Technical Manager – Rail Transit

Michael Baker International

Technical Manager overseeing rail transportation projects at Michael Baker International. Driving technical excellence and managing various aspects of rail and transit practice in a hybrid work environment.

Posted 5/11/2026full-timeIllinois, Kansas, Montana, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas • 🇺🇸 United StatesSeniorLead💰 $125,000 - $190,000 per yearWebsite

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Driving technical excellence by actively participating in technology advancement, identifying technology for strategic implementation.
Disseminating industry information internally to advance staff knowledge.
Encouraging the promotion of the company through trade publications, awards, and conference presentations.
Assisting in the development of Design Standards and Best Practices with rail track leaders.
Performing Design Reviews and QA/QC reviews.
Engaging with relevant industry committees.
Leading evaluation and implementation of innovative technical solutions for internal project teams and clients.
Designing, directing and/or managing rail-related components of passenger rail, freight rail and commuter rail projects.
Developing and overseeing the design of track alignments, including special track work such as turnouts, crossovers and diamond crossings.
Preparing or reviewing geometric details of track alignments including horizontal and vertical curve data.
Preparing or directing detailed engineering plans using the various Bentley software products (Microstation and OpenRail).
Playing an integral part in the development and review of plans, specifications and cost estimates for Rail Design projects.
Assisting with large multi-disciplinary design teams and leading younger staff on a variety of project tasks.
Engineering investigations including feasibility and type studies with cost and risk analysis.
Performing railroad track inspections and other site inspections during construction and maintenance projects to determine if they are within tolerance levels established by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), AREMA, and other applicable regulations.
Coordinating with multiple disciplines for conformance to design criteria, standards and code requirements.
Mentoring and advising staff regarding various FRA, AREMA, Class I Railroad and Passenger/Commuter Railroad requirements and preferences.
Developing webinars to share internally and externally to drive technical excellence.

Requirements

What you’ll need

Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering is required. Master’s degree is a plus.
PE license is required. NCEES record is a plus.
15+ years of demonstrated experience on various types of rail projects, to include design and plan development of rail projects is required.
Previously demonstrated project experience with Class I Railroad design and Commuter/Transit Agencies preferred.
Candidate must have thorough knowledge of and practical experience applying AREMA.
Must possess excellent client management skills and be able to enhance and develop solid client relationships.
Proven experience in working on multiple projects concurrently, managing project deadlines and on-time submittals.
Strong work ethic and ability to work independently as well as within a multidisciplinary team.
Excellent verbal, interpersonal skills and problem-solving ability.
Ability to assist in developing strategic approaches and concepts.
Availability to occasionally travel to other local offices, job site locations, and business development locations.

Benefits

Comp & perks

Health insurance
Retirement plans
Paid time off
Flexible work arrangements
Professional development programs

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills & Tools

rail designtrack alignment designgeometric designengineering investigationsQA/QC reviewscost analysisrisk analysisproject managementdesign standards developmentFRA compliance

Soft Skills

client managementinterpersonal skillsproblem-solvingteam leadershipcommunicationstrategic thinkingmentoringindependent workcollaborationtime management

Certifications

Bachelor of Science in Civil EngineeringPE licenseNCEES record