Solution Engineering Manager

About Us

A career at Hitachi Rail will help create a legacy. With operations in every corner of the world, our work goes to the cutting-edge of digital transformation and technology. From the multi-cultural strength of our global organisation to the sustainable and innovative ways we work to bring people together, there’s something for everyone to get stuck into. And that’s where you come in.

Job Description

The Solution Engineering Manager (SEM) is the Technical Bid / Project manager for the Engineering organization. They provide the principle engineering delivery leadership, direction, management decision authority and support to the Bid/ Project.

The SEM directs and manages the Engineering team on Bid/Project to achieve company objectives in terms of program schedule, financial and quality targets. This role requires a solid combined technical and managerial foundation to lead the engineering effort on the Bid/Project to ensure the solutions endorsed by the PDA (Project Design Authority) are:

• Defined/planned and estimated accurately for Bids within the Bid schedule timeline and cost agreed with Bid Manager.
• Delivered according to approved schedule and Budget with PMO for Project.

In Bid phase, the SEM is the technical focal point to manage Engineering deliverables on bids as well as to consolidate the estimates for engineering disciplines for the entire signaling system. They manage preparation of the technical milestones that are part of the bid process, such as the Solutions Orientation Review (SOR), and ensures the consistency of the design artifacts with the technical solution endorsed by the PDA. They also ensure consistency of cost estimates including HOD validation.

In Project phase, the SEM is the focal point for the Engineering process on multidisciplinary signaling projects and must be able to oversee the resolution, implementation and deployment of all issues, problems, questions and conflicts across the entire system. They manage all delivery activities including preparation of the engineering Gate reviews.

The SEM role can sometimes be endorsed simultaneously with the PM and/or PDA role according to the size of the project.

Key Responsibilities:

• In Bid’s phase, the primary activities of the SEM according to Bid and engineering process are:
• drive technical activities and manage the technical milestones for the bid (such as SOR)
• Ensure the consistency of the design with the technical solution and NRCs as defined by the PDA
• Provide support to the capture lead and Bid Manager to define the detailed scope split
• Consolidate and Review the functional Engineering estimates: hours, technical risks and opportunities, assumptions, conditions of offer, hardware items, 3rd party estimates
• Manage inputs to the Bill of Quantity (BOQ) with input from engineering functional teams
• Support bid manager for milestones through contributing slides, participation in milestone meetings (BKO, BBR, CCR, Gates 1/2/3, Handover to project)
• Support capture lead and sales team together with PDA through interfacing with customers to present / clarify technical solution and attend workshops
• Identify and manage technical Risk and Opportunities during Bid
• Based on the required skills and need, may assume additional engineering responsibilities (PDA, System, HW design, solution engineering estimator)
• The Bid SEM produces the following Bid deliverables:
• Engineering schedule and roadmap
• Engineering summary consolidated estimate and sign off sheet.
• Systems Engineering Management Plan (SEMP)
• The Bid SEM also manages/ coordinates the following deliverables produced by others:
• Design Validation Authorization (DVA),
• Technical Description (TD)
• System architecture drawings
• Installation SoWs
• Subcontract and Major Items procurement specifications/SoWs
• Interface documents/drawings (VOBC/ZC/ATS ICDs, VOBC BBI)
• Compliance matrices (technical requirements)
• Import into Requirement management tool and populate attributes for technical requirements (compliance matrix) and programmatic requirements.
• In Project’s phase, the primary activities of the SEM are:
• Direct and provide engineering leadership to the team assigned to the project to deliver the Engineering solution to time, cost and quality. This is done through the accurate measurement of progress on the project using the proper Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
• Define and deliver the strategy, plan and implementation of the overall Engineering Solution for the Project within defined scope, schedule and cost baseline.
• Oversee the development of cost and time estimates for project activities to meet business and customer objectives.
• Write the Solution Engineering Management Plan (SEMP), organize co-engineering and approve the lower level solution elements engineering plans including those flow down to subcontractors and partners in the frame of the engineering workpackages.
• Define the System development life cycle and define process, practices, and tools applicable to the project based on the BL / Domain reference system and tailored based on specific constraints.
• Ensure process, practices, and tools are applied correctly and appropriately on the project to company, legislative, regulatory and international standards (incl CENELEC), as defined in the Project plans.
• Ensure that the Bid / Project’s Design and other Technical Certification is coordinated, complete and consistent with the delivered and installed base and can be provided for Business approval and delivery to the customer.
• Ensure that the Engineering Performance Plan, as defined at Company level, is properly deployed in the Project. Monitor competitiveness KPIs, and lead corrective actions when required.
• Supporting the Project / Programme Director in the management of change, variation, risk and opportunity, recovery, and acceleration as it affects the delivery of the Engineering solution.
• Define with the Engineering Functional Teams the Engineering workload needed for the project and work with them to ensure that the Project’s engineering team are mobilized and released in a timely and planned manner. Highlight skill’s gap to the managers if any.
• Lead the interfacing with the Engineering teams of the client and other external Engineering parties to ensure that the integration and migration of the overall Engineering solution within its infrastructure and associated projects is achieved
• Ensure that any Corrective Actions and Observations related to the engineering delivery and solution are closed in a timely and complete manner.
• Support capitalization activities for the project as well as lessons learnt

Required Skills and Experience Skills and Abilities:

• Mandatory to have strong oral and written communication skills in English
• 5+ years of experience with System Level signaling project delivery
• Experience leading multidisciplinary engineering teams
• Proven customer communication / technical management skills
• People management leadership experience
• Work package management experience
• Bid process experience
• System design of Software preponderant systems, safety critical system
• CENELEC standard experience

Education:

• College or University graduate

Preferred Skills and Experience Skills and Abilities:

• PMP or IPMA certifications are a plus.

Education:

• Preferably a Degree in Engineering

Base Salary Range : $114,000 - $147,000

The Company provides an extensive benefits program for all full-time employees working 24 or more hours per week and their eligible dependents, including the following:

• Health, Dental and Vision plans - 100% of premiums are company-paid
• Retirement Savings Plan with a company match
• Company paid holidays - 3 weeks of vacation
• Company provided Life and accident Insurance, LTD
• Work life programs such as Flextime and a variety of Development and Training opportunities

This posting relates to an existing vacancy.

Our hiring process uses both human and technology‑assisted (AI) tools to support candidate screening and assessment. All results are reviewed by people, and all hiring decisions are made by people.

Thank you for your interest in Hitachi Rail. If your application is of interest, we will be in contact. Please do not hesitate to discover more about us and our latest jobs at https://www.hitachirail.com/careers.

At Hitachi Rail, there is a place for everyone. We welcome and value differences in background, age, gender, sexuality, family status, disability, race, nationality, ethnicity, religion, and world view. It is our commitment to create an inclusive environment - we are proud to be an equal opportunity employer.

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