Chief of Structures

About the Role

The Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) is seeking a Chief of Track and Structures to provide strategic program leadership for rail, transit, and transportation infrastructure projects. This senior position manages a team of professional engineers, project managers, and support staff in delivering high-quality, compliant, and efficient structural design solutions across the organization's capital program.

Responsibilities

• Provide management oversight for all staff within the track and structures division, including supervising performance, work quality, and activities of MTA staff and external consultants.
• 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 alignment with transportation priorities.
• Serve as a skilled collaborator with the Office of Procurement by developing technical proposals, including scopes of work, and participating in 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 for tunnels, bridges, elevated structures, culverts, and other auxiliary structures, and perform field site inspections as required.
• Maintain involvement throughout the project lifecycle from planning and initiation to construction, commissioning, and closeout phases.
• 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.
• Provide oversight and management of budget planning and reporting related to the Track and Structural Engineering components of the MTA Capital program and Consolidated Transportation Program.
• Work closely with project teams and fund managers to evaluate changes, resolve issues, and align budget allocations with transportation priorities.
• Conduct preliminary and detailed structural analysis and design, ensuring compliance with local and national building codes and standards.
• Design, analyze, and specify structural systems including steel, reinforced concrete, masonry, and timber for both new buildings and renovations/additions to existing structures.
• Lead or support an engineering team in evaluating, selecting, specifying, and engineering all structural systems for the project.
• Provide construction administration services and collaborate with contractors to address construction issues during the construction phase.
• Prepare detailed condition assessment reports on the condition of existing structures and systems.
• Coordinate 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.

Requirements

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

Qualifications

U.S. Armed Forces military service experience may be substituted for the required education and experience on a year-for-year basis.

The ideal candidate will possess twelve (12) years of experience in Professional Engineering and one (1) year of supervisory or consultant management experience.

Applicants must submit a current copy of their complete driving record (not more than 30 days old) from the MVA with their application.

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 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 may result in rejection from the hiring process, removal from the list of eligibles, withdrawal of an offer for employment, or immediate discharge.
• Employees must adhere to all safety rules, policies, regulations, and personal protective equipment requirements to support a safe and healthy working environment.
• Employees may attend and participate in safety meetings and should report hazards, unsafe acts, near misses, injuries, and accidents immediately to the Office of Safety and supervision.