Amtrack) and high‑speed rail (HSR).

Role Accountabilities

In this role, you will drive the growth and development of Arcadis’ portfolio by establishing and maintaining strong client relationships. You will lead bids from conception through RFQ and RFP processes to successful completion, ensuring that project requirements are met and client expectations are exceeded. Collaborating closely with clients, contractors, and regulatory bodies, you will play a key role in advancing Arcadis’ reputation for excellence in delivering complex rail infrastructure projects. Your ability to align strategic leadership with technical direction will be pivotal, as you define system architecture, lead integration strategies, and provide overall technical leadership for communication systems across major rail infrastructure programs.

You will serve as the technical authority for communications systems design and assurance, overseeing the development and delivery of comprehensive rail and freight communications systems. These include radio communications (UHF / VHF, TETRA, LTE, 5G, and Wi‑Fi), train‑to‑wayside communications (TWC) and data networks, fiber‑optic and IP / MPLS communications backbone, PA / PIDS and onboard passenger systems, CCTV, access control, fire and life safety integration, and wayside telemetry for rail network data acquisition. You will lead architecture design, requirements management, detailed engineering, and testing and commissioning of communications networks to ensure seamless integration and optimal performance across all subsystems.

In addition, you will provide technical leadership for Operations Control Centers (OCCs) and Communications Management Systems, integrating these with power SCADA systems, fire and tunnel ventilation control, public safety and emergency systems, and yard operations and freight dispatch systems. Your expertise will extend to heavy freight rail integration, where you will design and implement robust communications systems for heavy haul and freight rail networks. This includes Positive Train Control (PTC) systems, wayside defect detectors, axle counters, yard radio systems, onboard diagnostics, and locomotive connectivity. You will ensure solutions are resilient and capable of operating in remote, long‑distance corridors and harsh environmental conditions.

Furthermore, you will lead the implementation of cybersecurity frameworks based on IEC 62443, EN 50159, and NIST guidelines for rail networks while ensuring system designs meet RAMS (Reliability, Availability, Maintainability, Safety) requirements and national safety and regulatory compliance. Overseeing system integration and interface management, you will manage coordination across disciplines, including signaling, traction power, rolling stock, passenger systems, and fare collection, ensuring all designs are cohesive and interoperable. Your work will span various transit and freight modes, including urban LRT and streetcar networks, subways and metro systems, commuter and regional rail, intercity and high‑speed passenger rail, heavy freight corridors, and multimodal hubs and maintenance facilities.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Telecommunications, Systems Engineering, or a related field
• Licensed Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) in Alberta and / or British Columbia, or eligible
• 15+ years of experience in communications systems for rail and freight infrastructure

Expertise in

Familiarity with

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, veteran status, or any other basis prohibited by law.

The salary range for this position is $138,700 - $188,700. 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.

Seniority level

Not Applicable

Employment type

Full‑time

Job function

Other

Industries

Professional Services

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