Head of CBTC Validation & Commissioning

Location:

Les Ulis, Ile-de-France, France

Job ID:

R0120329

Date Posted:

2026-03-04

Company Name:

Hitachi Rail Systems France SAS

Profession (Job Category):

Engineering & Science

Job Schedule: 

Full time

Remote:

No

Job Description:

Job Title: Head of CBTC Validation & Commissioning (M/F)

About Us

A career at Hitachi Rail is an investment in the future. With operations across the globe, our work sits at the forefront of digital transformation and advanced technology. From the multicultural strength of our global organization to the sustainable and innovative approach we champion to connect people, there are countless reasons to join us. And this is where you come in. Our teams based in Les Ulis are at the heart of developing cutting‑edge signaling solutions for urban transportation.

About the Role

As Head of Validation & Commissioning, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the performance, safety, and reliability of our CBTC solutions. Reporting directly to the Head of Competence Centre France, you will lead a team of experts and drive the full V&V and Commissioning strategy for major mass‑transit projects in France and internationally.

This is a unique opportunity to influence the next generation of mobility technologies while developing a high‑performing team in a fast‑growing, innovation‑driven environment.

A Typical Day in This Role

Your days will be dynamic, varied, and closely connected to the operational heartbeat of our CBTC programs. You will regularly meet with your team to review progress, align on priorities, and ensure activities are moving in the right direction. You will also take part in strategic discussions with project managers, RAMS leaders, and system engineering teams to guarantee that V&V activities remain fully aligned with project milestones and safety requirements.

A significant part of your time will be devoted to leadership: coaching engineers, planning resources, assessing development needs, and ensuring your team has the tools and competencies required to excel. Each day brings a blend of technical depth, people leadership, and cross‑functional collaboration—an ideal environment for someone who thrives in a fast‑paced, high‑impact setting.

Your Key Responsibilities

Strategic & Technical Leadership

·         Define and own the global V&V strategy in alignment with the safety plan, customer requirements, and applicable national and international standards.

·         Ensure independence, robustness, and compliance of all V&V activities with CENELEC standards and SIL requirements.

·         Lead the preparation and delivery of test plans, test specifications, and test reports for both validation and commissioning phases.

·         Provide technical leadership during integration tests and support the interface with customers, authorities, certification bodies, and third parties.

Operational Excellence

·         Oversee the execution of V&V activities in accordance with RAMS governance and internal quality processes.

·         Drive continuous improvement by implementing best practices, lessons learned, and performance KPIs at the global signaling level.

·         Contribute to the production of safety evidence and ensure full traceability of V&V activities.

Team Leadership & Development

·         Build, structure, and develop a high‑performing V&V and commissioning team aligned with the Competence Centre strategy.

·         Define career paths, development plans, and provide coaching to strengthen both technical and leadership capabilities.

·         Collaborate with the HR Academy to identify training needs and support competence development.

·         Manage workload planning, resource allocation, and recruitment of key skills.

Stakeholder Engagement

·         Represent Hitachi Rail with professionalism and technical authority in front of customers, partners, subcontractors, certification bodies, and safety authorities.

·         Support subsystem delivery teams and contribute to knowledge capitalization across the organization.

What You Bring

·         Master’s degree in Engineering.

·         Deep knowledge of CENELEC standards applicable to railway and mass‑transit systems.

·         Strong understanding of signaling principles and system engineering.

·         Proven experience in project management, team leadership, and workload supervision.

·         Strong coaching, conflict‑management, and performance‑management skills.

·         Process‑oriented mindset with a strong commitment to quality.

·         Fluency in French and English.

Why Join Us

·         Lead a strategic function at the heart of safety‑critical transportation systems.

·         Contribute to high‑impact, international CBTC projects shaping the mobility of tomorrow.

·         Join a collaborative, multicultural environment that values innovation, expertise, and continuous learning.

·         Grow your career within a global organization offering strong development opportunities.