I am a railway track & systems engineer (P.Eng.), with several years of progressively senior experience in the testing, commissioning, and maintenance of subway, regional, and LRT infrastructure and systems; including inspection, design, engineering analysis, asset management, and maintenance of trackwork; development of O&M processes, procedures, work instructions, and RAM analyses; and testing and commissioning of rail subsystems (OCS, TPS, SCADA, Comms, S&TCS, Track). Through my experience and strengths in analytics, I have a demonstrated history in making practical and data-driven recommendations that have enhanced the safety, reliability, and efficiency of rail systems. My interests within the railway industry are in applications of ML & AI to improve inspection, maintenance, and asset management practices; and in engineered design solutions to reduce track noise & vibration.

I hold a MEng in Mechanical & Industrial Engineering with specializations in Analytics & Forensic Engineering, and a BASc in Mechanical Engineering with specializations in Mechatronics & Bioengineering.

Education

MEng – Mechanical & Industrial Engineering

University of Toronto • Sep. 2021 – Apr. 2023 • 4.00/4.00 cGPA

• Graduated with dual emphases in Forensic Engineering and Data Analytics & Machine Learning while working full-time at TTC and ONxpress

BASc – Mechanical Engineering

University of Toronto • Sep. 2016 – Apr. 2021 • 3.74/4.00 cGPA

• Graduated with Honours while completing the Mechatronics and Bioengineering streams, a Business minor, and AI certificate

• Completed Basic Machining and Introduction to Welding courses at George Brown College

Experience

Railway Systems Engineer

AECOM • May 2024 – Present

• Evaluated 300+ contractor submittals for the Finch West LRT (systems safety & security certificates and cases; O&M manuals, procedures, and plans; RAM analyses; drawings, commissioning test records). Identified non-conformances and contradictions against contract requirements, industry best practice, and relevant standards (AREMA, APTA, Transport Canada, EN, CENELEC, FTA, IEEE, ISO) applicable to the design, construction, and maintenance of individual rail subsystems and for overall systems & safety assurance

• Represented Metrolinx for 50+ commissioning tests (PICO, SAT, SIT) for OCS, TPS, SCADA, Comms, MEP, trackwork, and S&TCS systems, ensuring procedural compliance, tracking of deficiencies, and tracking of risks for systems integration, safety, and O&M. Took on an expanded leadership role in compiling and tracking the status of all deficiencies reported across all tests attended by AECOM’s FWLRT Systems Team of 9 people

• Provided technical expertise in trackwork related topics, including detailed feedback identifying issues and non-conformances with execution of commissioning tests for track clearances, geometry & rail wear surveys, NDT, ride quality, switch machines, switch heaters, and lubricators; identifying technical and safety related issues with the constructor’s trackwork maintenance manual; auditing track inspection and maintenance activities in-field and through development of dashboards for work order tracking; and assessing all trackwork items on the Integrated Hazard Log to ensure hazard causes, effects, safety requirements, verification methods, and evidence were appropriate and sufficiently demonstrated

• Authored several technical reports for the City of Ottawa assessing disputes between the design-build and maintenance contractors for the Confederation Line extensions regarding systems safety, maintenance inefficiencies, and alleged increases to the maintainer’s costs and risk assumption. Issues primarily related to acceptance of trackwork (ballast shoulder sizes, cable trough positions and materials, design & construction of manholes, as-built track geometry and clearances, implementation of emergency guard rail), OCS, TPSS, and LRV maintenance facility equipment; asset handover issues related to O&M manuals; contractual scopes and non-conformances; pre-handover maintenance; and required data for CMMS systems.

• Conducted independent nightly and weekly inspections of Trillium Line fleet for the City of Ottawa during Trial Running, noting technical observations and deficiencies found on the vehicles, and auditing contractor adherence to contractual requirements and industry best practice

• Led the development of the Clearances and Right-of-Way chapter for the City of Calgary’s Basis of Design for the Blue Line Extension and future LRTs. Incorporated best practices from other transit systems, while ensuring alignment with NFPA 130, TCRP 155, and AREMA requirements

Manager, Engineering Standards (Facilities)

ONxpress Transportation Partners - Operations & Maintenance • May 2023 – May 2024

• Defined all business processes and procedures (using BPMN, and following ISO 9001 and ISO 55001 principles) related to the management, planning, execution, and analysis of maintenance work within the Fixed Asset Maintenance department

