Specialist RAM

at  Canadian National Railway

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

The role of the Specialist, Reliability-Availability-Maintainability (RAM) is to execute RAM analysis and engineering in support of the I&T solutions. The overall mandate is to ensure that these solutions have attributes of high robustness, reliability, and availability. This involves system and product analysis, modeling and requirements assessment during the development phase and the analysis of field RAM data to determine solution RAM KPI’s and to drive corrective action programs.
Separate specializations may exist for hardware and software RAM. The technologies used are primarily distributed digital control systems, communication networks, Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), embedded and virtualized computing. The incumbent is expected to collaborate with other rail industry technical teams, industry organizations, such as the Transportation Technology Center Inc. (TTCI), and regulatory agencies, such as the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA). Therefore, excellent communication skills are required to represent CN’s interests and influence direction across the industry. This position requires a high degree of accountability and initiative.

REQUIREMENTS

Experience

• Minimum 5-10 years overall work experience
• Minimum 5 years experience in RAM engineering for complex systems, or 7 years experience in product development for high reliability/availability, or safety critical systems with accountability for product field performance

Skills/Knowledge

Knowledge of hardware and/or software design and development practices and processes with focus on high reliability and high availability applications

• Knowledge of RAM analysis techniques such as failure rate prediction, Reliability Block Diagrams (RBD), Markov models, Monte Carlo methods, Failure Modes Effects Analysis (FMEA), Fault Tree Analysis (FTA)
• Analysis of reliability and failure field data, statistical estimation, Root Cause Analysis (RCA)
• Critical thinking and judgement
• Ability to assimilate new information quickly and apply to the assignment
• Ability to deliver with autonomy
• Organizing work to support multiple projects in parallel

Education/Certification/Designation

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science, Computer Engineering or equivalent degree & experience

Assets

• Knowledge of product design and standards for the rail industry
• Knowledge of rail industry or other transportation industry operations

Solution RAM Assessments

• Review and approve solution requirements for RAM
• Determine non-functional requirements and targets for RAM performance
• Perform analysis and modeling to predict RAM behavior
• Adhere to the I&T Development Process

Solution RAM Field Performance

• Assign requirements to solutions and products to ensure they support the ability to measure RAM Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s)
• Use the field performance measurement to identify key contributors and drive corrective action plans when necessary

Vendor Product RAM Assessments

• Review vendor specifications, test results, analysis artifacts
• Participate in failure review board for selected vendors
• Review corrective action plans from the vendors
• Drive to completion the vendor corrective action plans
• Use the field performance measurement to identify key contributors and drive corrective action plans when necessary