Engineer Senior

Charlotte, North Carolina; Charlotte, Northern (NC, KY); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 129,000; Full time

Job summary

The Charlotte Area Transit System is seeking a Senior Engineer to plan, organize, review, and direct engineering work for rail transit projects, including the Silver Line. You will provide advanced technical expertise, coordinate with internal divisions, city agencies, and federal partners to ensure design, safety, and schedule requirements are met.

Ideal candidates hold a PE license, a Bachelor’s degree in engineering, and at least 10 years of relevant experience in transportation or transit

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, PE license, 10 years of experience.
• Experience coordinating multidisciplinary teams across engineering disciplines.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with ability to convey technical concepts to non‑technical audiences.

Responsibilities

• Oversee engineering activities for light rail infrastructure, systems, and facilities.
• Review consultant and contractor submittals, drawings, calculations, and specifications.
• Ensure project compliance with FTA CIG requirements and related processes.
• Coordinate design submittals, bid documents, and comment resolution across stakeholders.
• Prepare engineering reports and presentations for agency leadership and FTA.

Skills

Engineering principles

FTA regulations

Project coordination

Public presentations

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering

Job description

Department: Charlotte Area Transit System Department Salary: $89,552.00 - $128,730.99 Commensurate with Experience Thank you for your interest in joining the team that keeps Charlotte moving, at a very exciting time for our organization.

At the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS), we’re committed to delivering safe, reliable, and innovative transit services for our growing community, and we value employees who bring professionalism, passion, and a commitment to public service. This position is currently employed by CATS, a department of the City of Charlotte. With the passage of the PAVE Act and last year’s sales tax referendum, CATS is preparing to transition from a City department to the newly created Metropolitan Public Transit Authority (MPTA). The MPTA was established to strengthen regional transit governance, improve accountability, and support long‑term investment in mobility. It’s an important and exciting step forward for transit in our region.

Employees hired into this role will remain City employees through December 31, 2026, and will transition to MPTA employment on January 1, 2027. Benefits and compensation will follow City provisions through 2026 and shift to MPTA provisions in 2027, with clear information shared in advance. Your core duties, reporting structure, and daily responsibilities will remain consistent, with no break in service.

If anything delays the transition, your City employment, including compensation and benefits, will remain in place until the move to the MPTA occurs.

The creation of the MPTA positions us for a more modern, sustainable, and efficient transit system, one that can better support the Charlotte region for decades to come. We’re excited about what’s ahead and appreciate your interest in being part of it.

SUMMARY

The Senior Engineer plans, organizes, reviews, and directs engineering work performed by consultants and departmental staff while providing advanced technical expertise for the development, design, and delivery of rail transit projects in coordination with internal divisions, City departments, State and Federal agencies, and other stakeholders. Assigned to the team for the Silver Line Light Rail project, as well as other projects as directed, the Senior Engineer plays a key role in supporting the planning, design, and execution of a major light rail transit investment, pursuing funding under the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Capital Investment Grant (CIG) program. This position provides advanced engineering expertise, technical oversight, and cross disciplinary coordination to ensure the project complies with all regulatory, design, safety, quality, cost, and schedule requirements essential for successful execution.

