Senior Rail Engineer

HDR, Inc.; Charlotte (NC); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

HDR, Inc. is seeking a Senior Rail Engineer to join our Transportation Business Group in Charlotte or Raleigh. Responsibilities include managing client relations, leading engineering design projects, and coordinating project plans. Ideal candidates will have at least 10 years of railway engineering experience and a professional engineering license.

Preferred qualifications include experience with AREMA's guidelines and project management skills. Our company values employee ownership and offers opportunities for professional growth.

Qualifications

• 10 years experience in railway engineering managing complex multidisciplinary projects.
• Professional engineering license required (PE or P.Eng).
• Proficient with software tools like MicroStation and AutoCAD.

Responsibilities

• Manage client and design team for rail projects.
• Coordinate project planning and budgeting.
• Lead technical reviews and supervise staff.

Skills

Railway engineering experience

Project management

Technical writing

Leadership

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

MicroStation

AutoCAD

Civil3D

OpenRail Designer

OpenRoads Designer

Job description

HDR is looking for a Senior Rail Engineer to join our Transportation Business Group in either our Charlotte or Raleigh office. In the role of Senior Rail Engineer, we'll count on you to:

• Take responsibility for all aspects of client and design-team management of commuter, shortline, freight, transit and class-one rail projects.
• Serve as Discipline or Task Lead for railroad or civil engineering design projects, and support other office, the Freight Rail Market Sector, and other market sectors as needed.
• Manage scope, budget, and schedule.
• Coordinate planning and environmental processes, manage the assembly of plans, specifications, construction estimate packages.
• Serve as a technical expert with recognized authority in an area of specialization that resolves problems of greater scope and complexity while planning and developing projects or designing activities that have significant impact on major company programs.
• Work across industries with rail, industrial, terminal, utility, agency, DOT, port, transit, and other industry clients.
• Provide leadership across technical disciplines.
• Lead and/or perform detailed QC reviews of projects.
• Be able to plan, organize and supervise work of medium to large staff of professionals and technicians.
• Mentor younger staff and support technical development.
• Supervise junior staff performance of engineering tasks.
• Serve as Project Manager on larger projects as needed; project management is not sole focus of position.
• Support Project Managers by leading or participating in marketing and contracting activities.
• Support Project Managers by leading or participating in client and stakeholder visits, site visits, field assessments, and construction inspections as needed.
• Attend industry events and represent HDR as needed.
• Serve as a high-level point of contact between the client and HDR.
• Perform other duties as needed.

Preferred Qualifications

• Ability to become licensed as a P.E. in additional jurisdictions through the NCEES or similar.
• Experience working with AREMA's Manual for Railway Engineering (MRE) and other railroad design guidelines, specifications, and design criteria.
• Proven, hands‑on experience in all aspects of rail and/or civil design projects.
• Demonstrated ability to lead projects through design and production through coordination with other disciplines and production staff.
• Project Management experience managing projects for rail, industrial or transit clients.
• Demonstrated client development or client management experience, local candidates are preferred.
• Construction inspection or construction management experience is a plus.
• Experience in technical writing, communicating, and presenting to clients and the public is desirable.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree.
• 10 years experience in railway engineering and managing complex multidisciplinary railway projects.
• Requires professional engineering license recognized by the licensing board for the location of the position offered. Example: Professional Engineer (PE or P.Eng) license.
• Proficient with MicroStation, OpenRail Designer/OpenRoads Designer, and/or AutoCAD and Civil3D.
• Skilled in technical writing, communicating and presenting to clients and the public.
• Demonstrated ability to lead a team on railway projects.
• Computer literate with MS Office (Word, Excel, Project).
• An attitude and commitment to being an active participant of our employee‑owned culture is a must.