Transit and Rail Team Lead

VHB•Philadelphia, PA

10d•$140,000 - $195,000•Hybrid

About The Position

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.

Requirements

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.

Nice To Haves

Experience working with Amtrak, SEPTA, DRPA, PATCO, NJ Transit, and/or NY MTA preferred

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 submittmits, 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.