• Conducted statistical RAM analysis, in accordance with EN 50126-1, EN 61703, and MIL-HDBK-338B of historical work orders on critical facility assets like drop tables, lathes, and cranes. Developed customized analysis tools using Python due to the lack of a dedicated statistical software. Interpreted results to identify issues, and demonstrated how the work met contractual requirements for Fixed Asset Maintenance, Safety & System Assurance Performance Monitoring, and the development of a company-wide FRACAS process

• Led the tracking and amending of the 3-year capital and operating budget forecast based on project scope changes, analysis and estimation of subcontracts, and new information determined by inspections. Provided ad-hoc pricing scenario estimates and presentations to senior & executive management to meet client requirements in pricing challenge and value-for-money reviews, while collaborating extensively with maintenance, finance, and HR teams to ensure timely submissions

• Developed, updated, reviewed, and created standards, drawings, processes, procedures, and work instructions to prepare ONxpress to be able to assume operations & maintenance responsibilities for select rail maintenance facilities, layovers, yards, and stations

• Led the Fixed Asset Maintenance department’s contribution to client facing, organization-wide deliverables such as project risk logs, pricing assumption logs, pricing narratives, RAMS strategy, track condition assessment, and the organization’s Concept of Operations

Expert - Track

ONxpress Transportation Partners - Operations & Maintenance • Dec. 2022 – Apr. 2023

• Led analysis activities for all available track condition datasets (track geometry exceptions, rail wear & profile, track inspection and maintenance records, asset inventories, GIS) as part of providing a condition assessment for the entire GO Transit track network, and identifying risk areas with potential to impede the goals of the GO Expansion project to achieve all-day, 15 minute or better train service.

• Successfully took on expanded responsibilities under the Director of Fixed Asset Maintenance to compile and lead the submission of the initial 3-year capital and operating budget forecast for the entire department’s activities (Signals & Communications, Facilities, Overhead Catenary Systems, Traction Power Systems, Track & Structures, Planning & Administration) on a short timeframe

• Developed objective condition assessment criteria and methodologies to rate the condition of all track assets (via inspections and field testing), based on applying relevant GO Transit Track Standards and Transport Canada Track Safety Rules, while also benchmarking against Federal Railroad Administration Track Safety Standards, EN Standards, AREMA Standards, and APTA standards

• Led the interface between the track team and internal/external IT teams in the development and implementation of ONxpress' Enterprise Asset Information System (Zedas), and specified system requirements focused on improving linear asset management, condition-based maintenance, predictive maintenance, and regulatory compliance practices for track as compared to existing HxGN EAM implementation

• Developed technical requirements for subcontracting, accepting, and analyzing specialized track condition assessment activities (ground penetrating radar, ultrasonic testing, eddy current testing, corrugation testing, turnout life cycle assessments)

Design Engineer, Track

Toronto Transit Commission • Aug. 2022 – Dec. 2022

• Managed all activities related to the operation of the track inspection vehicle; including oversight of repairs performed by contractors; writing engineering specifications to add track geometry, rail profile, NDT, vibration, and corrugation measurement equipment to the vehicle; and represented TTC for a $1M+ capital project outside Canada to sign-off on inventory, factory acceptance testing, and inventory & storage of imaging subsystems at the contractor’s facility.

• Provided technical expertise in assessing track condition, root causes of issues, recommending proper scope of corrective maintenance action, managing material requisitions, and preparing design and installation drawings. Novel projects (continued from my previous role) included the preparation of design and track installation drawings for new vibration attenuating fasteners (Delkor Alt 1) and restraining rail (33C1) designs previously not used in the TTC system, and trials of fastclips to address e-clip breakage issues.

• Investigated the development of a track geometry index for TTC to support regulatory requirements for asset condition data by benchmarking against existing indices worldwide, and exploring the use of newer approaches based on machine learning techniques.

• Collected and analyzed data related to possible vehicle clearance envelope encroachment issues and provided recommendations for the ability to add a wheel lifting attachment to the side of the milling workcar, and replacing tunnel mounted junction boxes

Engineering Technologist - Track

Toronto Transit Commission • Jul. 2021 – Aug. 2022

• Analyzed TTC’s NDT track maintenance records in order to optimize reinspection intervals based on defect severities and failure modes. Showed how reliability could continue to be maintained at 99% while providing a 22% reduction in reinspections required.

