Chief of Structures

About the role

The Transit Administration (MTA) is seeking a Chief of Track and Structures to lead the organization's rail, transit, and transportation infrastructure projects. This position is responsible for managing a team of professional engineers, project managers, and support staff to deliver high-quality, compliant, and efficient structural design solutions.

Responsibilities

• Provide management oversight for all staff operating within the track and structures division, including supervising the performance, work quality, and activities of MTA staff and external consultant engineers and designers.
• Share strategic direction on complex management and technical decisions.
• Oversee and/or directly administer design and engineering work for core capacity, strategic capital projects, system enhancements, expansions, improvements, and State of Good Repair projects for Metro, Light Rail Transit, Freight, and MARC.
• Develop and manage schedules, budgets, cost estimates, and negotiations for assigned projects, ensuring completeness, accuracy, and alignment with transportation priorities.
• Serve as a skilled collaborator with the Office of Procurement by developing technical proposals, including scopes of work, and sitting on selection committees for engineering contract solicitations.
• Lead multidisciplinary technical project reviews and recommend design solutions in coordination with MTA departments and other state and local agency partners.
• Develop and manage internal and/or consultant-based resources providing engineering support and guidance to the Departments of Operations and Maintenance of Way including technical specifications, maintenance and inspection programs, emergency and incident response and safety risk assessment and mitigation.
• Streamline and facilitate the QA/QC process, including coordination with MTA operational divisions such as construction, systems, operations, and maintenance.
• Oversee comprehensive MTA inspection programs encompassing tunnels, bridges, elevated structures, culverts, and other auxiliary structures situated along the transit system, and perform field site inspections as required.
• Review RFIs, contract deliverables, submittals, change order requests, and contractor invoices, recommending corrective actions as necessary.
• Participate in Risk Management Assessments and implement risk mitigation strategies.
• Develop and lead a team of technical subject matter experts in the review and resolution of contractor claims, including preparation of technical position papers and recommended outcomes.
• Coordinate with Procurement, Capital Programming, and Project Managers for fund certifications, annual task fund lists, calls for projects, presentations, executive summaries, State of Good Repair reports, and executive memorandums related to construction projects.
• Provide project support to other MTA departments including reviewing budgets and financial plans and performing special analyses as requested by MTA senior management.
• Work closely with project teams and fund managers to evaluate changes, resolve issues, and align budget allocations with transportation priorities.
• In-depth knowledge of structural engineering principles, codes, and standards and practices in broad areas related to bridge design; geotechnical/foundation design, substructure design, superstructure design, and retaining and noise walls.
• Familiarity with structural design and analysis, materials, and construction techniques for making informed decisions and ensuring compliance with regulations.
• The ability to identify and analyze problems, propose solutions, and make informed decisions, which includes critical thinking skills and the ability to troubleshoot and resolve issues that arise during the construction process.
• Prepare detailed condition assessment reports on the condition of existing structures and systems.
• Cook up with other divisions to ensure integrated design and functionality.
• Mentor and guide junior engineers within the Structural department, fostering a culture of growth and knowledge-sharing.

Qualifications

• Possession of a Maryland Professional Engineer License, in the appropriate option, is required. Evidence of license must be presented at the time of appointment.
• Experience: Two (2) years of experience managing engineering projects as a licensed, professional engineer.
• One (1) year of experience in Structural Engineering or Trackwork Engineering.

Special Requirements

• Employees may be subject to emergency recall 24 hours a day and may be required to maintain a reliable communication link (telephone or pager) for the purpose of emergency call back requirements.
• Eligible applicants may be subject to a background investigation under Federal or State laws and regulations.
• A conviction is not an automatic disqualification to employment.
• Erroneous, misleading or fraudulent information on an application is sufficient grounds for rejection from the hiring process, removal from the list of eligibles, withdrawal of an offer for employment or immediate discharge.