Director of Design Services

Zephyr U A S • Orange, CA

16d • $140,000 - $200,000 • Onsite

About The Position

Zephyr Rail is a nationally recognized rail and infrastructure consulting firm, delivering innovative engineering and design solutions for freight, commuter, and high-speed rail. We are committed to technical excellence, client success, and the professional growth of our staff. The Opportunity We are seeking a Director of Design Services to lead the daily operations of our design group. This role is pivotal to ensuring our engineering teams are well-managed, properly resourced, and consistently delivering high-quality plans and designs for rail and infrastructure projects. This position is on-site, located in Orange, CA - presence at our headquarters is essential to manage staff effectively, oversee plan production, and maintain collaboration across teams.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering or related field.
• 12+ years of experience in engineering design, including at least 4 years in management/supervisory roles.
• Direct experience in engineering plan production.
• Strong understanding of workload forecasting, resource planning, and project budgets.
• Excellent leadership, organizational, and communication skills.
• Must be able to work on-site, daily at our Headquarter located in Orange, CA.

Nice To Haves

• PE License in California (or ability to obtain).
• Rail, transit, or infrastructure design project experience.
• Experience managing medium to large design teams (20+ staff)

Responsibilities

• Lead and Manager Staff - Supervise and mentor engineers, designers, and support staff. Oversee assignments, workloads, and performance reviews.
• Project Delivery - Manage plan production, schedules, and deliverables. Ensure design projects meet quality, budget, and client requirements.
• Business Management - Monitor group financials, utilization, and manpower. Provide staffing and level-of-effort estimates for proposals and ongoing projects.
• Collaboration - Partner with the VP of Design Services for technical guidance and client engagement while focusing on daily operations, staffing, and business oversight.
• Quality and Innovation - Enforce QA/QC standards across design deliverables. Stay current with tools, technology, and best practices to drive efficiency.
• Client and Proposal Support - Provide input for proposals, staffing plans, and resource needs. Support interviews and client pursuits as needed.
• Strategic Contribution - Contribute to strategic planning for design group growth, resource development, and market competitiveness.

Benefits

• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance - 100% employer-paid for employees; 50% for dependents.
• Retirement - 401K with employer match
• Paid Vacation
• Paid Holidays
• Paid Sick Time

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director