Career Opportunity

Resident Engineer - Transit Division - SF Municipal Transportation Agency (5241)

Recruitment: RTF0163952-01159167

Published: February 12, 2026

Apply using SmartRecruiters, the City and County of San Francisco's application portal.

About:

The Train Control Upgrade Project (TCUP) is an SFMTA capital project which invests in the Muni Metro rail system by replacing the nearly 30-year-old Automatic Train Control System (ATCS) in the subway with a new Communications-Based Train Control (CBTC) system. The project also expands CBTC managed territory outside of the subways to the surface portions of Muni Metro, where signals and switches are currently independently operated in a first-come, first-serve configuration. Under CBTC, Muni’s entire rail network can be managed centrally with a single, modernized system. Replacing the ATCS with a state-of-the-art CBTC system will maintain the excellent safety record of the current system, while also increasing the subway’s efficiency and reliability.

With a $700 million capital budget, the Train Control Upgrade Project represents a bold step forward for SFMTA and the Muni Metro system. Through a 7-phase implementation plan, an integrated team approach, and flexible contract structures, TCUP is designed to overcome challenges and set a new standard for urban transit infrastructure projects. With a targeted completion date of 2032, the project promises lasting benefits for San Francisco’s public transit system and its riders. Join this exciting team at the cutting edge of urban rail technology!

Role description

APPOINTMENT TYPE: Temporary Exempt - Full Time not to exceed three (3) years – This position is excluded by the Charter from the competitive Civil Service examination process and shall serve at the discretion of the Appointing Officer.

Application Opening: February 12, 2026

Application Filing Deadline: February 27, 2026 

Salary: $172,354 to $209,508/annually

Schedule: Monday to Friday, 8:30AM - 5:30PM

Vacancies: 1

Please Note: A cover letter and resume must be attached to the online application.

Under general direction of the Train Control Upgrade Project Manager and Lead Engineer, the 5241 Resident Engineer provides professional engineering field oversight for construction, installation, integration, and testing activities associated with the Train Control Upgrade Project (TCUP). The Resident Engineer serves as the SFMTA’s on‑site engineering representative responsible for ensuring that all contractor-performed work complies with approved plans, technical specifications, engineering standards, contract requirements, safety regulations, and applicable codes.

The 5241 Resident Engineer also participates in construction design review for each of the project’s seven phases, evaluating construction plans prepared by the Train Control Supplier for constructability and compliance with applicable codes, policies, and procedures. During the design, the 5241 may need to develop, sign and stamp civil construction drawings for construction elements that are outside the Train Control Supplier scope.

During construction, the 5241 Resident Engineer coordinates daily with SFMTA operations, maintenance, facilities, real estate, safety, and systems engineering staff to facilitate access, construction staging, shutdowns, inspections, and cutover activities required to support installation of the Communications-

Based Train Control (CBTC) system. This position exercises engineering judgment to resolve construction issues in the field, evaluate contractor proposals, support change management activities, and ensure proper documentation of construction work. The Resident Engineer may direct and review the work of assistant engineers, construction inspectors, consultants, and technical staff assigned to the project.

This position requires possession of a valid Professional Civil Engineer (PE) license issued by the State of California.

Examples of Important and Essential Duties:

• Acts as SFMTA’s on‑site engineering representative for construction and installation work associated with the train control system, including wayside equipment, civil infrastructure, communications installations, and facility modifications.
• During construction design for each of the seven phases, reviews the construction plans provided by the Train Control Supplier for constructability and compliance with applicable codes, policies, and procedures.
• Develops, signs and stamps civil construction drawings (e.g. of conduit, equipment cabinet footings) as necessary to complete the construction drawing sets.
• Conducts field inspections to verify that contractor work complies with contract documents, approved engineering drawings, technical specifications, quality requirements, environmental conditions, and safety protocols.
• Reviews contractor submittals, installation plans, test procedures, work plans, shop drawings, and as‑built documentation for conformance with project requirements.
• Coordinates field activities with SFMTA operations and maintenance groups to schedule track access, construction windows, flagging services, special operations, and train control cutover activities.
• Evaluates Requests for Information (RFIs), change order proposals, design clarifications, and potential claims, and prepares appropriate documentation or recommendations.
• Issues field directives, prepares and maintains daily inspection reports, documents progress, and verifies contractor quantities for payment.
• Supports field testing, pre‑commissioning, and acceptance activities for wayside train control equipment, communications infrastructure, grounding systems, power connections, and related civil or structural work.
• Works with SFMTA technical staff, the Train Control Supplier, construction contractors, and consultants to resolve field conditions that require engineering interpretation or minor design adjustments.
• Tracks deficiencies, punch list items, nonconformance reports, and corrective actions to ensure compliance with contract requirements.
• Monitors construction schedules, reviews schedule updates, identifies delays or potential impacts, and supports development of mitigation measures.
• Supervises or directs the work of junior engineers, inspectors, interns, or consultant personnel assigned to construction oversight duties.
• Prepares technical correspondence, engineering reports, and documentation required for project controls, audits, and contract administration.
• Performs related duties as required.

How to qualify

Minimum Qualifications:

1. Five (5) years of verifiable professional civil engineering experience, which includes two (2) years experience equivalent to City and County of San Francisco class 5207 Associate Engineer as a licensed Professional Civil Engineer; AND
2. Possession of a current Certificate of Registration as a Professional Engineer in the State of California in Civil Engineering.

Notes:

Applicants must meet the minimum qualifications by the final filing date unless otherwise noted. One year of full-time experience is equivalent to 2000 hours. (2000 hours of qualifying work experience is based on a 40-hour work week.) Any overtime hours that you work above forty (40) hours per week are not included in the calculation to determine full-time experience.

Desirable Qualifications

• At least two (2) years of field construction engineering or resident engineering experience on infrastructure, transit, rail, systems installation, or similar capital projects.
• Knowledge of train control, railway systems, communications infrastructure, or signaling equipment.
• Experience coordinating construction activities on active rail transit systems, including work windows and access planning.
• Ability to interpret engineering drawings, specifications, shop drawings, and technical submittals.
• Experience with field engineering, inspection, testing, commissioning, and start‑up of complex systems.
• Proficiency with Primavera P6, Microsoft Project, or similar scheduling tools.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Outlook).
• Strong technical writing and documentation skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively with a diverse, multidisciplinary transit service delivery team including operations staff, maintenance personnel, contractors, technical professionals, and consultants.

What else should I know?

Verification:
Applicants may be required to submit verification of qualifying education and experience at any point during the recruitment and selection process. More information can be found at: https://sfdhr.org/information-about-hiring-process#verification. Falsifying one’s education, training, or work experience or attempted deception on the application may result in disqualification for this and future job opportunities with the City and County of San Francisco.

Selection Process:
Applications will be screened for relevant qualifying experience. Additional screening mechanisms may be used to determine candidates' qualifications. Only those applicants who most closely meet the needs of the Agency will be invited to move forward in the selection process.

• Information About the Hiring Process
• Conviction History
• Employee Benefits Overview
• Equal Employment Opportunity
• Disaster Service Worker
• ADA Accommodation
• Right to Work
• Copies of Application Documents
• Diversity Statement

For questions or inquiries, please contact: Ruel Cantos, Senior Human Resources Analyst at Ruel.Cantos@sfmta.com.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

The City and County of San Francisco encourages women, minorities and persons with disabilities to apply. Applicants will be considered regardless of their sex, race, age, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition (associated with cancer, a history of cancer, or genetic characteristics), HIV/AIDS status, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, military and veteran status, or other protected category under the law.