Track Engineering Design Lead

This Opportunity

WSP is looking for a Track Engineering Design Lead to join our team in Seattle, WA. 

This position blends hands-on track design leadership with strategic oversight of the transit and rail engineering discipline, ensuring that all technical deliverables, system integrations, and infrastructure projects meet or exceed industry, regulatory, and company standards. The Track Engineering Design Lead guides project delivery from planning and design through construction support, testing, commissioning, and long‑term maintenance, while also serving as a subject‑matter expert (SME) for transit and rail engineering across the organization. In addition to track design, this role will include serving as owner’s representative to provide design review and oversight of designs performed by others.

The role requires deep expertise in track design, multidisciplinary systems coordination (signals, communications, traction power), regulatory compliance, and field inspection. It also plays a critical role in business development, client engagement, and the long‑term growth of the transit and rail engineering practice. 

Your Impact

Track Design Leadership & Technical Delivery

• Lead all phases of track design and installation for transit and railroad projects, ensuring alignment with design intent, contract requirements, and operational standards.
• Provide technical direction for track geometry, alignment, special trackwork, systems integration, and constructability.
• Coordinate and supervise multidisciplinary engineering teams to ensure seamless integration of track, signal, communications, and traction power systems.
• Provide technical design support for field activities, ensuring work is executed safely, on schedule, within budget, and in accordance with agency requirements.
• Lead development of solutions for unforeseen field conditions and coordinate design revisions or contract modifications as necessary.
• Support PMC teams in reviewing contractor deliverables, cost estimates, change orders, claims, and progress payments.
• Prepare detailed reports, presentations, and documentation for internal and client review.

Transit & Rail Engineering Discipline Leadership

• Provide proactive, strategic leadership for the transit and rail engineering discipline, ensuring technical excellence and regulatory compliance across all projects.
• Perform engineering review of permit applications, design plans, specifications, standby plans, contracts, and construction inspections to ensure compliance with FRA, FTA, CPUC, AREMA, and other applicable standards.
• Lead large, complex transit and rail engineering projects, overseeing budgets, schedules, subcontractors, and performance metrics.
• Ensure discipline certifications, accreditations, and technical capabilities are continuously developed and maintained.
• Conduct needs analyses and client value assessments to align engineering functions with business strategy and identify skill gaps or operational risks.
• Schedule and lead discipline meetings, promoting innovation, technical excellence, and knowledge sharing.
• Provide strategic oversight of design development and implementation, as well as support to teams delivering major programs

Project Delivery & Program Management

• Guide engineering efforts from planning and design through construction support and maintenance.
• Monitor external events, risk contingencies, hours, expenses, and contractual obligations to ensure successful project execution.
• Lead technical aspects of contract negotiations, presentations, and client meetings.
• Develop project scopes, timelines, pricing, and budgetary metrics in compliance with all applicable codes and regulations.
• Interpret and summarize engineering data, reports, and regulatory documents to support sound technical conclusions.
• Provide high‑level strategic advice to clients and multidisciplinary project teams.

Client Engagement & Business Development

• Establish and maintain strong client relationships with transit agencies, railroads, and regulatory bodies.
• Actively market the organization’s transit and rail engineering capabilities and support pursuit strategies for major infrastructure opportunities.
• Develop new business opportunities and cross‑sell additional services across planning, design, strategic consulting, and program/construction management.
• Meet with public and private entities to discuss engineering challenges, program needs, and project strategies.

Leadership, Mentorship & Organizational Growth

• Mentor and guide engineering staff, pr