• Developed a model for predicting probabilities of noise complaints based on train passby sound levels recorded by a wayside LD 831C sound level meter, and a custom application to interface with the meter to email real-time alerts of excessively noisy passbys based on this model, allowing for proactive initiation of corrective maintenance before receiving noise complaints from nearby residents.

• Implemented several other reports for viewing and analyzing data from TTC’s wheel impact load detectors, noise monitors, and vibration monitors to be able to respond more quickly to increases in subway noise and vibration, and to analyze trends over time. Developed macros to gather and process the data from these wayside systems to generate the reports efficiently.

• Investigated, diagnosed, and repaired complex and non-routine mechanical, electrical, and software failures to TTC’s wheel impact load, noise, and vibration condition monitoring equipment remotely and at track level.

• Supervised and managed third party contractors to ensure TTC’s interests were met in the mobilization, testing, and operation of milling and grinding workcars, and in the annual maintenance of wayside vibration and wheel impact load detectors.

• Led inspections at track level to investigate and resolve noise complaints, maintain lubricators and friction modifiers, investigate track geometry and fastener issues, measure rail wear, measure corrugation, measure wheel-rail friction, inspect turnouts, assess rail milling and grinding quality for conformance to TTC requirements, and obtain data for creating engineering drawings.

• Supported the implementation of a new asset management system (Maximo) to meet regulatory requirements and ensured that track assets and maintenance records had been migrated correctly. Followed up on deficiencies with internal/external stakeholders.

Capital Markets Stress Testing Intern

Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce • May 2020 – Aug. 2020

• Automated the generation of 12 credit risk reports using Excel, VBA, SQL, Power Query, and PowerPoint. This significantly reduced the time needed to create these reports and allowed for the ability to dynamically make them for a broader set of stress scenarios

• Developed and implemented tools to report discrepancies between departmental scenario data and data in risk calculation engines, and to make changes to 250+ files when changes to its template were made, allowing the department to close prior audit deficiencies

• Researched the effects of COVID-19 on the energy sector and presented an analysis of risks and opportunities to senior management

Track & Structure Engineering Intern

Toronto Transit Commission • May 2019 – May 2020

• Designed (in SolidWorks) and analyzed functionality of prototype track tools to improve efficiency and safety for track workers. Examples include a cover board installation jig, rail drilling clamp, surveying rod, survey targets, and wayside noise monitor mount

• Performed engineering analyses, provided calculations and/or recommendations, and provided field support as needed for:

  • Preventing thermally induced track buckling

  • Evaluating loads and alternative materials for grout pads

  • Statistical and mechanical analysis of new SRT gauge rod functionality

  • Determining maximum allowable train weights for pit tracks

  • Retrofitting yard tracks to support weighing and balancing of trains

  • Using laser ablation to clear slippery rail

  • Investigating and correcting unsafe train clearance lines at yards

  • Developed a track response solver for common loading scenarios

• Analyzed track geometry data to determine severity and locations of issues and created reports and maps (in Microstation) to inform senior management how to prioritize future track maintenance activities

• Supported several on-track engineering activities such as turnout inspections, track geometry inspections, drainage inspections, lubricator installations, noise and vibration investigations, and rail wear inspections

Mass Properties Engineering Intern

Bombardier Aerospace • May 2018 – Aug. 2018

• Created a weight and CG database for parts and features on the Q400 aircraft, eliminating the need to maintain several spreadsheets

• Developed a macro to estimate how a customer’s choice of features and upgrades affects the weight and CG of their proposed aircraft

• Developed a program using VBA, SQL, Access, and Excel to predict the weight and CG of a new Q400 aircraft with over 99% accuracy. Conducted and presented a statistical analysis of the program’s accuracy to support its implementation in the department.

Research Student

Krembil Neuroscience Centre • May 2017 – Aug. 2017

• Automated the process of filtering large spikes in EEG recordings with MATLAB, leading to higher efficiency and less human error

• Created Python scripts to automatically separate spike rate recordings into pre-ictal, ictal, post-ictal, and control groups

• Developed MATLAB scripts to calculate reversal potentials using five methods from relevant literature, earning an acknowledgement in Brief activation of GABAergic interneurons initiates the transition to ictal events through post-inhibitory rebound excitation