Track Design Engineer

Mott MacDonald; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation support

Full benefits

Performance bonuses

Job summary

Mott MacDonald in Austin, Texas is seeking a Track Design Engineer to support a major transit program and deliver rail track design across an urban corridor. You will work within a client-integrated environment, developing alignments, track forms, and interfaces with power, signaling, drainage, and utilities.

The role requires 5+ years in railway track design, a civil engineering degree (BSc/MSc), and a Texas PE or reciprocity plan.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in railway track design within transit or infrastructure projects.
• BSc / MSc in Civil Engineering or a related discipline.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license in Texas, or ability to obtain reciprocity within 6 months.
• Proven experience in track alignment and track design, including urban/light rail or heavy rail systems.
• Strong understanding of track geometry, track form selection, and rail systems integration.
• Experience working within multidisciplinary rail design environments, coordinating across civil, structures, and systems.
• Familiarity with relevant track design standards, codes, and best practices (e.g., AREMA, local/state standards).
• Experience supporting design delivery on complex infrastructure programs, ideally within urban environments.
• Experience working in client-facing or embedded delivery teams is preferred.
• Strong communication, coordination, and problem-solving skills.

Responsibilities

• Undertake and oversee horizontal and vertical alignment design, including geometry, clearances, and constructability considerations
• Develop track design packages, including plans, profiles, cross sections, and specifications
• Coordinate closely with civil, structural, systems, and stations teams, ensuring integrated and efficient design solutions
• Support the development of track form solutions (e.g., ballasted, direct fixation, embedded track) appropriate to urban and corridor conditions
• Ensure designs meet safety, operational, and maintenance requirements, including ride quality, durability, and resilience
• Support interface coordination with key systems, including traction power, signaling, drainage, and utilities
• Contribute to constructability reviews, phasing strategies, and staging plans within constrained urban environments
• Support design management activities, including scope, schedule, quality, and risk management
• Provide technical input into procurement, contractor engagement, and design reviews
• Support testing, commissioning, and handover activities as required
• Mentor junior engineers and contribute to the development of the track engineering capability within the team
• Lead the design and delivery of track alignment and track form solutions across the corridor, including at-grade and elevated sections

Skills

Communication

Coordination

Problem-solving

Teamwork

Education

BSc / MSc in Civil Engineering

Professional Engineer (PE) license in Texas

Tools

AREMA standards

Job description

Overview

At Mott MacDonald, we deliver impactful, career-defining work across engineering, management, and development services worldwide. We are a global, employee-owned consultancy driven by innovation, sustainability, and excellence across our core sectors. We are seeking a Track Design Engineer to join our team in Austin, Texas, supporting a major, high-profile transit program that will transform mobility and connectivity across the city. Based within the client's office, you will work in a fully integrated delivery environment on a complex rail corridor project.

We are looking for a technically strong and collaborative engineer with experience in rail track design. If you share our vision, we value potential and diverse perspectives and invite you to explore how we can support your growth and contribute to an exciting new chapter for Mott MacDonald in North America.

Key Responsibilities

• Undertake and oversee horizontal and vertical alignment design, including geometry, clearances, and constructability considerations
• Develop track design packages, including plans, profiles, cross sections, and specifications
• Coordinate closely with civil, structural, systems, and stations teams, ensuring integrated and efficient design solutions
• Support the development of track form solutions (e.g., ballasted, direct fixation, embedded track) appropriate to urban and corridor conditions
• Ensure designs meet safety, operational, and maintenance requirements, including ride quality, durability, and resilience
• Support interface coordination with key systems, including traction power, signaling, drainage, and utilities
• Contribute to constructability reviews, phasing strategies, and staging plans within constrained urban environments
• Support design management activities, including scope, schedule, quality, and risk management
• Provide technical input into procurement, contractor engagement, and design reviews
• Support testing, commissioning, and handover activities as required
• Mentor junior engineers and contribute to the development of the track engineering capability within the team
• Lead the design and delivery of track alignment and track form solutions across the corridor, including at-grade and elevated sections

Candidate Specification

We are looking for a technically strong and collaborative engineer with experience in rail track design

• 5+ years of experience in railway track design within transit or infrastructure projects
• BSc / MSc in Civil Engineering or a related discipline
• Professional Engineer (PE) license in Texas, or ability to obtain reciprocity within 6 months
• Proven experience in track alignment and track design, including urban/light rail or heavy rail systems
• Strong understanding of track geometry, track form selection, and rail systems integration
• Experience working within multidisciplinary rail design environments, coordinating across civil, structures, and systems
• Familiarity with relevant track design standards, codes, and best practices (e.g., AREMA, local/state standards)
• Experience supporting design delivery on complex infrastructure programs, ideally within urban environments
• Experience working in client-facing or embedded delivery teams is preferred
• Strong communication, coordination, and problem-solving skills

Additional Information

• Full-time Austin-based position
• Relocation support may be available for candidates looking to move to Austin
• Opportunity to contribute to a once-in-a-generation infrastructure program with long-term impact on how the city moves and grows

Benefits & Reward

At Mott MacDonald, our employees have a stake and a voice in our business, providing them with a direct connection to our success through our personal and group performance bonuses. We provide a comprehensive benefit package that includes 401k, medical, dental and vision insurance, short-term/long-term disability, paid holidays, PTO, parental leave, and company paid life insurance.

Individual pay is determined based on several factors such as work location, education, experience, and unique skills.

Collaboration and Equal Opportunity

Our hybrid approach centers on an in-office culture, with most of your time spent collaborating face-to-face and a minimum of three days per week in the office. We balance flexibility with connection, so you and your manager can choose how to meet client, team, and personal commitments.

Note: Equal opportunity is the law.

We seek to promote fair employment procedures and practices to ensure equal opportunities for all. We encourage individual expression in our workplace and are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels they have the opportunity to contribute.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, protected veteran status, creed, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, citizenship status or disability status.