Chief Engineer Vehicles, Bus

About the Role

Metro is seeking a Chief Engineer, Bus, to lead the engineering strategy for one of the nation's largest and most complex transit bus fleets. This senior leadership role oversees the full technical lifecycle of more than 1,400 heavy-duty transit buses and a diverse non-revenue fleet, supporting safe, reliable, and sustainable service across the Washington, DC region. The Chief Engineer, Bus will play a central role in fleet modernization initiatives, including zero- and low-emission technologies, reliability-driven design improvements, operator safety enhancements, and data-informed maintenance practices. Working closely with operations, maintenance, safety, procurement, and training teams, this role ensures that engineering decisions perform effectively in real-world service conditions. This is a high-impact opportunity to apply disciplined engineering leadership to public service, with national visibility and a direct influence on daily service delivery, safety, and the customer experience for millions of riders.

Responsibilities

• Directs the Office of Bus Vehicle Engineering staff in all mechanical, electrical, electronic systems, environmental, and industrial engineering tasks required for the effective and efficient procurement, operation, and maintenance of buses and their associated systems (e.g., communications, power, etc.). Oversees the functions of Bus Maintenance Technical Support, Warranty, and Training departments.
• Develops, revises, and implements vehicle engineering policies, procedures, and standards. Ensures policies, procedures, and standards comply with legal, safety, and other requirements.
• Develops, reviews, and approves technical engineering and quality assurance designs, specifications, and change orders related to buses and their associated systems as well as service vehicles.
• Directs engineering procurement, contractors, and projects to include capital improvements and major rehabilitations. Directs employees and contractors in inspections and project evaluation activities to ensure achievement of technical engineering requirements.
• Leads the efforts to obtain timely safety certification for new and/or rehabilitated vehicles while coordinating with the WMATA safety representative and/or outside safety regulatory agencies.
• Prepares and presents major reports and recommendations to department and corporate senior leadership, including the General Manager and Board of Directors, regarding all vehicle engineering and project management issues.
• Directs and supervises subordinate staff, including recommending applicant selection, disciplinary actions, resolutions of grievances, assigning duties, directing work, approving leave requests and time sheets, and ensuring appropriate staff training.
• Directs the investigation and response to inquiries from Members of Congress, Federal and local officials, the Board of Directors, and other appropriate parties. Serves as the Authority's technical engineering representative.
• Prepares and directs the preparation of clear, technically sound, accurate, and informative statistical, financial, progress, and other reports. Prepares executive correspondence.
• Maintains and promotes awareness and accountability with safety policies and procedures while performing job functions. Promotes a positive safety culture and encourages reporting of safety concerns consistent with the Agency Safety Plan, regulatory requirements, and just culture principles.

Requirements

Knowledge

• Extensive knowledge of directing and managing multi-disciplined engineering functions.
• Broad knowledge of the major mechanical and systems engineering fields encountered in bus, heavy equipment, and engineering.
• Considerable knowledge of safety laws and regulations, Federal Transit Administration (FTA) regulations as they pertain to bus vehicle engineering, performance, and operations.
• Knowledge, or the ability to rapidly obtain knowledge, of the Authority's operating rules, procedures, and collective bargaining agreements.

Skills

• Skill in providing expert technical management and engineering direction to diverse engineering activities.
• Skill in communicating technical details to non-technical personnel.
• Skill in exchanging information/instructions via email, phone, presentations, and briefings.
• Skill in preparing responses to the Board of Directors, local government officials, and members of the media.
• Skill in written communication (e.g., grammar, punctuation, spelling, and vocabulary) to express, document, and report thoughts, ideas, and actions so that others will understand.
• Skill in interpersonal relations to establish and maintain courteous and effective relationships with other Authority offices, Board Members, governmental officials, and deal with others in a customer-oriented, business-like manner.
• Skill using office systems including personal computers, printers, conferencing systems, etc.
• Skill using business software including word processors, presentation software, spreadsheets, project management software, communication platforms (e.g., Skype, SharePoint, Outlook), as well as enterprise applications (e.g., PeopleSoft and Maximo).
• Skill managing schedules of teams.
• Skill prioritizing tasks of team members and self.
• Skill in problem-solving and building cross-departmental relationships.

Abilities

• Ability to fill in for the Managing Director as needed and speak on topics related to the assigned area of responsibility to senior and executive-level staff.
• Ability to represent the Authority publicly as needed on topics specifically related to the assigned area of responsibility.
• Ability to manage a diverse team of individuals.
• Ability to document policies/procedures, scopes of work, and business justifications.
• Ability to handle pressure and tight deadlines.

Machine, Tools, Equipment, Software, Hardware Required

Incumbent will use office machines daily including but not limited to computers, printers, and phones.

Supervisory Responsibility

• Supervises work of others, including planning, assigning, scheduling, and reviewing work, ensuring quality standards.
• Responsible for hiring, terminating, training and developing, reviewing performance, and administering corrective action for staff.
• Plans organizational structure and job content.

Qualifications

Minimum Education

• Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's Degree in an Engineering discipline, Business Administration, and/or a related field.
• In lieu of a Bachelor’s Degree, a High School Diploma and four (4) years of progressively responsible engineering management, contract oversight, and/or maintenance engineering experience for a multi-disciplined engineering program (encompassing civil, mechanical, electrical, electronic systems, environmental, and industrial engineering) may be considered.

Minimum Experience

A minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible engineering management, contract oversight, and/or maintenance engineering experience for a multi-disciplined engineering program (encompassing civil, mechanical, electrical, electronic systems, environmental, and industrial engineering), within a large transit or bus vehicular and heavy equipment organization, to include interfacing with Federal oversight authorities, elected officials, and/or senior-level, regulatory municipal officials.

Minimum Certification/Licensure

• Valid driver's license in the jurisdiction of residence.
• Registration as a Professional Engineer in the District of Columbia, Maryland, or Virginia is desired but not required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in an Engineering discipline, Maintenance Engineering, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Management experience in a transit environment.
• Demonstrated understanding of Federal Transit Administration regulations.
• Demonstrated understanding of project management principles.
• Demonstrated experience managing a diverse staff.

Benefits

• Health, dental, and group life insurance.
• Paid holidays, annual and sick leave.
• Retirement plan.
• Tuition reimbursement.
• Flexible spending accounts.
• Free transportation on Metrobus and rail.

About Us

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), known as Metro, is the region’s leading public transportation provider. Serving a 2,054-square-mile jurisdiction, Metro operates six rail lines, 98 stations, 126 bus routes, and Metro Access, a shared-ride paratransit service. As one of the nation’s busiest transit systems, Metro connects communities, supports economic growth, and provides safe, reliable transportation.