Freight Rail Engineering Project Manager - Railroad

Company: Succession Planning for Railroads Investing in the
Location: Kansas City
Posted on: April 2, 2026

Job Description:

We are seeking a Freight Rail Engineering Project Manager to join our rapidly growing Transportation Practice. Our ideal candidate will be someone with excellent client interaction skills who can manage and lead planning and design teams for engineering projects both locally and across the nation. In this position, you will be a key part of a seller/doer team and you will manage all aspects of railroad/transit engineering projects from business development, scope and fee development, staffing plan development, project oversight, quality management, and financial performance responsibilities. A major emphasis will be placed on leading rail industrial development projects to successful completion. Responsibilities Adhere to the companies safety programs, training, and policies, as well as promote and manage the Safety & Health performance of project team members and subcontractors. Work with a multi-discipline team of engineers and technicians in the design and analysis of rail engineering projects as well as the contractors and construction staff on design/build projects. Provides leadership and guidance in multiple facets of projects including safety, quality, engineering, procurement, construction, environmental compliance, project controls, and public/community relations. Develop new and manage existing client relationships while interfacing with the client for proposal and project-related items. Lead internal and external project risk reviews and consult with the Legal Department as required. Client development, maintenance, and management; contract preparation and negotiation; coordination with regulatory agencies; project planning, budgeting, and scheduling; and the establishment of critical project objectives and performances. Plans, organizes, and communicates project personnel needs to department and section management. Mentors less experienced staff on technical aspects of a project. Serves as a leader improving the latest technologies in rail engineering and transportation planning. Leading project planning, budgeting and establishing critical project objectives. Analyze and communicate project status, risks, schedule and costs to all internal and external stakeholders. Manage downstream contract administration including request for information (RFI’s), submittals, change management, contract closeout, and claims mitigation. Other duties as assigned. Qualifications Bachelor's degree in engineering or related field from an accredited curriculum. Minimum 7 years related experience (15 preferred), including 5 or more years in the development of or management of rail engineering or architectural projects. Licensed Professional Engineer (PE) strongly preferred. Experience managing rail industrial development design-build projects preferred. Ability to work with existing and new clients to identify new projects, articulate to the clients our ability to perform those projects, and translate that into the sale of consulting services. Ability to lead multi-discipline teams of engineers. Strong communication skills (both verbal and written) and presentation skills. Ability to perform under pressure and tight deadlines while managing multiple projects concurrently, including identification of critical path items to ensure deliverable deadlines are met. Ability to focus on the big picture to effectively and efficiently provide services that meet client needs, while also having the ability to identify and analyze details that are critical to project outcomes. Willingness to learn new service offerings as client needs and the market requires changes to the service offerings provided by our group. Willingness and ability to develop a broad set of service offering types to allow for flexibility to sell work in growing markets. Willingness to cross-sell other services offered by our company outside the project manager’s core set of services. Ability to communicate with various business contacts to understand their needs and translate them into a scope of work that meets their desired outcomes. Knowledge of rail engineering methodologies and standards. Knowledge of engineering software including MicroStation, OpenRail, Geopak, Inroads, or equivalent design/production software. Experience working with rail clients. Benefits Our extensive benefits package takes care of you so that you can focus on doing great work. From insurance and disability to time off and wellness programs, we provide the tools to meet your needs. As part of being 100% employee-owned, eligible employees participate in our Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) in addition to our 401(k) retirement program. $100,000 - $280,000 a year $100, 000.00-280 , 000.00 Yearly The expected compensation range for this position is displayed in compliance with all local/state regulations. The expected compensation range for this position is based on a number of factors, including but not limited to: individual education, qualifications, prior work experience and work location. The total annual compensation package will consist of a base salary and eligibility to participate in our discretionary year-end incentive bonus program. EEO/Disabled/Veterans We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. 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Keywords: Succession Planning for Railroads Investing in the, Kansas City , Freight Rail Engineering Project Manager - Railroad, Engineering , Kansas City, Kansas