RAIL & TRANSIT PRACTICE

Whether moving people or freight, future rail and transit solutions will be determined by energy prices, a shift toward urban living and growing environmental concerns. Michael Baker helps freight, authority and state Department of Transportation clients meet these modern challenges by providing services that address key industry issues such as state of good repair, capacity, safety, community livability, asset management and maintenance, planning and development for new projects, and the promotion of environmental stewardship and sustainability.

We provide value by first understanding our clients’ needs, then working with them as a partner to identify innovative and cost-effective solutions that optimize their opportunities for success.

DESCRIPTION 

Reporting to the Rail Operations Lead in a full-time REMOTE or HYBRID work environment, Michael Baker International is seeking a talented Technical Lead, Rail Bridge to help make a difference in our Rail and Transit Practice.  

Primary Responsibilities 

The Technical Lead, Rail Bridge is responsible for providing technical leadership for the rail bridge group working in conjunction with the Director of Rail Bridges and the Bridge Project and Operations Lead for Rail and will be an integral member of the National Bridge Practice. This role will contribute as a national resource and provide leadership for the continued growth of the Rail Bridge Practice. In this role, you will be expected to meet regularly with our Bridge Practice Leaders and Director of Rail Bridges to identify the needs of the Practice, implement the objectives, and discuss progress on various initiatives. You will work closely with the Director of Rail Bridges, Bridge Projects & Operations Lead, Bridge Technical Managers and Freight Rail Market Leaders to align the initiatives with the company’s priorities. 

We are a community built on our employee’s relationships, and in this role you should actively engage to build and foster personal relationships with the staff.  As part of this, you will remain in communications with the Rail Leadership and be the technical link between the local offices and the larger rail practice effectively becoming a trusted advisor for each office bridge group. Although not required to answer every technical question, they will strive to be able to point staff in the right direction for resolution help, in other words, this role will have intimate awareness of Bridge resources and maintain an expansive network throughout the company.

The primary focus of this role is driving technical excellence by: 

Managing and mentoring staff engineers, providing technical advice/guidance and training when needed Actively participating in technology advancement, identifying tech for strategic implementation Disseminating industry information internally and encouraging the promotion of the company through trade publications Lead the development of Design Standards and Best Practices within the Rail Bridge Practice Performing Pre-Final Design Reviews and QA/QC reviews Driving the implementation of the Rail QA/QC process Engaging with relevant industry committees Identifying staff and encouraging active participation in nationally recognized committees, and development of conference presentations Serving as technical resource for the bridge group throughout the company. Lead evaluation and implementation of innovative technical solutions for internal project teams and clients. Assist with emergency responses  Develop and maintain relationships with targeted universities and identify opportunities to partner for bridge focused research  Participate in hiring decisions Support proposal development Lead the Rail Bridge Technical User Group

Additional Responsibilities 

Additionally, this role is expected to have industry recognized expertise, participating on AREMA committee(s) and/or other national technical committees.   The preferred candidate will have demonstrated experience leading a team for complex project delivery and also have demonstrated adaptation to and integration of new technologies into the workplace.     This position will be expected to work hand-in-hand with project managers to make sure resolution of any deliberations / disagreements over technical issues is in the best interest of the company and our clients.   You will also be expected to be the primary point of contact for interpretation, and when necessary development of, AREMA provisions.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required Qualifications

4-year degree (Bachelor of Science) in Civil Engineering or Structural Engineering  PE License  Member of AREMA Committee 7, 8, 9, 10, or 15 in good standing Minimum 15 years of design and analysis experience for rail bridges Recognized leader in railroad bridge design

Preferred Qualifications

MS or PhD in Civil Engineering or Structural Engineering SE Licensure Application of advanced technologies such as bridge instrumentation testing Comprehensive understanding of finite element modeling for bridges (e.g. Midas, LARSA or CSI Bridge) Published peer reviewed papers and AREMA presentations  Extensive experience with Class I Railroads

COMPENSATION
The approximate compensation range for this position is $104,980- $163,949 per year. This compensation range is a good faith estimate for the position at the time of posting. Actual compensation is dependent upon factors such as education, qualifications, experience, skillset, and physical work location. 

BENEFITS 
We offer a comprehensive benefits package including: 

Medical, dental, vision insurance  401k Retirement Plan  Health Savings Account (HSA)  Flexible Spending Account (FSA)  Life, AD&D, short-term, and long-term disability  Professional and personal development  Generous paid time off  Commuter and wellness benefits