OCS Engineer - NY PE

Ryan Mahoney

Ryan Mahoney

Director of Product, FirstWho

“Finding engineers who can own a subsystem without constant handholding is rare. We need people who understand high voltage safety and design rules but also know when to say no to unrealistic deadlines. At this stage, they are preparing to stamp drawings so their judgment carries legal weight. A candidate might ace the technical quiz on tensioning calculations but freeze when a project manager pushes for a shortcut. We look for evidence of them protecting the design under pressure while keeping the team moving.”

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Competency Questions

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OCS Engineering And Delivery

Encompasses all technical design, field operations, compliance, and strategic oversight competencies required for Mid-Level OCS Engineer roles with full subsystem ownership.

Electrical Power Systems

Designs subsystem power distribution and validates protection schemes using electrical calculation and load flow tools.

Interview round: Hiring Manager Technical

How do you assess feeder routing options when physical space is constrained?

Positive indicators

  • Mentions specific spacing standards
  • Discusses thermal limitations in confined spaces
  • References NEC or NESC requirements

Negative indicators

  • Ignores separation requirements
  • No consideration of voltage drop
  • Assumes space can be created easily

Attitude Questions

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Active Listening

The intentional cognitive and behavioral process of fully concentrating on, understanding, responding to, and retaining information conveyed by field personnel, stakeholders, and regulatory bodies, ensuring that technical decisions are grounded in accurate operational reality and safety compliance rather than assumptions.

Interview round: Peer Technical Collaboration

How do you approach a meeting where technical details are being debated rapidly?

Positive indicators

  • Strategies for managing pace
  • Focus on accuracy over speed
  • Inclusive facilitation techniques

Negative indicators

  • Plans to talk over others to assert expertise
  • Ignores quieter participants
  • Prioritizes winning argument over understanding

Progression Framework

This table shows how competencies evolve across experience levels. Each cell shows competency at that level.

OCS Engineering And Delivery

7 competencies

CompetencyJuniorMidSeniorPrincipal
Electrical Power Systems

Performs basic load calculations and component sizing under guidance using established calculation methods.

Designs subsystem power distribution and validates protection schemes using electrical calculation and load flow tools.

Architects power systems for complex depots and routes, ensuring traction power capacity aligns with OCS loading requirements.

Sets organizational standards for power efficiency and system reliability, establishing technical benchmarks for traction power and energy distribution across all OCS projects.

Field Installation & Site Management

Supports site surveys and documents field conditions for senior engineers using standard reporting procedures.

Coordinates daily site activities and resolves routine installation issues through field surveys and constructability reviews.

Manages multiple site installations and optimizes logistics workflows, ensuring constructability and installation sequencing align with design intent.

Develops regional installation strategies and vendor performance standards to optimize field operations across multiple projects and business units.

Grid Integration & SCADA

Assists in data collection for grid interconnection studies under supervision, learning utility interface requirements.

Configures SCADA interfaces and monitors grid interaction parameters for depot charging and power distribution systems.

Leads grid interconnection projects and utility coordination, ensuring OCS systems integrate properly with utility grid and supervisory control systems.

Strategizes long-term grid capacity and energy storage integration, positioning the organization for future electrification demands and utility partnerships.

OCS Design Engineering

Assists in drafting basic OCS components under supervision using standard templates and established design procedures.

Independently designs standard OCS sections and validates calculations against requirements using CAD and simulation tools.

Leads complex design packages and reviews junior work for technical accuracy, ensuring stamped engineering drawings meet all requirements.

Defines design standards and methodologies for the organization across multiple projects, ensuring technical consistency and innovation in OCS system architecture.

Operational Performance & Incident Management

Logs operational data and supports initial incident triage by following established escalation procedures.

Analyzes performance trends and leads root cause analysis for minor incidents using performance monitoring and ticketing systems.

Directs major incident response and implements corrective actions, ensuring system reliability metrics are maintained throughout operational lifecycle.

Establishes operational excellence frameworks and resilience strategies that enable consistent system performance and effective incident response across the organization.

Safety & Regulatory Compliance

Follows established safety protocols and documents compliance checks according to organizational procedures.

Conducts safety audits and ensures site adherence to regulations including NY codes and FRA standards.

Develops safety plans and interfaces with regulatory bodies, ensuring zero compliance violations and proper PE stamp authorization on all design documents.

Defines corporate safety policy and risk management frameworks that govern all OCS engineering activities and ensure regulatory adherence across jurisdictions.

Strategic Leadership & Mentorship

Participates in team meetings and seeks mentorship for skill development, focusing on receiving guidance rather than providing it.

Mentors interns and leads small technical workstreams while developing communication and talent development skills.

Develops team capabilities and aligns technical work with business goals, leading project teams and driving best practices across the organization.

Defines organizational vision and cultivates future engineering leadership, ensuring talent pipeline development and alignment of technical work with business strategy.