About this role
Your success is a train ride away!
As we move America’s workforce toward the future, Amtrak connects businesses and communities across the country. We employ more than 20,000 diverse, energetic professionals in a variety of career fields throughout the United States. The safety of our passengers, our employees, the public and our operating environment is our priority, and the success of our railroad is due to our employees.
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Our values of ‘Do the Right Thing, Excel Together and Put Customers First’ are at the heart of what matters most to us, and our Core Capabilities, ‘Building Trust, Accountability, Effective Communication, Customer Focus, and Proactive Safety & Security’ are what every employee needs to know and do to be most impactful at Amtrak. By living the Amtrak values, focusing on our capabilities, and actively embracing and fostering diverse ideas, backgrounds, and perspectives, together we will honor our past and make Amtrak a company of the future.
Job Summary
The Program Manager - Testing & Commissioning, is responsible for leading Amtrak’s oversight of all testing, commissioning, acceptance, and operational readiness activities for the new Chicago Maintenance Facility, delivered by a third-party developer under a Public-Private Partnership (P3). Serving as Amtrak’s primary representative for facility startup and turnover, the Program Manager ensures that all systems, infrastructure, equipment, and operational capabilities are delivered in accordance with contractual requirements, safety standards, and performance objectives.
This position provides strategic leadership and coordination among the developer, contractors, consultants, and Amtrak stakeholders to plan and execute integrated testing, commissioning, and acceptance activities. The Program Manager is responsible for establishing acceptance criteria, monitoring compliance with P3 obligations, managing risks and deficiencies, overseeing documentation and training requirements, and assuring the facility is ready to support safe and reliable operations.
The role works closely with engineering, construction, operations, maintenance, and executive leadership teams to manage the transition from project delivery to operational service. The Program Manager evaluates facility readiness, facilitates milestone approvals, and safeguards Amtrak’s interests throughout the commissioning and turnover process to ensure the successful delivery and long-term performance of this critical maintenance asset.
Essential Functions
- Lead Amtrak’s testing, commissioning, acceptance, and operational readiness program for the Chicago Maintenance Facility, ensuring compliance with contractual, safety, operational, and performance requirements.
- Serve as Amtrak’s primary representative with the P3 developer, contractors, consultants, and internal stakeholders, coordinating all commissioning, turnover, and facility acceptance activities.
- Develop and manage testing, commissioning, and transition-to-operations plans; oversee integrated system testing; and monitor progress toward key project milestones and acceptance criteria.
- Direct the identification, tracking, and resolution of commissioning deficiencies, punch-list items, risks, and warranty-related issues to support successful facility startup and long-term operational performance.
- Lead cross-functional readiness efforts, including stakeholder coordination, training, documentation turnover, and executive reporting, to ensure a safe and seamless transition from construction completion to full facility operations.
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor’s Degree required or equivalent combination of training, education and relevant experience may be considered in lieu of a degree. Plus,
- 7 years of prior experience required
- 9+ years of relevant experience preferred
Preferred Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Project Management, Architecture, Transportation, or related field
- Demonstrated construction experience in a railroad environment
- Significant experience in construction management of multiple construction projects and / or programs in an active railroad environment.
- Current PMP certification
- Strong process improvement skills
- Familiarity with quality management systems
- Master’s degree in engineering, construction, or project management
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Demonstrated knowledge of testing, commissioning, acceptance, and operational readiness processes for large-scale transportation, rail, industrial, or infrastructure facilities.
- Strong program and project management skills, including planning, scheduling, risk management, stakeholder coordination, and oversight of complex, multi-party capital projects.
- Ability to interpret and apply engineering, construction, operational, contractual, and regulatory requirements, including those associated with Public-Private Partnership (P3) project delivery.
- Excellent leadership, communication, negotiation, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to influence decisions and build consensus among diverse stakeholders.
- Ability to manage facility turnover activities, evaluate operational readiness, resolve deficiencies and risks, and ensure the successful transition of new assets into safe and reliable service.
Work Environment
- Combination of office and field environment.
- Sit at computer to complete assignments, projects, and majority of tasks.
- Ability to work under pressure.
- Regular travel to the project site field office is required.
- Occasional travel, as needed.
The salary/hourly range is $113,200.00 – $146,664.00. Pay is based on several factors including but not limited to education, work experience, certifications, etc. Depending on an employee’s assigned worksite or location, Amtrak may consider a geo-pay differential to be applied to the employee’s base salary. Amtrak may offer additional incentive and pay programs to recognize and reward our employees, including a short-term incentive bonus based upon factors such as individual and company performance that is commensurate with the level of the position.
Health and Wellbeing
Financial and Retirement
Work and Family Life Support
Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance
401K with Employer Match
Generous Paid Time Off
Wellness Programs
Railroad Retirement Benefits
Paid Caregiving Days and Backup Care
Health Savings Account
Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness
Fertility and Family Building Benefits
No-cost Personal Health Advocate
Student Loan Assistance
Adoption and Surrogacy Assistance
Medical Plan Opt-out Credit
Tuition and Education Reimbursement
Paid Family Leave
Life Insurance
Rail Pass Privileges
Short- and Long-term Disability Insurance
Employee Assistance Program
No-cost Financial Advisor Sessions
Commuter and Flexible Spending Accounts
Learn more about our benefits offerings here.
Requisition ID: 167238
Work Arrangement: 06-Onsite 4/5 Days Click here for more information about work arrangements at Amtrak.
Relocation Offered: No
Travel Requirements: Up to 25%
You power our progress through your performance.
We want your work at Amtrak to be more than a job. We want your career at Amtrak to be a fulfilling experience where you find challenging work, rewarding opportunities, respect among colleagues, and attractive compensation. Amtrak maintains a culture that values high performance and recognizes individual employee contributions.
Amtrak is committed to a safe workplace free of drugs and alcohol. All Amtrak positions requires a pre-employment background check that includes prior employment verification, a criminal history check and a pre-employment drug screen.
Candidates who test positive for marijuana will be disqualified, regardless of any state or local statute, ordinance, regulation, or other law that legalizes or decriminalizes the use or possession of marijuana, whether for medical, recreational, or other use. Amtrak's pre-employment drug testing program is administered in accordance with DOT regulations and applicable law.
In accordance with DOT regulations (49 CFR § 40.25), Amtrak is required to obtain prior drug and alcohol testing records for applicants/employees intending to perform safety-sensitive duties for covered Department of Transportation positions. If an applicant/employee refuses to provide written consent for Amtrak to obtain these records, the individual will not be permitted to perform safety-sensitive functions.
In accordance with federal law governing security checks of covered individuals for providers of public transportation (Title 6 U.S.C. §1143), Amtrak is required to screen applicants for any permanent or interim disqualifying criminal offenses.
Note that any education requirement listed above may be deemed satisfied if you have an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.
Amtrak is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race/color, to include traits historically associated with race, including but not limited to, hair texture and hairstyles such as braids, locks and twists, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth and related conditions, such as lactation), national origin/ethnicity, disability (intellectual, mental and physical), veteran status, marital status, ancestry, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, genetic information, citizenship or any other personal characteristics protected by law.