Track Engineering Design Lead
About the role
This opportunity is for a Track Engineering Design Lead to join our team in Seattle, WA. The role blends hands-on track design leadership with strategic oversight of the transit and rail engineering discipline.
Responsibilities
Lead project delivery from planning and design through construction support, testing, commissioning, and long-term maintenance.
Guide project delivery from planning and design through construction support and maintenance.
Provide technical direction for track geometry, alignment, special trackwork, systems integration, and constructability.
Coordinate and supervise multidisciplinary engineering teams to ensure seamless integration of track, signal, communications, and traction power systems.
Support PMC teams in reviewing contractor deliverables, cost estimates, change orders, claims, and progress payments.
Prepare detailed reports, presentations, and documentation for internal and client review.
Perform engineering review of permit applications, design plans, specifications, standby plans, contracts, and construction inspections to ensure compliance with FRA, FTA, CPUC, AREMA, and other applicable standards.
Lead large, complex transit and rail engineering projects, overseeing budgets, schedules, subcontractors, and performance metrics.
Develop project scopes, timelines, pricing, and budgetary metrics in compliance with all applicable codes and regulations.
Interpret and summarize engineering data, reports, and regulatory documents to support sound technical conclusions.
Mentor and guide engineering staff, promoting a culture of technical excellence and professional development.
Establish and maintain strong client relationships with transit agencies, railroads, and regulatory bodies.
Market the organization’s transit and rail engineering capabilities and support pursuit strategies for major infrastructure opportunities.
Develop new business opportunities and cross-sell additional services across planning, design, strategic consulting, and program/construction management.
Meet with public and private entities to discuss engineering challenges, program needs, and project strategies.
Guide engineering efforts from planning and design through construction support and maintenance.
Monitor external events, risk contingencies, hours, expenses, and contractual obligations to ensure successful project execution.
Lead technical aspects of contract negotiations, presentations, and client meetings.
Provide high-level strategic advice to clients and multidisciplinary project teams.
Provide performance leadership to assigned staff and project teams.
Support long-term strategy, growth, and pipeline development for the transit and rail engineering practice.
Collaborate across disciplines to deliver “trusted advisor” service and future-ready solutions.
Uphold ethical decision-making, safety standards, and compliance with company policies.
Requirements
Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering or closely related discipline (or equivalent experience).
12+ years of relevant post-education experience in engineering, with prior transit and rail experience and infrastructure design.
Professional Engineer (PE) license required; WA State required, multi-state preferred.
Advanced proficiency with transit and rail engineering principles, practices, processes, design/build delivery, standard of care, and application to permitting and project work.
Experience with light rail transit design and design management preferred.
Strong working knowledge of FRA, FTA, CPUC, AREMA, and other rail regulatory standards, procedures, codes, compliance practices, and record-keeping requirements.
Advanced proficiency in technical computations, engineering calculations, interpreting plans and specifications, and comparing them to applicable regulations.
Ability to work independently while providing guidance and leadership to mid-level and senior-level team members, with strict adherence to QA/QC.
Excellent leadership and interpersonal communication skills with the ability to interact effectively and tactfully with employees at all organizational levels.
Strong analytical skills, lateral thinking, attention to detail, and ability to prioritize responsibilities in a fast-paced environment.
Ability to elicit cooperation from senior management, clients, regulators, subcontractors, and staff across the organization.
Advanced proficiency with office automation and discipline-specific design software (MicroStation, AutoCAD, Civil 3D, OpenRail), predictive models, spreadsheets, and engineering tools.
Prominent track record of upholding workplace safety and compliance with company health, safety, drug/alcohol, and harassment policies.
Strong ability to adapt to change and demonstrate flexibility to meet business needs.
Occasional travel may be required depending on project-specific requirements.
Preferred Qualifications
Experience with modernization programs, system upgrades, and major capital rail projects.
Experience coordinating track design with signals, communications, and traction power systems.
Experience supporting construction, field inspections, and commissioning activities.
Master’s Degree in Engineering.
PMP Certification.
Benefits
WSP provides a comprehensive suite of benefits focused on providing health and financial stability throughout the employee’s career. These benefits include coverage related to medical, dental, vision, disability, and life; retirement savings; paid sick leave; paid vacation (or other personal time); paid parental leave; and paid time off for purposes of bereavement, voting, and/or attendance at naturalization proceedings.
