Safety Chief - RAMS and Systems Assurance

Safety Chief - RAMS and Systems Assurance is a senior leadership role based in Toronto, ON, Canada, responsible for directing system safety, reliability, availability, maintainability, and assurance activities on major light rail projects. The position reports to the System Safety Manager and provides technical and people leadership to a multidisciplinary RAMS and systems assurance team. The role oversees the development and execution of RAMS strategies, safety assurance programs, and lifecycle safety deliverables across railway infrastructure and transit projects. Responsibilities include establishing project-specific methodologies, directing hazard and reliability analyses, managing safety case development, and ensuring compliance with applicable railway safety requirements throughout design, integration, testing, commissioning, and operational readiness phases. The ideal candidate brings more than 10 years of experience in rail transit systems, strong expertise in RAMS engineering and safety assurance, and demonstrated success leading technical specialists within complex, multidisciplinary project environments.

Responsibilities

Lead the development and implementation of RAMS and system assurance programs for major light rail and transit projects; Direct the preparation, review, and approval of RAMS plans, safety plans, assurance strategies, and supporting technical documentation; Oversee hazard management activities, including risk assessment, hazard identification, mitigation tracking, and safety verification; Produce and review RAMS analyses, including PHA, IHA, SHA, FHA, FMECA, FTA, and other reliability and safety assessments; Lead safety case development for railway systems, subsystems, and SIL-certified functions throughout the project lifecycle; Coordinate system assurance activities across design, integration, testing, commissioning, and operational readiness phases; Provide technical leadership and quality oversight for reliability engineering, maintainability engineering, and safety engineering deliverables; Engage with clients, project stakeholders, and multidisciplinary engineering teams on system safety and risk management matters; Support compliance with railway safety standards, assurance processes, and project governance requirements; Lead, mentor, and develop systems assurance specialists while promoting technical excellence and continuous improvement

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or Mechanical Engineering; Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) designation in Ontario; Minimum 10 years of experience in engineering, preferably including tramway, light rail, or urban transit projects; Extensive experience in RAMS engineering and systems assurance for railway projects; Demonstrated experience performing and reviewing Preliminary Hazard Analysis (PHA), Interface Hazard Analysis (IHA), System Hazard Analysis (SHA), Functional Hazard Analysis (FHA), Failure Modes, Effects and Criticality Analysis (FMECA), and Fault Tree Analysis (FTA); Technical knowledge of safety case development for electrical, electronic, electromechanical, and SIL-certified railway systems and functions; Proven leadership experience managing and developing high-performing technical teams; Strong stakeholder management, technical communication, and reporting skills; Ability to work independently and provide direction within complex project environments

Nice to have

Direct experience supporting major LRT, tramway, metro, commuter rail, or passenger rail programs; Experience working through system integration, testing, commissioning, and operational acceptance phases; Exposure to multidisciplinary transportation infrastructure projects; Experience interacting with railway operators, transit authorities, regulators, and independent safety assessors; Advanced knowledge of international railway system assurance and functional safety practices; Additional postgraduate education in systems engineering, safety engineering, or transportation engineering

Benefits

Competitive salary and benefits; Eligible for a referral bonus in line with the Referral Program