Rail Bridge Project Manager

HDR; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 112,529 - 160,755; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits package

Employee ownership

Paid time away

Retirement savings plan with employer match

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

A leading engineering firm is seeking a Rail Bridge Project Manager in Chicago, IL. The role involves managing projects and teams for rail infrastructure, ensuring timely completion while maintaining budget and quality. Ideal candidates will have a strong engineering background, proven project management experience, and a commitment to sustainability. This position offers competitive compensation and opportunities for professional growth.

Qualifications

• 7 years of related experience required.
• A minimum of 2 years project management experience.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license needed.

Responsibilities

• Lead projects with various clients including railroads and transit agencies.
• Coordinate work of multi-discipline teams throughout project lifecycle.
• Maintain client relations and oversee project financials.

Skills

Project Management

Communication

Leadership

Structural Engineering

Technical Writing

Client Relations

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Master of Science in Civil Engineering or Structural Engineering

Tools

MS Office

MS Project

MicroStation

AutoCAD

Engineering software packages

Job description

At HDR, our employee-owners are fully engaged in creating a welcoming environment where each of us is valued and respected, a place where everyone is empowered to bring their authentic selves and novel ideas to work every day. As we work to weave diversity, equity, and inclusion into our work and foster a sense of belonging throughout the company and within our communities, we constantly ask ourselves: What is our impact on the world?

Watch Our Story: https://www.hdrinc.com/our-story

Each and every role throughout our organization makes a difference in our ability to change the world for the better. Read further to learn how you could help make great things possible not only in your community, but around the world.

We believe transportation is more than movement, it’s the foundation of connected, thriving communities. As part of HDR’s Transportation Business Group, you’ll help shape the systems that move people and goods safely, efficiently, and sustainably. From designing resilient highways and iconic bridges to advancing transit, passenger and freight rail, aviation, federal transportation ports and marine infrastructure, your work will directly support economic vitality, public safety, sustainable and resilient communities and quality of life. We bring together planners, engineers, architects, construction management staff, environmental, strategic communications, economists, management consultants and specialists across disciplines to solve complex mobility challenges with innovation, technical excellence, and a deep understanding of community needs. Whether you're modernizing aging infrastructure or pioneering next-generation transportation solutions, your contributions will help define the future of mobility. This isn’t just a job, it’s a chance to lead progress, drive meaningful impact, and leave a legacy of smarter, more connected transportation networks. We are all employee-owners at HDR, which is the foundation of our collaborative culture that connects employees around the world.

Our team is looking for a success-oriented Rail Bridge Project Manager that will be a key player in HDR’s freight rail and transit program.

The rail network is a vital link in our national and global supply chain markets. Your work at HDR results in critical infrastructure for the sustainable movement of goods and people. Whether it is a traditional railroad structure across a major river, or an engineering marvel that redefines freight mobility at historic bottlenecks, you will have created something that matters.

HDR Rail Bridge Project Managers thrive in entrepreneurial environments where team members are encouraged to shape their work roles to their strengths and interests. Our proven workshare approach provides opportunities to work across our transportation program and participate with clients and projects around the globe. Our culture of innovation and collaboration places strong emphasis on team-spirit, diversity thoughtfulness, growth and learning, discipline expertise, and personal accountability offering you a rewarding career in our dynamic, high-performance environment. If that sounds good to you, please apply!

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the internal lead and primary client point of contact for a variety of bridge projects with Class I railroads, short line railroads, industries, utilities, ports, transit agencies, highway agencies, and other industry clients
• Direct and coordinate work of single or multidiscipline teams throughout the project’s lifecycle (from development and initiation to close-out)
• Responsible for all aspects of complex small to medium projects or routine large projects
• Produce and coordinate several small to medium projects concurrently
• Establish and maintain client relations, and be involved with marketing, contractual, design and production meetings
• Conduct work sessions for deliverable development in conjunction with other staff and stakeholders
• Coordinate staffing and workload through entire project life cycle, and ensure completion of deliverables on schedule
• Track financial aspects of projects, and coordinate and adjust work effort with team to ensure that work is completed within parameters of agreed-to budget and schedule
• Plan, organize, and coordinate with technical, clerical, and subconsultant professionals on multi-disciplinary teams to manage and coordinate workloads throughout entire project
• Work with the Accounting, Operational and Business leadership for periodic project reviews
• Implement QA/QC procedures
• Participate in client and stakeholder visits, site visits, field assessments, and construction inspection as needed
• Attend industry events and represent HDR, as needed
• Mentor younger staff and support continued professional development
• Apply structural engineering and detailing techniques to support the development of bid plans for railroad bridges, retaining walls, box culverts and associated railroad structures
• Utilize AREMA bridge engineering design procedures, performing structural calculations, develop structural details, and use specialized software as needed
• Assign, supervise, and review work and/or check design calculations, plans, estimates and specifications produced by junior engineers and Bridge EITs
• Perform other duties as needed

Preferred Qualifications

• Master of Science in Civil Engineering or Structural Engineering
• Structural Engineering (SE) license, or plan to obtain SE
• Experience in technical writing, communicating, and presenting to clients and the public
• Experience with rail, industrial, or transit clients is strongly preferred
• Construction inspection or construction management experience is a plus
• Railroad bridge inspection experience
• Experience with freight rail or transit rail design is strongly preferred
• Familiarity with engineering software packages such as: LARSA, LEAP Bridge Enterprise, FB-MultiPier, LPile, SAP2000, CSiBridge, ADINA, spColumn, and/or LUSAS
• Experience using MicroStation or AutoCAD

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering
• 7 years related experience
• A minimum 2 years project management experience
• Professional Engineer (PE) license
• MS Office and MS Project experience is required (Access experience would be plus)
• Demonstrated leadership skills
• An attitude and commitment to being an active participant of our employee-owned culture is a must

What We Believe

HDR is our company. Together, we build on each other's life experiences and perspectives to make great things possible every day. This shapes our collaborative culture, encourages organizational trust and connects us closer to the clients and communities we serve.

Our Commitment

As employee owners, we all have a role in creating an inclusive environment where each of us is welcomed, valued, respected and empowered to bring our authentic selves to work every day.

Our eight Employee Network Groups (Asian Pacific, Black, Hispanic/Latino(a), LGBTQ+, People with Disabilities, Veterans, Women, Young Professionals) help create a sense of belonging and foster a supportive environment where everyone is empowered to engage and contribute. Each group has an executive sponsor and is open to all employees.

We provide a comprehensive benefits package that promotes employee ownership, employee health, performance, and success, which includes medical, dental, vision, short and long-term disability, life insurance, an employee assistance program, paid time away, parental leave, paid holidays, a retirement savings plan with employer match, employee referral bonus and tuition reimbursement. The expected compensation range for this position depends upon skills, experience, education and geographical location. (Stated benefits are for full-time regular positions. Temporary and part-time roles eligible for limited benefits.) Illinois: $112,529 - $160,755

Primary Location

United States-Illinois-Rosemont

Other Locations

United States-Illinois-Chicago

Industry

Bridges

Schedule

Full-time

Employee Status

Regular

Business Class

Railway Design

Job Posting

Dec 1, 2025

At HDR, we are committed to the principles of employment equity. We are an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. We consider all qualified applicants, regardless of criminal histories, arrest and conviction records. https://www.hdrinc.com/equal-employment-opportunity-employer