Director, Services Lead - Automation & Digital Transformation

Wabtec Corporation; Cedar Rapids (IA); On-site; USD 121,000 - 172,000; Full time

Job summary

Wabtec Corporation in the United States seeks a Director, Services Lead – Automation & Digital Transformation to drive delivery and adoption of automation and digital services for key rail customers. This customer-facing leader guides cross-functional programs that align customer needs with Wabtec’s digital solutions to improve performance and value realization.

The ideal candidate brings extensive program leadership, strong customer engagement, and financial acumen, with fluency in data

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in program management, service delivery, customer-facing technical solutions, or digital transformation roles.
• Proven experience leading complex, cross-functional programs involving software, data, analytics, or connected technologies.
• Strong customer engagement and stakeholder management skills, including experience communicating with operational and technical leaders.
• Demonstrated ability to manage execution across multiple stakeholders in a matrixed environment.
• Financial and commercial awareness, with experience supporting forecasting, margin performance, and value-based discussions.
• Technical fluency in data platforms, cloud technologies, analytics, or automation solutions.
• Experience in rail, transportation, industrial automation, or industrial IoT environments.
• Preferred: Familiarity with Azure or similar cloud platforms.
• Preferred: PMP, Agile, or related project/program management certification.

Responsibilities

• Define and evolve automation service strategy aligned with Digital Intelligence solutions (analytics, telematics, asset performance)
• Serve as a trusted advisor to customer stakeholders (Operations, Maintenance, Engineering, CIO/CTO)
• Build long-term relationships focused on value realization and continuous improvement
• Partner with engineering to ensure scalable, secure, supportable and sustainable solutions
• Lead the delivery and ongoing optimization of automation and digital service programs across the customer lifecycle.
• Manage complex, multi-workflow initiatives involving operations, engineering, data, and product teams to achieve committed customer outcomes.
• Establish and maintain program governance, KPIs, SLAs, and operational reporting to ensure consistent service performance.
• Lead regular business reviews to communicate service performance, adoption progress, and operational impact.
• Monitor program financial performance, including forecasting, margin considerations, and value realization metrics.
• Partner with commercial and services leaders to identify opportunities to strengthen customer outcomes and expand service value where appropriate.
• Apply working knowledge of telematics, predictive analytics, and cloud/data platforms to support effective service delivery.
• Lead through influence in a matrixed environment by aligning stakeholders, clarifying priorities, and driving accountability for results.
• Support customer adoption of automation and analytics solutions through change management and sustained engagement.

Skills

Program leadership

Customer engagement

Cross-functional teamwork

Digital transformation

Analytics

Cloud technologies

Rail experience

Job description

Job Description

Director, Services Lead – Automation & Digital Transformation

Who will you be working with?

As part of Wabtec’s Digital Intelligence organization, you will work closely with the Train Performance & Automation, engineering, product, data, operations, commercial, and services teams. You will also partner directly with customer stakeholders across operations, maintenance, engineering, and digital/technology functions to support successful delivery and sustained adoption of automation and digital solutions.

How will you make a difference?

As a customer-facing leader in Wabtec’s Digital Intelligence business, you will drive the delivery, optimization, and adoption of automation and digital services for key rail customers. This role leads complex, cross-functional programs that connect customer needs with Wabtec’s digital solutions to improve operational performance, reliability, and long-term value realization.

The ideal candidate brings strong program leadership, customer engagement skills, financial awareness, and technical fluency in data, analytics, and connected asset solutions. This role operates through matrix leadership, partnering closely with engineering, product, operations, and commercial teams to deliver sustainable customer outcomes.

What do we want to know about you?

• 10+ years of experience in program management, service delivery, customer-facing technical solutions, or digital transformation roles.
• Proven experience leading complex, cross-functional programs involving software, data, analytics, or connected technologies.
• Strong customer engagement and stakeholder management skills, including experience communicating with operational and technical leaders.
• Demonstrated ability to manage execution across multiple stakeholders in a matrixed environment.
• Financial and commercial awareness, with experience supporting forecasting, margin performance, and value-based discussions.
• Technical fluency in data platforms, cloud technologies, analytics, or automation solutions.
• Experience in rail, transportation, industrial automation, or industrial IoT environments.
• Preferred: Familiarity with Azure or similar cloud platforms.
• Preferred: PMP, Agile, or related project/program management certification.

What will your typical day look like?

• Define and evolve automation service strategy aligned with Digital Intelligence solutions (analytics, telematics, asset performance)
• Serve as a trusted advisor to customer stakeholders (Operations, Maintenance, Engineering, CIO/CTO)
• Build long-term relationships focused on value realization and continuous improvement
• Partner with engineering to ensure scalable, secure, supportable and sustainable solutions
• Lead the delivery and ongoing optimization of automation and digital service programs across the customer lifecycle.
• Manage complex, multi-workstream initiatives involving operations, engineering, data, and product teams to achieve committed customer outcomes.
• Establish and maintain program governance, KPIs, SLAs, and operational reporting to ensure consistent service performance.
• Lead regular business reviews to communicate service performance, adoption progress, and operational impact.
• Monitor program financial performance, including forecasting, margin considerations, and value realization metrics.
• Partner with commercial and services leaders to identify opportunities to strengthen customer outcomes and expand service value where appropriate.
• Apply working knowledge of telematics, predictive analytics, and cloud/data platforms to support effective service delivery.
• Lead through influence in a matrixed environment by aligning stakeholders, clarifying priorities, and driving accountability for results.
• Support customer adoption of automation and analytics solutions through change management and sustained engagement.

#LI-AM1

Additional Information

Our job titles may span more than one career level. The salary rate for this role is currently $120600-171800 The actual salary offered to a candidate may be influenced by a variety of factors, such as: training, transferable skills, work experience, education, business needs, market demands and work location. The base pay range is subject to change and may be modified in the future. More information on offered benefits, which include health, welfare, and retirement, are available at mywabtecbenefits.com. Other benefit offerings for this role may include annual bonus, if eligible.

What could you accomplish in a place that puts People First?

At Wabtec, it’s not just about a job - it’s about the impact you make. When our people come together, we’re Expanding the Possible by continuously improving what we do and how we do it - for our clients and each other.

If you’re ready to revolutionize how the world moves for future generations, Wabtec is the place for you.

Who are we?

Wabtec is a leading global provider of equipment, systems, digital solutions, and value-added services for the freight and transit rail sectors. Drawing on more than 150 years of experience, we are leading the way in safety, efficiency, reliability, innovation, and productivity. Whether it’s freight, transit, ports, logistics, mining, industrial, or marine, our expertise, technologies, and people together – are accelerating the future of transportation. With roots that date back to George Westinghouse, Thomas Edison, and Louis Faiveley, Wabtec has always built technologies and implemented solutions for a variety of sectors that are critical to meeting the needs of customers and governments alike.

Culture powers us and the possibilities.

We believe the best ideas come from a mix of experiences and backgrounds. At Wabtec, we strive every day to create a place where everyone belongs. We’re building a culture where leadership, inclusion and your unique perspective fuel progress.

We’re proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We welcome talent of all backgrounds, experiences, and identities, including race, gender, age, disability, veteran status and more.

Need accommodation? Just let us know - we’ve got you.