Major Duties and Responsibilities

• Play a key role in overseeing engineering activities for light rail infrastructure, systems, and facilities, including trackwork, civil/structural elements, stations, utilities, and rail systems.
• Serve as technical subject matter expert reviewing consultant and contractor engineering submittals, drawings, calculations, and specifications.
• Ensure project compliance with FTA CIG requirements, including environmental commitments, design criteria, risk management processes, and project controls.
• Coordinate the organizational and stakeholder review of major project milestones, including design submittals and construction bid documents, as well as associated comment resolution processes.
• Support development and maintenance of FTA-required documents such as the Project Management Plan, Quality Program, Safety and Security Certification Plan, and supporting technical documentation.
• Collaborate with internal departments and external partners including municipal agencies, utility companies, regulatory bodies, and community stakeholders.
• Resolve design conflicts efficiently through collaborative problem solving.
• Provide engineering guidance during project development, engineering, and implementation to ensure constructability, operational efficiency, maintainability, and long‑term lifecycle value of project components.
• Evaluate and respond to development and property owner inquiries along the Silver Line corridor.
• Provide thorough private development entitlement reviews in compliance with local regulatory agency requirements to ensure compliance with CATS and Silver Line requirements.
• Participate in contract procurement activities including approving/editing technical documents, evaluating proposals, and supporting contract negotiations.
• Monitor construction activities, support field engineering, and resolve technical issues, including change management and verification of contractor work quality.
• Assist in identifying, evaluating, communicating, and mitigating project risks throughout the course of the project, in compliance with FTA requirements.
• Prepare engineering reports, presentations, and documentation for agency leadership, oversight bodies, and FTA representatives.
• Represent the Silver Line project and the transit agency during public outreach efforts, including public meetings, open houses, community workshops, and stakeholder briefings.
• Communicate complex engineering concepts clearly to non‑technical audiences, ensuring public understanding of project goals, impacts, and benefits.
• Mentor junior engineers and contribute to the development of agency engineering standards, procedures, and best practices.
• As part of your responsibility to support the CATS Safety Culture, report safety concerns and issues through the various methods established by CATS as outlined in the ASP.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Strong understanding of engineering principles related to infrastructure design and construction Ability to interpret and apply FTA regulations, CIG program requirements and federal/state/local engineering standards. Skilled in reviewing and commenting on complex engineering design packages, technical specifications, and construction documentation. Knowledge of project management, project controls, cost estimating, scheduling, and risk assessment methodologies. Ability to assess constructability, maintainability, and systems integration across multidisciplinary project components. Experience preparing and delivering presentations for both technical and non‑technical audiences. Strong problem‑solving abilities and aptitude for resolving technical issues in design and construction. Ability to manage multiple tasks, prioritize competing demands, and meet project deadlines. Effective communication skills for collaboration with technical teams, stakeholders, and regulatory partners. Ability to clearly explain engineering concepts to the public, elected officials, and community groups in non‑technical language. Strong interpersonal skills and comfort participating in public meetings, community engagement activities, and stakeholder discussions.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working on or managing rail transit or major transportation capital projects.
• Experience directing and/or managing consultants or contractor work.
• Direct experience with FTA CIG program requirements and processes.
• Experience participating in public outreach or presenting engineering concepts to community groups.
• Familiarity with NEPA, environmental permitting, and safety/security certification processes.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in engineering, or a related field. Professional Engineer (PE) license. 10 years of relevant engineering experience in transportation, infrastructure, or transit projects. Demonstrated experience working on multidisciplinary engineering projects requiring coordination across teams. Excellent written and oral communication skills are essential.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

The City’s Background Check Policy requires background checks to be conducted on final internal or external candidate(s) applying for any position with the City of Charlotte. The type of information that will be collected as part of a background check includes, but is not limited to: reference checks, social security verification, education verification, criminal conviction record check, and, if applicable, a credit history check, sex offender registry and motor vehicle records check. Background checks must be in compliance with all federal and state statutes, such as the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). The checks must be consistent with the guidelines set forth by these laws requiring organizations to obtain a candidate’s written authorization before obtaining a criminal background report, motor vehicle records check or credit report; and to properly store and dispose of information derived from such reports. Final candidates must pass a pre‑employment drug‑screening test and physical examination. During the selection process, candidates may be asked to take a skills test, and/or participate in other assessments.

BENEFITS

The City of Charlotte provides a comprehensive benefits package to eligible employees. Click here to learn more about the City of Charlotte’s benefits. The City of Charlotte is a drug and alcohol‑free workplace.

Our City, Our Mission

The City of Charlotte has more than 8,000 employees working across 19 departments to serve close to 1 million residents. From public safety and clean water to transportation, housing and an international airport, our teams deliver essential services to keep Charlotte connected, safe and empowered with opportunity for all. As public servants, we are guided by a clear mission: to be committed to exceptional service every day. No matter the department or role, every team member plays a part in helping our city grow, thrive and meet the needs of those who rely on us. We are a values‑driven organization, working collaboratively, acting with integrity and delivering reliable results. We embrace a forward‑thinking mindset, encouraging curiosity, innovation and continuous improvement.

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