Back Office Engineer 2

Job Description

The final salary will depend on the candidate's qualifications. Those with 8 years or more of required experience can expect offers up to the midpoint of the salary range. Metra provides full pay ranges so candidates can consider their growth potential.

Click here to learn more about our benefits!

Qualified veterans who meet the minimum requirements will receive outreach during the recruitment process in accordance with Federal and State laws, including the Illinois Veterans Preference Act. Meeting the minimum qualifications does not guarantee an interview or job offer. The most qualified candidate will be selected.

Metra is one of the largest and most complex commuter rail systems in North America, serving Cook, DuPage, Will, Lake, Kane, and McHenry Counties. The agency is linking communities in Northeastern Illinois by providing safe, reliable, and efficient commuter service.

Engineering is responsible for building and maintaining the majority of Metra’s fixed assets, such as buildings, stations, bridges, track, electrical, telecommunications and signal systems. The Engineering Department also monitors the condition of and assists in building and maintaining the fixed assets on the freight lines where Metra trains operate. The Engineering Department is divided into two major groups: Capital Projects, and Communications and Maintenance.

Reporting to the Manager, Back Office Systems, the Back Office Engineer II will support the design, development, testing, documentation, deployment, and maintenance of all aspects of the Positive Train Control (PTC) Back Office and Train Management Dispatching System (TMDS) in accordance with industry standards and applicable regulations.

The primary duties include: Maintain, monitor, install, and troubleshoot servers, workstations, communications equipment, PTC hardware, Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition system (SCADA), and the Train Operations Performance System (TOPS). Work with the Train Dispatchers and Signal field staff to identify and resolve TMDS issues with remote field locations under TMDS control from CCF. Assist in the build, install, test, and maintenance of TMDS databases and ensure their accuracy and compatibility with other PTC subsystems. Maintain and optimize system performance and reliability through monitoring, analysis, and resolution of problems or issues. Assist with the execution of testing strategies, test plans, and test procedures to validate that Back Office Systems interfaces are correctly implemented and conform to specifications. Work with the Transportation Operations Group to ensure operating rules and mandatory directive functionality performs correctly with the safety standards of the TMDS system. Assist with the install, upgrade, and evaluation of software applications and operating systems. Incumbents work under both inside and outside environmental conditions under prevailing conditions of heat, cold, rain, and snow. Perform other related duties as assigned to meet the ongoing needs of the organization.

Metra is a railroad employer subject to the provisions of the Railroad Retirement Tax Act, not the Social Security Administration.

Job Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or Electrical/Electronics Engineering or lieu of a degree, a combination of education and experience may be substituted for the required degree that equals four years in the installation and maintenance of systems software and hardware.
• In addition to #1, must have three years of experience working on large scale control systems development and implementation projects that include: installing, maintaining, and troubleshooting systems hardware infrastructure, servers, networking and communications equipment, and workstations within a variety of operating systems environments including Windows, Microsoft SQL, and Linux/Unix.
• Good knowledge of software, computers, operating systems (UNIX, Linux, Microsoft), VHF and UHF radio voice and Digital Data Radio communications, information assurance, data security, and networking management technologies.
• Good knowledge of the procedures for configuring, switching, routing, and firewall devices necessary to install and maintain Local Area and Wide Area Networks.
• Knowledge and understanding of systems, electrical interfaces, software network protocols, and system integration with commercial off the shelf (COTS) systems server hardware and software.
• Good analytical and problem solving skills.
• Good verbal and written communication skills.
• Good networking skills associated with the use of wireless technologies.
• Proficiency using Microsoft Office applications.
• Ability to read, comprehend, and correct software programs and back office systems.
• Ability to work as a team, both inter and intra departmentally, and with subcontractors.
• Ability to work in a fast paced environment.
• Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license.
• Ability to stand, walk, and/or sit, for extended periods of time.
• Hearing/Visual acuity, far/near, depth perception, field of vision, color vision.
• Ability to lift and move up to 25 pounds.
• Must be able to operate a vehicle.
• Must be willing to travel within and outside of Metra's 6-county region.
• Must be available to work flexible hours in the early morning, late afternoon, evenings, or weekends.

Preferences

• Microsoft Certified Professional Developer
• Java Certified Programmer
• Python Certified Programmer

Metra employees in an active review period under the current discipline policy or who have documented attendance or performance issues will not be considered and/or selected for this position.

Please note: Regardless of any state laws that legalize marijuana, Metra prohibits applicants and employees’ use or possession of marijuana (or marijuana paraphernalia), or having detectable amounts of marijuana in their bodies, including synthetic and/or non-synthetic substances such as THC for any reason for preemployment screening purposes, while on duty, subject to duty, on Metra property, or in Metra work equipment and vehicles.

Metra is committed to ensuring that our career website and recruiting process are accessible to all individuals. For general assistance, please contact [email protected] . If you require reasonable accommodations to complete this application, participate in interviews, complete any pre-employment testing, or engage in any other aspect of the employee selection process, please direct your inquiries to the Reasonable Accommodations Committee at [email protected] .

Metra is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. It is our policy to fill vacant positions with qualified candidates without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, gender identity, disability, or any protected categories, assuming an individual can perform the essential functions of the job with or without accommodation.