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.
Are you ready to join our team?
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 Senior Principal Engineer (Electrical) will function as an engineering design expert for Amtrak’s Major Stations, which include Philadelphia, New York, Washington, Chicago, Baltimore and stations across the national network. The incumbent shall have a thorough and demonstrated knowledge of Rail Station electrical systems design and construction.
This position requires the ability to work independently to oversee design projects and design consultants from inception through completion, collaborate with stakeholders and project partners, build consensus, and ensure design compliance with industry and Amtrak standards and best practices.
The incumbent will work out of the central Systems Office and collaborate with Major Stations project teams to oversee consultant designs and/or execute portions of in-house design work.
Essential Functions
- Oversee and provide direction for all technical matters as design progresses from concept through delivery on multiple projects in parallel.
- Ensure project compliance with Amtrak standards and guidelines and all applicable federal/state/regional regulatory agency requirements. Ensure alignment with project scope and limitations.
- Work with project delivery teams to oversee design consultants and contractors.
- Engage with internal and external stakeholders (including customer service, operations, planning, real estate, engineering, transportation, local and state agencies, FRA, FTA and other partners as required) to determine project needs and priorities – while understanding budget and schedule restraints.
- Review, analyze and report on all project documents, including proposals, reports, schedules, estimates, value engineering proposals, etc.
- Support construction administration activities. Review field installation, RFIs and shop drawings. Assist in punch lists and project closeout activities.
- From time to time, analyze issues, perform research and develop white papers/reports to communicate design strategies, address project issues, issue directives to consultants, project teams, or stakeholders, etc.
- Develop station and facility design standards via collaboration with other Amtrak stakeholders.
- Provide mentorship and delegate experience-appropriate tasks to direct and indirect reports
- Prioritize safety and security, sustainability, resiliency and customer experience.
- Identify, document, and implement Amtrak’s requirements into projects. Mitigate disagreement through research, partnering and consensus
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor’s Degree required OR equivalent combination of training, education and relevant experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.
- Plus 9 years of relevant work experience.
Preferred Qualifications
- Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering.
- 11+ years relevant experience preferred.
- Professional experience in electrical engineering, including at least 10 years in the transportation industry and/or complex building environment.
- Demonstrated experience/familiarity with building systems beyond Electrical, including mechanical, plumbing and fire life safety systems
- Project Management Institute (PMI), Project Management Professional (PMP).
- Understanding of railroad business functions, operations, and design and construction processes.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Thorough knowledge of building design procedures, building M/E/P systems, building materials and systems, construction procedures and detailing. Proficiency with the design and delivery process from inception through closeout.
- Demonstrated expertise in delivering solutions which integrate the most up-to-date codes and standards into major transportation hubs.
- Working knowledge of rail infrastructure.
- Demonstrated experience with complex building design and construction.
- Working knowledge of specialties impacting design, such as SHPO, NEPA, TVRA, sustainability and resiliency standards, etc.
- Candidates shall have experience in all phases of multiple discipline projects and various contracting strategies including DBB, DB, PDB and CMAR.
- The incumbent shall be capable of building rapport through the utilization of graphic, verbal, written, and other forms of communication.
- Experience with Microsoft Office suite, Primavera or Microsoft Project as well as the ability to be trained and become familiar with Amtrak’s requirements, systems, and software
Environmental Conditions/Physical Demands
- 80% office, 20% field
- Occasional travel to various major stations
The salary/hourly range is $149,400.00 – $193,644.00. 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: 167554
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.