Engineer Civil Design - 90416171 - Philadelphia

Job Summary

The Civil Design Engineer provides drainage and geotechnical engineering expertise in support of Amtrak's railroad infrastructure and is responsible for evaluating, planning, designing, and delivering drainage, stormwater, slope stabilization, and geotechnical improvements for capital, maintenance, and special projects.

The position combines engineering design, field investigations, and construction support, including the development of engineering calculations, technical reports, specifications, and construction documents; assessment of infrastructure conditions; and identification of practical, cost-effective solutions to improve asset reliability and performance.

Working collaboratively with Engineering, Maintenance, and Production personnel, the Civil Design Engineer builds strong field relationships to understand recurring maintenance challenges, investigate root causes of infrastructure issues, and develop solutions that balance operational, maintenance, and engineering needs. The position coordinates multidisciplinary projects with Track, Structures, Electric Traction, and Signals & Communications stakeholders, reviews consultant and third-party designs affecting Amtrak right-of-way, and serves as a technical resource for drainage, erosion, slope stability, and geotechnical matters throughout the project lifecycle.

Essential Functions

• Prioritize workload effectively while managing multiple concurrent projects, responding promptly to operational needs, and working independently with minimal supervision.
• Conduct field inspections and condition assessments to investigate drainage and geotechnical issues, including flooding, ponding, blocked drainage systems, pipe failures, slope instability, and erosion concerns.
• Evaluate field conditions to identify safety hazards, infrastructure deficiencies, and maintenance issues requiring engineering intervention beyond the capabilities of maintenance personnel.
• Collaborate with maintenance and production staff to understand site conditions, determine probable causes of failures, assess previous corrective actions, and develop appropriate engineering solutions.
• Collect, document, and maintain detailed field observations, measurements, photographs, and inspection records to support engineering evaluations and project development.
• Develop maintenance, repair, and rehabilitation recommendations for drainage and geotechnical infrastructure through written reports, specifications, sketches, maps, and conceptual designs.
• Review and provide technical comments on third-party engineering designs impacting railroad property and right-of-way infrastructure.
• Prepare scopes of work for geotechnical investigations, subsurface exploration programs, instrumentation and monitoring services, and drainage engineering studies.
• Support procurement activities by assisting with consultant solicitations, bid evaluations, proposal reviews, and contractor selection for geotechnical and drainage-related projects.
• Provide technical expertise to maintenance, production, and field personnel regarding drainage systems, slope stability, erosion control, and geotechnical engineering matters.
• Support project delivery teams during design and construction by performing site inspections, reviewing contractor submittals, responding to Requests for Information (RFIs), and providing engineering recommendations.
• Oversee contractor field operations related to subsurface investigations, drilling programs, geotechnical instrumentation, and monitoring installations.
• Perform quality control reviews of engineering calculations, drawings, specifications, reports, and other technical deliverables to ensure accuracy and compliance with established standards.
• Coordinate and support emergency response activities involving drainage failures, washouts, flooding events, and other infrastructure-related emergencies.
• Serve as a Civil Engineering Subject Matter Expert (SME) by providing guidance, technical evaluations, and engineering support for infrastructure maintenance and improvement initiatives.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Demonstrated experience in railroad track design, maintenance, and construction, with an emphasis on drainage, geotechnical engineering, and earthwork-related challenges; equivalent transportation or highway design and construction experience will also be considered.
• Proficient in the preparation of engineering designs, plans, and technical drawings using CAD software.
• Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Word, Excel and Power Point).
• Experienced in .pdf file review software such as Adobe Acrobat or Bluebeam Revu.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with a proven ability to effectively collaborate, build relationships, and coordinate activities with stakeholders across multiple disciplines and organizational levels.
• Highly self-motivated with the ability to work independently, prioritize competing demands, identify complex issues, and develop practical engineering solutions with minimal supervision.
• Strong organizational and analytical skills, with a demonstrated ability to manage multiple assignments and meet project deadlines.
• Capable of exercising sound engineering judgment in evaluating field conditions, assessing risks, and recommending appropriate corrective actions.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree required or equivalent combination of training, education and relevant experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.

Plus

• 3 years of prior relevant experience required

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering
• 5+ years of progressively responsible experience in railroad, transportation, geotechnical, drainage, or heavy civil design and construction.
• Experience in railroad track, drainage, geotechnical, or transportation infrastructure projects
• Active participation in professional organizations such as AREMA, ASCE, TTCI, or other relevant engineering and transportation industry associations.
• Current or previous qualifications in AMTRAK RWP, AMT II, NORAC or equivalent railroad operating and safety rules.
• Experience utilizing ArcGIS and other geospatial tools for infrastructure analysis, asset management, and project planning.
• Knowledge of geotechnical engineering principles, including slope stability, subsurface investigations, soil mechanics, erosion mitigation, and foundation design.
• Understanding of railroad operations, maintenance practices, and the interaction between engineering projects and railroad service requirements.

Environmental Conditions/Physical Demands

• Position consists of a mix of office and field work, typically split 50% office / 50% field.
• Office work is based primarily at Philadelphia 30th Street Station.
• Most field work involves local travel within the greater Philadelphia region (generally within 50-100 miles) to perform site inspections, investigations, and construction support activities.
• Field assignments may require walking long distances, working near active railroad operations, and exposure to inclement weather and construction environments.
• Work hours may vary based on project schedules, operational needs, and emergency response requirements. This can mean working nights and occasionally weekends.
• Approximately 25% travel outside the local area is required, primarily within the Northeast Corridor.
• position works 4 days in the office with 1 day remote.