Americas Rail Vehicle Maintenance Facility Leader

Arup’s purpose, shared values, and collaborative approach have set us apart for over 80 years, guiding how we shape a better world.

About the role

The Americas Rail Vehicle Maintenance Facility Leader will provide senior leadership for the successful delivery of Operations and Maintenance Facility South in Seattle while building enduring Rail Vehicle Maintenance Facility (VMF) capability across the Americas. Success in this role includes coordinated, compliant VMF design delivered on time and within planned resources; strong, trusted relationships with contractors and owners; and clear ownership of technical, commercial, and delivery outcomes. The role will also establish a platform for future growth by strengthening VMF delivery consistency, supporting major rail pursuits where maintenance facilities are critical assets, and developing emerging project and design management leaders within the VMF and rail portfolio.

• Provide senior leadership to large, multidisciplinary Arup and subconsultant teams delivering complex vehicle maintenance facility scope under design-build and progressive design-build frameworks.
• Set clear expectations for performance, accountability, and collaboration across design managers, discipline leads, and package managers.
• Foster a strong project culture aligned with Arup values, emphasizing quality, safety, inclusion, and delivery excellence.
• Mentor and develop emerging project, design, and commercial management leaders within the VMF and rail portfolio.
• Identify resourcing needs, support recruitment, and contribute to succession planning as the VMF capability grows across the Americas.
• Provide senior commercial oversight for VMF projects, including scope definition, resourcing strategies, and fee management.
• Identify, assess, and support the capture of scope changes, risks, and opportunities in collaboration with project controls and commercial teams.
• Review and confirm deliverables lists, staffing plans, and program schedules to ensure alignment with contractual requirements.
• Support cost forecasting, change management, and reporting to maintain commercial performance and predictability.
• Contribute to risk and opportunity workshops and ensure commercial considerations are integrated into delivery decisions.
• Build and maintain strong, trusted relationships with transit agencies, contractors, and key stakeholders involved in VMF and rail programs.
• Act as a senior client-facing leader for vehicle maintenance facility work, supporting client confidence during delivery and pursuits.
• Support and, where appropriate, lead VMF-related pursuits, proposals, and interviews across the Americas.
• Contribute to the development of VMF market strategy, positioning Arup’s technical and delivery capability in priority rail programs.
• Represent Arup externally through industry engagement and targeted relationship management aligned with VMF growth objectives.
• Provide senior project leadership across one or more major VMF programs, ensuring alignment of technical, commercial, and delivery objectives.
• Oversee and support design management teams across civil/site, track, industrial engineering, SMEP, and architectural disciplines.
• Monitor program progress, key milestones, and interfaces, proactively addressing delivery risks and emerging issues.
• Collaborate closely with contractor and client leadership to resolve challenges and maintain effective working relationships.
• Provide escalation support and continuity of leadership as required to maintain program momentum and delivery assurance.
• Provide senior technical leadership for vehicle maintenance facility design, ensuring integration across disciplines and compliance with codes, standards, and client requirements.
• Establish and maintain robust quality assurance and quality control processes appropriate for large, complex VMF programs.
• Identify and mitigate technical, regulatory, and constructability risks throughout the design and delivery lifecycle.
• Support resolution of complex technical issues through coordinated, multidisciplinary problem-solving.
• Lead knowledge capture, lessons learned, and capability development to strengthen Arup’s VMF delivery excellence across regions.

Requirements

• Minimum of 15 years of experience in the Rail industry delivering vehicle maintenance facilities or similarly complex rail operations buildings.
• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering; Master’s degree is an asset.
• At least one of the following designations: PE, P. Eng, RA.
• Senior design and project delivery management experience on complex rail and vehicle maintenance facility programs.
• Experience delivering complex projects to a high quality on schedule and within budget, encompassing design, technical, and commercial management.
• Skilled at client relationships, whether they are owners or contractors.
• Strong relationships with local agencies is desirable but not required.
• Experience of Design-Build delivery is required, and Progressive Design-Build preferred.
• DBIA certification would be a benefit but not a requirement.
• Direct experience in the integration of civil/site, track, SMEP, architectural, and operational systems under Design-Build or Progressive Design-Build delivery.

Benefits

At Arup, we care about each member’s success, so we can grow together. Guided by our values, we provide an attractive total reward package that recognizes the contribution of each of our members to our shared success.

• Competitive, fair, and equitable pay.
• Global Profit Share Plan (paid bi-annually) providing an opportunity to share in the success of the firm.
• 401(k) plan with up to 10% company match.
• Comprehensive benefits program supporting health and welfare security, including paid time off for rest and renewal.
• Flexible working arrangements, including options for alternative schedules and remote work.

Pay

Seattle Hiring Range – The good faith base salary hiring range for this job if performed in Seattle is $230,000 to $260,000 per year. This range is commensurate with experience, educational background, and skill level. Benefits are not included in the base salary. Hiring ranges for candidates performing work outside of Seattle will differ.