Transit and Rail Team Lead

VHB; Philadelphia (Philadelphia County); Hybrid; USD 140,000 - 195,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work environment

Total Rewards package

Job summary

VHB is seeking an Engineering Technical Lead to join our Transit & Rail practice in a hybrid role in Philadelphia, PA or Lansdale, PA. You will serve as the senior technical lead for engineering design projects and guide a team of engineers on complex transit programs.

You will mentor junior engineers, support project pursuits, and contribute to the growth of VHB’s transit and rail practice while delivering high-profile projects across interfaces and disciplines.

Qualifications

• B.S. in Civil Engineering, Railway Engineering, or related field (M.S. preferred).
• 11+ years of experience in engineering, construction, or transit and rail industry.
• PE license required.
• Experience delivering transit or rail capital programs, including new construction and rehabilitation.
• Familiarity with PMIS platforms such as e-Builder, SharePoint, or similar systems.
• Strong technical writing, communication, and stakeholder coordination.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership and design oversight for rail and transit projects.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams and manage interfaces between disciplines.
• Plan construction sequencing, WBS, phasing, and outage windows.
• Implement QA/QC programs, ITPs, and acceptance testing.
• Review submittals, RFIs, material approvals, nonconformance reports.
• Support project controls including schedule, cost, and risk management.
• Lead testing and commissioning, including track geometry and signal integration.
• Sign and seal engineering plans within licensure and represent the firm with stakeholders.
• Stay current with track design practices and technologies.

Skills

Technical leadership

Communication skills

Stakeholder coordination

Mentoring

Project pursuit support

Education

B.S. in Civil Engineering or Railway Engineering

Tools

e-Builder

SharePoint

Job description

ABOUT THE POSITION

Transit & Rail | Hybrid | Philadelphia, PA or Lansdale, PA

VHB is seeking an Engineering Technical Lead to join our Transit & Rail practice. In this role, you will serve as the senior technical lead for engineering design projects, guiding a team of engineers while delivering complex transit and rail programs. You will lead engineering design across a diverse portfolio of projects including MSA/GEC/TO contracts, major design-build pursuits, ADA improvement packages, and/or corridor infrastructure improvements. This role offers the opportunity to work on high-profile passenger transit and rail systems while helping expand VHB’s growing Transit & Rail presence.

Beyond technical leadership, this position plays a key role in mentoring junior engineers, supporting project pursuits, and helping to grow the future of VHB’s transit and rail practice. It’s an ideal opportunity for a senior engineer who enjoys balancing technical design leadership, team development, and strategic growth within a collaborative and people-focused environment.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership and design oversight for design, construction, rehabilitation, and capital improvement projects across rail and transit programs.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary engineering teams and manage critical interface points between disciplines (structures, bridges, civil, environmental, utilities, track, building systems, signals, communications, and traction power) to ensure seamless integration.
• Plan and coordinate construction sequencing, work breakdown structures (WBS), construction phasing, site access, and outage windows in partnership with transit and rail operations teams.
• Implement quality assurance and quality control programs, including inspection and test plans (ITPs), acceptance testing, and qualification oversight.
• Review and manage contractor submittals, RFIs, material approvals, nonconformance reports, and construction documentation.
• Support project controls and delivery, including schedule coordination, cost tracking, risk management, change management, and progress reporting.
• Provide technical direction to contractors, inspectors, and project teams, resolving field issues and supporting claims resolution as needed.
• Lead testing and commissioning activities, including track geometry acceptance, clearance checks, and integration with signal and train control systems.
• Maintain an active professional engineering license in the required state(s) of practice. Sign and seal engineering plans, specifications, reports, and related documents within their licensed discipline. Represent VHB in meetings with clients, contractors, regulatory agencies, and project stakeholders, presenting technical recommendations and project updates.
• Stay current with emerging track design practices, materials, and technologies to enhance project delivery and performance.

Minimum Qualifications

• B.S. in Civil Engineering, Railway Engineering, or related field (M.S. preferred).
• 11+ years of experience in engineering, construction, or transit and rail industry.
• Proven experience delivering transit or rail capital programs, including new construction and rehabilitation projects.
• Familiarity with construction submittals, RFIs, QA/QC programs, and project controls for rail infrastructure projects.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license required.
• Experience with PMIS platforms such as e-Builder, SharePoint, or similar systems.
• Strong technical writing, communication, and stakeholder coordination skills.
• Knowledge of industry standards including AREMA, FRA, FTA, and APTA guidelines.
• Experience working with Amtrak, SEPTA, DRPA, PATCO, NJ Transit, and/or NY MTA preferred.

The full-time annual base salary range for this position is $140,000 to $195,000 if located in Pennsylvania. The base salary offered will be determined based on job-related factors, including geographic location, internal equity, experience, credentials, skills, education, work schedule, and other factors permitted by law. The posted salary range reflects base pay only. Additional compensation and benefits available to eligible employees are outlined in our Total Rewards Program.

Annual base salary is one component of VHB’s Total Rewards package. In addition to base pay, eligible employees may receive annual incentive compensation bonuses, spot bonuses, and merit-based salary increases, providing opportunities to increase earnings beyond base pay. VHB also offers a differentiating work experience , including a comprehensive benefits package that includes eligibility to participate in the VHB 401(k) plan, medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance, wellness programs, tuition reimbursement, and recognition programs.

Details on VHB’s benefits package can be found here: Benefits Checklist

Building What’s Next, Together.

Our people make the difference. We foster a technology-empowered, people‑driven, future‑ready culture where agility, innovation, and collaboration shape how we work every day.

When You Join VHB, You’ll Find

• Meaningful work on complex projects with real community impact
• A collaborative, inclusive culture that values curiosity and shared success
• Support to grow your skills and lead through change
• Learning and development supported by evolving tools and technologies, including AI
• Best-in-class benefits and a flexible, hybrid work environment

We’re growing across the East Coast and are consistently recognized as a great place to work. Ready to shape what’s next? Learn more about what sets our employee experience apart and connect with us.

VHB is a proud Equal Opportunity Employer. Since our founding, we have intentionally fostered a culture of inclusion and belonging, supported by deep-rooted core values, one of which is diversity. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or other characteristics protected by law.