Pay
Expected Salary (all locations): $174,500 - $259,000
Schedule
N/A
Skills
Deep expertise in track design, multidisciplinary systems coordination (signals, communications, traction power), regulatory compliance, and field inspection.
Qualifications
Required Qualifications: Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering or closely related discipline (or equivalent experience). 12+ years of relevant post-education experience in engineering, with prior transit and rail experience and infrastructure design. Professional Engineer (PE) license required; WA State required, multi-state preferred. Advanced proficiency with transit and rail engineering principles, practices, processes, design/build delivery, standard of care, and application to permitting and project work. Experience with light rail transit design and design management preferred. Strong working knowledge of FRA, FTA, CPUC, AREMA, and other rail regulatory standards, procedures, codes, compliance practices, and record-keeping requirements. Advanced proficiency in technical computations, engineering calculations, interpreting plans and specifications, and comparing them to applicable regulations. Ability to work independently while providing guidance and leadership to mid-level and senior-level team members, with strict adherence to QA/QC. Excellent leadership and interpersonal communication skills with the ability to interact effectively and tactfully with employees at all organizational levels. Strong analytical skills, lateral thinking, attention to detail, and ability to prioritize responsibilities in a fast-paced environment. Ability to elicit cooperation from senior management, clients, regulators, subcontractors, and staff across the organization. Advanced proficiency with office automation and discipline-specific design software (MicroStation, AutoCAD, Civil 3D, OpenRail), predictive models, spreadsheets, and engineering tools. Prominent track record of upholding workplace safety and compliance with company health, safety, drug/alcohol, and harassment policies. Strong ability to adapt to change and demonstrate flexibility to meet business needs. Occasional travel may be required depending on project-specific requirements.
Who You Are
Required Qualifications: Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering or closely related discipline (or equivalent experience). 12+ years of relevant post-education experience in engineering, with prior transit and rail experience and infrastructure design. Professional Engineer (PE) license required; WA State required, multi-state preferred. Advanced proficiency with transit and rail engineering principles, practices, processes, design/build delivery, standard of care, and application to permitting and project work. Experience with light rail transit design and design management preferred. Strong working knowledge of FRA, FTA, CPUC, AREMA, and other rail regulatory standards, procedures, codes, compliance practices, and record-keeping requirements. Advanced proficiency in technical computations, engineering calculations, interpreting plans and specifications, and comparing them to applicable regulations. Ability to work independently while providing guidance and leadership to mid-level and senior-level team members, with strict adherence to QA/QC. Excellent leadership and interpersonal communication skills with the ability to interact effectively and tactfully with employees at all organizational levels. Strong analytical skills, lateral thinking, attention to detail, and ability to prioritize responsibilities in a fast-paced environment. Ability to elicit cooperation from senior management, clients, regulators, subcontractors, and staff across the organization. Advanced proficiency with office automation and discipline-specific design software (MicroStation, AutoCAD, Civil 3D, OpenRail), predictive models, spreadsheets, and engineering tools. Prominent track record of upholding workplace safety and compliance with company health, safety, drug/alcohol, and harassment policies. Strong ability to adapt to change and demonstrate flexibility to meet business needs. Occasional travel may be required depending on project-specific requirements.
WSP Benefits
WSP provides a comprehensive suite of benefits focused on providing health and financial stability throughout the employee’s career. These benefits include coverage related to medical, dental, vision, disability, and life; retirement savings; paid sick leave; paid vacation (or other personal time); paid parental leave; and paid time off for purposes of bereavement, voting, and/or attendance at naturalization proceedings.
WSP USA Compensation Range
WSP USA is providing the compensation range that the company in good faith believes it might pay and offer for this position, based on the successful applicant’s education, experience, knowledge, skills, abilities in addition to internal equity and specific geographic location. WSP USA reserves the right to ultimately pay more or less than the posted range and offer additional benefits and other compensation, depending on circumstances not related to an applicant’s sex or other status protected by local, state, and/or federal law.
About WSP
ABOUT US WSP USA is the U.S. operating company of WSP, one of the world's leading engineering and professional services firms. Dedicated to serving local communities, we are engineers, planners, technical experts, strategic advisors and construction management professionals. WSP USA designs lasting solutions in the buildings, transportation, energy, water and environment markets. With more than 15,000 employees in over 300 offices across the U.S., we partner with our clients to help communities prosper.
Notice To Third Party Agencies
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