Rail Lead - Los Angeles

Arcadis; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 300,000 - 380,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance

401K

Paid Parental Leave

20 days PTO

Tuition Reimbursement

Job summary

Arcadis is seeking a Rail Lead in Los Angeles, California. This role requires overseeing rail systems for large-scale transit projects, ensuring compliance with regulations, and leading multidisciplinary teams. Candidates need a Bachelor’s in Civil Engineering and an active California PE license with 25 years in engineering. The role offers competitive compensation ($300,000 - $380,000) and comprehensive benefits including medical, dental, vision coverage, and 20 days of PTO.

Qualifications

• Minimum 25 years of progressive experience in construction and engineering, emphasizing rail projects.
• Demonstrated experience on large-scale urban transit projects, preferably in California.

Responsibilities

• Lead design coordination and construction oversight of rail-related systems.
• Provide technical leadership from pre-construction through commissioning.
• Coordinate with teams to ensure seamless integration of rail infrastructure.
• Review design documents for compliance with specifications.
• Oversee construction activities ensuring safety and quality standards are met.
• Identify and mitigate risks related to rail systems installation.

Skills

Track design standards

Construction methods

Stakeholder management

Project delivery methods

Leadership

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Civil or Transportation Engineering

Active California Professional Engineer (PE) License

Job description

Overview

Arcadis is the world's leading company delivering sustainable design, engineering, and consultancy solutions for natural and built assets. We are more than 34,000 people, in over 30 countries, dedicated to improving quality of life. Everyone has an important role to play. With the power of many curious minds, together we can solve the world’s most complex challenges and deliver more impact together.

Role Description

Arcadis seeks a Rail Lead to join our team in California. In this role you will serve as a senior technical and managerial leader responsible for overseeing all rail systems and track-related components for large rail programs in Southern California. This role requires deep expertise in transit construction, strong leadership capabilities, and the ability to coordinate across multidisciplinary teams to ensure safe, compliant, and high-quality project delivery.

Role Accountabilities

• Lead the planning, design coordination, and construction oversight of all rail-related systems, including trackwork, special trackwork, and interfaces with systems (signals, traction power, communications).
• Provide technical leadership and guidance throughout all project phases, from pre-construction through commissioning and revenue service.
• Coordinate closely with civil, structural, systems, and operations teams to ensure seamless integration of rail infrastructure.
• Review and approve design documents, shop drawings, and construction submittals for compliance with project specifications and industry standards.
• Oversee construction activities in the field, ensuring adherence to safety protocols, quality standards, and project schedules.
• Identify and mitigate risks related to rail systems installation and integration.
• Interface with stakeholders, contractors, consultants, and regulatory agencies.
• Support procurement, contract management, and change order evaluations related to rail scope.
• Mentor junior engineers and support staff, fostering technical excellence and knowledge sharing.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local regulations, including California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) requirements.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, Transportation Engineering, or a related field (Master’s degree preferred).
• Active California Professional Engineer (PE) License required.
• Minimum 25 years of progressive experience in construction and engineering, with a strong emphasis on rail and transit projects.
• Demonstrated experience on large-scale urban transit projects, preferably within California or similar regulatory environments.

Key Skills and Abilities

• Extensive knowledge of track design standards, construction methods, and rail system interfaces.
• Proven leadership experience managing multidisciplinary teams on complex infrastructure projects.
• Strong understanding of project delivery methods (Design-Bid-Build, Design-Build, CM/GC).
• Excellent communication, coordination, and stakeholder management skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior experience working on U.S. transit agency projects.
• Familiarity with AREMA standards, CPUC regulations, and FRA guidelines.
• Experience with underground, at-grade, and elevated rail systems.
• Background in systems integration and testing/commissioning.

Why Arcadis?

We can only achieve our goals when everyone is empowered to be their best. We believe everyone's contribution matters. It’s why we are pioneering a skills-based approach, where you can harness your unique experience and expertise to carve your career path and maximize the impact we can make together.

You’ll do meaningful work, and no matter what role, you’ll be helping to deliver sustainable solutions for a more prosperous planet. Make your mark, on your career, your colleagues, your clients, your life and the world around you.

Together, we can create a lasting legacy.

Our Commitment to Equality, Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging

We want you to be able to bring your best self to work every day. Our ambition is to be an employer of choice and provide a great place to work for all our people. We are an equal opportunity employer. We are dedicated to a policy of non-discrimination in employment on any basis including race, creed, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, citizenship status, disability, veteran status, or any other basis prohibited by law.

Benefits and Compensation

Arcadis offers benefits for full time and part time positions. These benefits include medical, dental, and vision, EAP, 401K, STD, LTD, AD&D, life insurance, paid parental leave, reward & recognition program and optional benefits including wellbeing benefits, adoption assistance and tuition reimbursement. We offer nine paid holidays and 20 days PTO that accrue per year. The salary range for this position is $300,000 - $380,000. Actual salaries will vary and are based on several factors, such as experience, education, budget, internal equity, project and location.

Join Arcadis. Create a Legacy.

Join Arcadis. Create a Legacy.