Senior Project Manager – Locomotive & Rolling Stock

This Opportunity

WSP is seeking a Los Angeles, CA based Senior Project Manager to lead complex locomotive and passenger rail rolling stock programs—from procurement and design through manufacturing oversight, testing/commissioning, and final acceptance. This role operates in a highly regulated environment and partners with clients, OEMs, manufacturers, and regulators to deliver safe, compliant, revenue-ready vehicles.

Your Impact

• Lead large-scale locomotive and rolling stock projects (diesel, electric, hybrid, and alternative-fuel) delivering scope, schedule, budget, quality, safety, and regulatory outcomes.
• Manage the full project lifecycle—from concept development and technical specifications through design reviews, manufacturing oversight, testing/commissioning, acceptance, and closeout (including lessons learned).
• Own regulatory and contract compliance activities, including FRA (49 CFR Parts 229/238 and applicable waivers), safety certification, hazard analysis, and agency coordination.
• Direct multi-disciplinary teams (engineering, inspection, QA/QC, safety, testing, commissioning) with clear roles, accountability, and deliverable control.
• Develop and manage project controls: budgets/forecasts, margins, cash flow, KPIs, and risk registers; implement mitigation for technical and regulatory risks.
• Serve as primary client/stakeholder interface (agencies, OEMs, manufacturers, contractors, regulators); provide structured engagement, formal reporting, and resolution of scope/schedule/budget impacts.
• Support contract negotiations and formal review gates (PDR/FDR/FAI) and ensure readiness for production release and acceptance.
• Drive compliance with QA/QC plans, inspection plans, test plans, and configuration management requirements; ensure complete and current project documentation.
• Lead post-delivery support including warranty administration, engineering changes, field modifications, maintenance program development, and materials management.
• Mentor and develop staff; identify emerging risks or problem projects and support recovery planning and corrective actions.

Who You Are

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related technical discipline (or equivalent experience in an engineering/technical environment).
• 12+ years of progressive experience managing complex rail equipment, locomotive, or rolling stock programs.
• Demonstrated leadership of procurement/delivery programs including design oversight, manufacturing, QA/QC, testing, and commissioning.
• Strong working knowledge of FRA requirements, safety certification, and compliance processes for passenger rail equipment.
• Advanced skills in project controls, risk management, stakeholder communication, and technical writing.
• Ability to lead teams and influence stakeholders without direct authority; strong commitment to workplace safety and ethics.
• Flexibility to adapt to changing priorities; willingness to travel as project needs require.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Construction Management, or related discipline.
• Experience with multi-state or multi-agency locomotive procurements (e.g., PRIIA/NGEC).
• Experience with alternative-fuel or next-generation locomotives (Tier 4, hydrogen, battery, hybrid).
• Hands-on manufacturing/assembly/machining background.
• P.E., PMP or equivalent Professional Engineering or project management license/certification.

WSP provides a comprehensive suite of benefits focused on providing health and financial stability throughout the employee’s career. These benefits include coverage related to medical, dental, vision, disability, and life; retirement savings; paid sick leave; paid vacation (or other personal time); paid parental leave; and paid time off for purposes of bereavement, voting, and/or attendance at naturalization proceedings.

Compensation:
Expected Salary (all locations): $140,000 - $285,500

WSP USA is providing the compensation range that the company in good faith believes it might pay and offer for this position, based on the successful applicant’s education, experience, knowledge, skills, abilities in addition to internal equity and specific geographic location. WSP USA reserves the right to ultimately pay more or less than the posted range and offer additional benefits and other compensation, depending on circumstances not related to an applicant’s sex or other status protected by local, state, and/or federal law.

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WSP USA is the U.S. operating company of WSP, one of the world's leading engineering and professional services firms. Dedicated to serving local communities, we are engineer