Job Description

At CN, we work together to move our company—and North America—forward. Be part of our Information & Technology (I&T) team, a critical piece of the engine that keeps us in motion. From enterprise architecture to operational technology, our teams use the agile methodology to automate and digitize our railroad ensuring our operations run optimally and safely and our employees can focus on value-added tasks. You will be able to develop your skills and career in our close-knit, safety-focused culture working together as ONE TEAM. The careers we offer are meaningful because the work we do matters. Join us!
Job Summary CN I&T Architecture is organized in different groups of specialists, each providing architecture expertise in areas such as System, Solution, Telecom, Information, Security and Technology. The Sr. Expert System and Solution Architecture Operational Technology is accountable for leading technology strategy, industry direction and architecture roadmaps for the Operational Technologies that directly supports CN’s safe movement of trains. This includes establishing and guiding a wholistic view of systems including train protection, train automation, yard automation, automated inspection or those Operational Technology systems that form the foundation of CN’s Digital Scheduled Railroad (DSR) strategy.
Main Responsibilities System and Solution Architecture

• Oversee a portfolio of systems their associated functions, interfaces, sub-systems to ensure a cohesive architectural roadmap aligned with goals of CN’s major business functions.

• Guide Enterprise Architectures to ensure enterprise platforms optimally align with the system roadmaps

• Analyze overall system issues and/or business requirements to architect effective, high-availability, mission-critical or safety sensitive solutions

• Define high-level proposed architecture and transpose it into subsystem designs that will meet all functional and non-functional requirements. The developed designs will then be elaborated by the design and development resources.

• Create standards and best practices that ensure the systems design is maintainable, sustainable, and properly documented with all the associated IP constructs

• Create standards and best practices that ensure reliability, safety and cybersecurity standards are embedded in the design of the sub systems

• Work with Functional Managers to define domain best practices and standards

• Understand Rail subsystems architecture in order to develop specifications on technical Design aspects (Hardware & Software integration)

• Design and propose enhancements and modifications to the subsystem architecture

• Provide direction to and align specialized architects in project engagements by scoping, planning and reviewing their contribution to the overall architecture

• Manage architectural risk mitigation and issue escalation

Modernization

• Understand corporate strategy and business challenges to establish wholistic system and solution roadmaps and evolutions
• Maintain an overall Operational Technology System view and interactions of multiple system across multiple operational domains and incorporate into roadmaps
• Develop and communicate executive level presentations on roadmaps

Leadership

• Represent CN in Industry committees and with vendors
• May be required to work with rail industry regulatory bodies such as FRA, Transport Canada or with other Railroads.
• Manage communications and drive escalation and resolution with stakeholders
• Manage specialized architects by targeting development of the employees under the Specialist’s responsibility to either more specific specialization or broader knowledge

Working Conditions The role has standard working conditions in an office environment with a regular work week from Monday to Friday. The role requires occasional travel in North America. Requirements
Experience

• Approximately 20 years experience in related positions, with at least 10 years as an architect or within a system engineering role
• Experience with full application lifecycle management

Education/Certification/Designation

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering or equivalent degree and experience
• Masters degree or higher is an asset

Competencies

• Excellent oral, written and presentation skills

• Ability to think strategically about system evolutions

• Knowledge of train control, automated train operation (ATO) environment, automated control systems, grades of automation and supervisory systems, signalling systems, inspection systems

• Lead a culture of safety

Ability to work independently with minimal supervision
Technical Skills/Knowledge

• Knowledge of automated train technologies, situational awareness and hazard detection systems
• Excellent knowledge of system engineering & design processes (ISO/IEC 15288 & 12207 or equivalent)
• Knowledge of system engineering modelling and requirements management tools
• Knowledge of railway safety engineering practices (IEC 61508, EN 50126/IEC 62278, EN 50128/IEC 62279 and EN 50129/IEC 62425) or equivalent from other industries
• Knowledge of Data, Cloud and Security Architecture principles
• Strong ability to analyze, design & document detailed designs
• Ability to provide, verify and validate work estimates
• Proficient in documentation of complex concepts such as impact analysis, security models, performance and capacity planning, and strategic technical decision
• Ability to have engaged discussions around the various pillars of architecture (business, application, technology, security, integration, etc.)
• Ability to balance requirements and concerns from different stakeholders and make efficient judgement calls, providing clear rationale for decisions

• Ability to breakdown complex concepts into digestible and actionable architectural components

• Ability to navigate complex organizations and build collaborative cross functional relationships

• Ability to efficiently communicate with people of varying seniority and backgrounds

• Ability to guide and support cross functional teams ( PMs, analysts, delivery, QA, support) during projects shaping and execution

• Autonomous and self driven, at the same time knowing when to reach out and how to provide adequate visibility

• Capacity to engage on multiple concurrent initiatives efficiently

About CN As a leading North American transportation and logistics company, CN is a true backbone of the economy. With a team of approximately 25,000 railroaders, our focus is on moving both our company and the economy forward. We transport US$200 billion worth of goods annually for a wide range of business sectors from resource to manufactured products to consumer goods, across a 20,000-mile network spanning Canada and mid-America. CN is the only Canadian company listed in the Transportation and Transportation Infrastructure sector of the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index (DJSI). Launched in 1999, the DJSI World represents the gold standard for corporate sustainability. At CN, we work as ONE TEAM, focused on safety, sustainability and our customers, providing operational and supply chain excellence to deliver results.
CN is an employment equity employer and we encourage all qualified candidates to apply. We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only candidates under consideration will be contacted. Please monitor your email on a regular basis, as communication is primarily made through email.