LRT/Transit Vehicle Oversight Engineer (Rolling Stock)

Lea+Elliott, Inc.; New York (NY); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Combination of office and field inspection

Travel required for factory inspections

Job summary

Lea+Elliott, Inc. is seeking a skilled LRT/Transit Vehicle Oversight Engineer in New York, NY. The role involves technical oversight of Light Rail Transit Vehicles, ensuring compliance with contract specifications and safety standards. Key responsibilities include design review, vendor oversight during manufacturing, testing procedures approval, and contract management. Candidates should possess a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering and have over 12 years of experience in rail vehicle engineering. This position requires a mix of office and field work, including potential travel for factory inspections.

Qualifications

• 12+ years of professional engineering experience in rail vehicle engineering.
• Deep understanding of propulsion, braking, and electronic control systems.

Responsibilities

• Review supplier design submittals to ensure compliance.
• Perform inspections at the supplier’s manufacturing facility.
• Approve factory and field testing procedures.
• Monitor contractor progress and quality of work.

Skills

Rail vehicle design knowledge

Technical design review

Quality assurance auditing

Troubleshooting skills

Microsoft Office Suite proficiency

Engineering software proficiency

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Job description

LRT/Transit Vehicle Oversight Engineer (Rolling Stock)

Lea+Elliott is seeking a highly skilled LRT/Transit Vehicle Oversight Engineer who will act as the owner’s representative in providing technical and contractual oversight of the Light Rail Transit Vehicle supplier. This role ensures the design, manufacturing, testing, and delivery of new LRVs meet contract specifications, safety standards, and performance requirements. The engineer will work closely with the supplier, subcontractors, and internal agency departments to resolve technical issues, monitor quality, and facilitate seamless integration of new vehicles into the transit network.

The successful candidate will work closely with contractors, system suppliers, and client stakeholders by monitoring progress, verifying compliance, and facilitating issue resolution, ensuring the system is delivered safely, efficiently, and in accordance with project requirements. This position offers a unique opportunity to contribute to a high‑profile, complex transportation project within a multidisciplinary consulting environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Design Review and Technical Oversight
  • Review and approve supplier design submittals, drawings, schematics, and specifications to ensure compliance with the contract, regulatory standards, and safety requirements (FRA/FTA/APTA/NFPA).
  • Participate in Design Review Meetings (PDR, CDR) and lead technical discussions regarding vehicle subsystems (car body and truck structure, crash energy management, power collection/distribution/protection, vehicle controls, traction, braking, suspension, door operators, HVAC, communications, vehicle fire hardening).
  • Evaluate electrical and mechanical designs for reliability, maintainability, and performance.
• Manufacturing and Quality Surveillance (Vendor Oversight)
  • Perform inspections and audit quality assurance (QA/QC) processes at the supplier’s manufacturing facility.
  • Conduct First Article Inspections (FAI) and Witness Point Inspections to verify component compliance before installation.
  • Issue and manage Non‑Conformance Reports (NCRs), tracking them to resolution.
• Testing and Commissioning Oversight
  • Witness, review, and approve factory and field testing procedures (FAT/SAT), including functional, performance, and safety tests.
  • Analyze test data to identify issues, ensuring the vehicles meet performance criteria before acceptance.
  • Coordinate with the supplier for troubleshooting and testing the integration of vehicle systems with signaling and depot infrastructure.
• Contract Management and Documentation
  • Monitor contractor progress, schedule, and quality of work, reporting on supplier performance and review of pay requests.
  • Assist in the review of change orders and technical modifications to contract specs.
  • Maintain accurate records, technical files, and correspondence regarding vehicle procurement assembly and safety certification documentation.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field.
• Minimum of 12 years of professional engineering experience in rail vehicle engineering, maintenance, or procurement.
• Deep understanding of rail vehicle design, including propulsion, braking, and electronic control systems.
• Experience in technical design review, troubleshooting, and quality assurance auditing.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and specialized engineering software.

Benefits

• Combination of office environment and field inspection at contractor manufacturing sites.
• Travel required (15–30%) for factory inspections.
• Potential exposure to hazards associated with manufacturing and transit maintenance facilities.

Lea+Elliott is an equal opportunity employer.