Chief Estimator - Project Engineer

About the role

Transdev is hiring a Project Manager/Estimator in San Dimas, CA. Transdev offers competitive compensation between $136,000 - $169,000 per year. Benefits include vacation, sick days, holidays, and other standard benefits such as a 401(k) retirement plan, medical, dental, and vision insurance, life insurance, short-term disability, and voluntary long-term disability.

Responsibilities

• Strong knowledge of railroad track construction, maintenance, rehabilitation, and transit/rail infrastructure projects.
• Proficiency in preparing detailed cost estimates, quantity takeoffs, bid proposals, schedules, and project budgets.
• Experience with railroad construction means and methods, including track installation, turnouts, flash-butt welding, thermite welding, surfacing, and rail destressing.
• Ability to read and interpret railroad construction drawings, specifications, contracts, and FRA/agency standards.
• Working knowledge of railroad safety regulations, including FRA, CPUC, OSHA, and railroad operating rules.
• Experience coordinating with rail agencies, flagging personnel, subcontractors, suppliers, and operations departments in active railroad environments.
• Strong understanding of project controls, cost tracking, forecasting, procurement, change order management, and schedule management.
• Proficiency in Primavera P6 or Microsoft Project, HCSS Heavybid, or similar estimating/project management software.
• Excellent leadership, communication, negotiation, and organizational skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects, deadlines, and priorities in a fast-paced railroad operating environment.
• Knowledge of railroad work windows, track outages, AWW coordination, and maintenance-of-way operations.
• Experience working on commuter rail, freight rail or light rail projects preferred.
• Familiarity with SCRRA/Metrolink, BNSF, UP, Amtrak, or other Class I railroad standards preferred.
• Ability to travel to project sites, work nights/weekends, and support railroad outage work as required.
• Create and manage bid estimates from start to finish, ensuring accuracy, completeness, and compliance with RFP/IFB/ITB requirements.
• Collaborate with project managers, engineers, subcontractors, and suppliers to gather pricing, validate constructability, and resolve scope gaps.
• Prepare bid packages and submit compliant proposals, including pricing narratives, assumptions, exclusions, and supporting documentation.
• Conduct pre-bid meetings, job walks, RFIs, and coordination with owners and CMs to clarify requirements and mitigate risk.
• Perform post-bid and post-project cost analysis, comparing estimated versus actual costs to improve future estimate accuracy.
• Manage the full project lifecycle, including budgets, forecasts, cost tracking, procurement, subcontractor coordination, schedule adherence, and quality and safety compliance.
• Manage the preparation, negotiation, and administration of change orders and claims, providing technical and pricing support to field teams.
• Produce monthly cost reports, forecasts, and executive summaries for senior management and clients.
• Lead project closeout, including final quantities, as-built documentation, and contract completion.

Qualifications

• 12+ years of progressively responsible experience in railroad track maintenance and/or construction in an operating railroad environment, including at least 7+ years’ experience in supervising or directing the work of others engaged in railroad track construction and/or maintenance.
• 5+ years of Heavybid or other estimating software operational experience.
• CDL with Hazmat endorsement.
• A minimum of 10 years’ of supervisory skills in a similar position supervising and managing employees engaged in railroad track maintenance and construction in an operating railroad environment.