Freight Rail Engineering Program Lead

Burns & McDonnell; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 100,000 - 280,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

ESOP

401(k) retirement plan

Insurance & disability

Paid time off & wellness programs

Job summary

Burns & McDonnell is seeking a Freight Rail Engineering Project Manager to lead planning and design teams for railroad and transit projects across the nation. The role focuses on both business development and project execution, aligning client needs with technical delivery.

Responsibilities include leading multi-discipline teams, managing scope, budget and schedule, mentoring staff, and ensuring safety, quality, and regulatory compliance throughout the project lifecycle.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering or related field from an accredited curriculum.
• Minimum 7 years related experience (15 preferred), including 5 or more years in rail engineering or related projects.
• Licensed Professional Engineer (PE) strongly preferred.
• Experience managing rail industrial development design-build projects.

Responsibilities

• Lead planning, budgeting, and scheduling for railroad/transit projects.
• Develop and manage client relationships; handle proposals and scope.
• Oversee multi-disciplinary teams; ensure safety, quality, and regulatory compliance.
• Manage downstream contract administration including RFIs, submittals, change management, and closeout.
• Mentor junior staff and promote new rail/transportation technologies.
• Analyze project risks and communicate status to stakeholders.

Skills

Project management

Client relations

Budgeting

Scheduling

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering

Tools

MicroStation

OpenRail

Geopak

Inroads

Job description

Burns & McDonnell is seeking a Freight Rail Engineering Project Manager to lead planning and design teams for railroad and transit projects across the nation. The role focuses on both business development and project execution, aligning client needs with technical delivery.

Responsibilities include leading multi-discipline teams, managing scope, budget and schedule, mentoring staff, and ensuring safety, quality, and regulatory compliance throughout the project lifecycle.