Senior Rail Design Engineer / Project Manager

Senior Rail Design Engineer / Project Manager
Location: Puget Sound Area (Tacoma, Seattle, Olympia, Tukwila, Bellevue, Woodinville, Everett, or Bellingham, WA)

David Evans and Associates Inc. (DEA) is seeking a dynamic and experienced Senior Rail Design Engineer / Project Manager to join our thriving Transit and Rail Group in the Puget Sound area. This is an exciting opportunity to lead innovative, multidisciplinary projects that help shape the future of sustainable rail and transit infrastructure in the Pacific Northwest.

We're looking for a proactive leader and skilled engineer who thrives in a collaborative, client-focused environment. You'll be instrumental in transforming conceptual ideas into constructible design solutions-working closely with public and private partners to deliver meaningful transportation improvements.

What You'll Do

Lead with Expertise

• Serve as a technical lead on a wide range of railroad and rail transit projects-designing track alignments, rail terminals, utilities, grading, drainage, erosion control, roadway improvements, and site development.
• Guide projects from planning and feasibility through final design and construction support, ensuring compliance with industry standards, regulations, and client expectations.

Drive Project Success

• Manage budgets, schedules, and deliverables to ensure high-quality outcomes.
• Oversee preparation of plans, specifications, estimates (PS&E), and technical reports.
• Perform QA/QC reviews and uphold rigorous quality standards throughout project lifecycles.

Collaborate Across Disciplines

• Coordinate closely with in-house teams and external stakeholders-including structural, geotechnical, architectural, environmental, and surveying professionals-to ensure cohesive project delivery.
• Engage directly with clients and attend site visits, field reviews, and design meetings as needed.

Support Construction Efforts

• Provide post-design services including responding to RFIs, reviewing contractor submittals, supporting as-built documentation, and conducting site observations.

Lead and Mentor

• Supervise and mentor junior engineers and project managers, cultivating a culture of technical excellence and continuous learning.
• Serve as a resource and subject matter expert for staff development and design guidance.

Grow Our Practice

• Contribute to business development efforts through proposal preparation, client engagement, and marketing pursuits.
• Support resource planning and long-term strategic initiatives across our Transit and Rail practice.

What You Bring

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering or related field
• Washington State PE license (or ability to obtain within 3 months of hire)
• Minimum 7 years of relevant design experience with freight railroads, passenger rail, or transit projects
• Strong written and verbal communication skills and ability to present to both technical and public audiences
• Ability to travel periodically for project needs
• Demonstrated leadership skills and a collaborative, solutions-oriented mindset
• Proficiency with BlueBeam Studio and Microsoft Office Suite
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail

Preferred Qualifications

• Proficiency in AutoCAD, Civil3D, MicroStation, and/or OpenRoads
• Familiarity with Primavera P6 or Microsoft Project
• Established relationships with local rail and transit agencies
• Recognized expertise in rail design standards and engineering practices

Why Join DEA?

We Offer:

• Competitive salary ($125,000-$165,000 depending on experience and location)
• Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance
• 401(k) retirement plan
• Paid time off (vacation, sick leave, and holidays)
• Career Development Kick-Start Grant Program
• Flexible 9/80 work schedule (every other Friday off)
• A supportive culture that values innovation, integrity, and collaboration

About DEA's Transit and Rail Group
At DEA, we are committed to improving how people and goods move through our communities. Our Transit and Rail Group is trusted by Class I railroads, industrial clients, ports, and public agencies to deliver critical infrastructure with precision and creativity. By integrating our in-house expertise across engineering, planning, environmental sciences, and surveying, we create smart, constructible solutions that support sustainable, forward-thinking transportation networks.

Join us-and help shape what's next in rail and transit.