Train System Engineer

 Vacancy

Train Systems Engineer

Appointments will be made in line with the company's employment equity plan. People with Disability are encouraged to apply.

Gibela’s journey is intrinsically tied to a vision of socio-economic transformation, one that recognises the central role of passenger rail in propelling the South African economy forward. As we embark on this mission, we stand at the crossroads of opportunities and progress, where the revitalisation of commuter rail serves as a cornerstone for building a brighter future.

Gibela stands as Africa’s largest train manufacturing and passenger trains maintenance company, holding steadfast to its commitment to spearheading the revival of the South African railway sector. With a transformative vision, Gibela endeavoured to catalyse the shift towards commuter rail as the preferred mode of transport for urban communities.

Job Purpose

• Ensure train performances fulfil customer & regulatory requirements and is the main focal point to the customer for train performance & functionality topics.
• Lead the System’s Technical Development & Validation at Train Level throughout the V-cycle and lifecycle.
• Accountable for Train Reliability, Validation and Engineering contribution to Certification & Authorization.
• Specify the train (operability, functions, performances, architecture).
• Perform trade off on the architecture definition of the future to develop.
• Define the verification and validation activities (Means of Proofs) which will provide evidences (proofs) that the future solution meets the system requirements, and monitors the achievement of these activities.
• Technically lead the engineering studies in order to reach the performances and deliver all the technical deliverables.

Key Responsibilities

Technical Mission:

• The train global performances
• Operational analysis definition and validation by the Customer
• Functional analysis and specification
• The global Train System architecture definition which shall satisfy the synthesized requirements
• The quality, consistency, and compatibility of all the sub-systems specifications
• The applicable train configuration
• Ensures transversal Requirements (TRS) are derived to the relevant sub-systems with support from Discipline Engineers
• Ensures reliability activities and report on the reliability risk management, supported by the RAM engineer,
• Ensures verification and validation activities are completed and fulfill requirements, supported by the System Engineer,
• Contributes to Certification and Authorization in delivering requested deliverables (test report, train level documentation, …) and support on technical topics.

Responsibilities:

• Technical interface with customer in order to provide support to PrEM, Project Manager (and PrWM during revenue service),
• Making arbitration on architecture definition between the subsystems to reach the best compromise at train level,
• Lead the system development and validation at train level(operability analysis, system definition and architecture, performances, functions)
• Ensure conversion of customer and regulatory requirements into train level requirements & specifications,
• Collect and analyses customer needs and requirements,
• Lead operational analysis
• Lead development of a consistent set of train level requirements & specifications, complying with Alstom standards,
• Lead functional analysis, specification, and architecture at system level in collaboration with Sub-Systems Groups,
• Lead requirements specification and allocation to sub-system level, including electrical & functional interfaces definition,
• Support System Engineers and Sub-Systems Engineers and ensures that Sub-Systems’ design is converging toward specified targets along project life cycle convergence,
• Leads verification and validation activities at system level,
• During train revenue service:

Accountable for:

• Technical open issues resolution in line with project strategy provided by PrEM  from investigation to modification implementation and problem closure,

V&V activities:

• Defining and performing Train verification strategy in close collaboration with all Engineering metiers and Certification & Validation teams.
• Leading the train integration and tuning phase.
• Train level test specifications

QCD and reporting:

• Reporting at project level (to PrEM ) and at metier level (TS dashboard)
• Supporting Project Engineering Manager for implementation and update of Engineering risks mitigation plan
• Supporting Project Engineering Manager in improvement proposals in term of QCD and during the change order process.
• Providing Return on Experience (RoE) to be implemented in standard solutions to improve their related Q, C &TD.

Minimum Requirements

• BSc or B.Eng. in Electrical, Electronic, Mechatronics, or Electro-Mechanical Engineering.
• Registered or eligible for registration as a Professional Engineer with ECSA.
• 3–5 years of experience in a similar role, preferably within the railway industry.

Special Requirements

• Strong general engineering competencies.
• Proficient in written and spoken English.
• Commitment to Gibela’s core values: Trust and Respect, Teamwork and Partnership, Customer Focus and Care, Focus and Accountability, and Innovation.

Closing Date

03 April 2026

Should you not hear from us in 30 days, consider your application as unsuccessful.