SENIOR DIRECTOR, VEHICLE ENGINEERING & ACQUISITION (RAIL VEHICLE ACQUISITION)

Metro’s mission is to provide a world-class transportation system that enhances the quality of life for all who live, work, and play within LA County.

Description

Directs the activities for Rail Vehicle Engineering group in support of the State of Good Repair of all rail lines, which includes equipment specification development, contracts management and support, equipment testing and qualification, component design review, mainline support of new line activation, and support of new/replacement vehicle acquisitions and other capital projects in order to deliver safe, efficient, and reliable rail operations for the agency.
Recruitment Timeline: Interviews are projected to be scheduled for the week of November 10 , 2025 . This date is subject to change. We encourage you to monitor your governmentjobs.com profile and emails for the latest updates.

Examples of Duties

• Develops, implements, and directs policies, programs, and standards for rail vehicle engineering, component acquisition, and equipment overhaul
• Ensures rail fleet safety and reliability
• Leads teams of engineers in support of rail fleet maintenance
• Proactively troubleshoots complex technical problems
• Interfaces with other departments and vendors to resolve rail vehicle, equipment engineering, and other issues which impact rail operations
• Designs and develops component overhaul programs
• Develops technical component specifications
• Supports Rail Fleet Services, MOW (Maintenance of Way), Construction Engineering, Vehicle Acquisitions, and other Metro groups
• Manages various large, complex capital projects
• Establishes and monitors long-range goals, budgets, and strategies; directs resource allocations
• Analyzes federal, state, and local regulations and legislation to determine impact on rail transportation services
• Coordinates with rail construction staff on the planning, design, and startup of new rail systems; provides input on design and design criteria from an operations perspective
• Represents department at Metro meetings and inter-agency committees
• Prepares and presents rail service and policy issues and recommendations to executive management and the Board of Directors; directs the preparation of supporting research
• Introduces new technologies into running fleets
• Responsible for new vendor qualification testing and validation
• Manages assigned staff and teams
• Supports and promotes training opportunities and diversity among team

May be required to perform other related job duties

Minimum Qualifications

A combination of education and/or experience that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the essential functions of the position. Additional experience, as outlined below, may be substituted for required education on a year-for-year basis. A typical combination includes:

Education

• Bachelor's Degree in Electrical or Mechanical Engineering or a related engineering discipline

Experience

• Five years of relevant management-level experience overseeing the procurement, overhaul, systems, maintenance operations, and rail vehicle and equipment engineering activities within a transit operations environment

Certifications/Licenses/Special Requirements

• A valid California Class C Driver License or the ability to utilize an alternative method of transportation when needed to carry out job-related essential functions
• Professional Engineer License preferred

Preferred Qualifications
Preferred Qualifications (PQs) are used to identify relevant knowledge, skills, and abilities as determined by business necessity. These criteria are considered preferred qualifications and are not intended to serve as minimum requirements for the position. PQs will help support selection decisions throughout the recruitment. In addition, applicants who possess these PQs will not automatically be selected.

• Experience collaborating on rail capital projects with external stakeholders
• Experience preparing and presenting board reports
• Experience soliciting and managing qualifying consulting staff & rail vehicle contractors
• Experience developing and monitoring scopes of work, schedules, and budgets for rail vehicle projects
• Experience managing rail vehicle contractors on new rail vehicle procurement or overhaul project

Essential Knowledge

Knowledge of (defined as a learned body of information that is required for and applied in the performance of job tasks)

• Theories, principles, and practices of electrical and mechanical engineering, maintenance, and component functions of rail vehicles, equipment, and systems
• Rail car design, construction, testing, and commissioning
• Propulsion, ATP/ATC (automatic train protection/automatic train control), friction brake, rail door, auxiliary power, and onboard car control systems design
• Truck and rotating machinery design, such as traction motors, gear boxes, couplers, etc.
• Rail operations and Right of Way (wayside) systems
• Technical specifications development
• Applicable local, state, and federal laws, rules, and regulations governing public transportation systems
• Manufacturing and production techniques, processes, and methods, including quality control of rail vehicles, equipment, and systems
• Theories, principles, and practices of project management, budgeting, contract administration, and planning
• Computer software, such as Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
• Modern management theory

Skill in (defined as the proficient manual, verbal, or mental utilization of data, people, or things)

• Electrical and mechanical system control theory and principals
• Propulsion systems design, automatic train control, automatic train protection, and friction brake systems interfaces
• Analyzing complex data and situations, identifying problems, recommending solutions, and evaluating outcomes
• Troubleshooting complex electrical and control problems that involve the vehicles and wayside systems
• Communicating effectively orally and in writing
• Interacting professionally with various levels of staff (internal and external) up to the COO (Chief Operations Officer) level
• Exercising sound judgement and fiscal responsibility when making decisions under high impact situations

Ability to (defined as a present competence to perform an observable behavior or produce an observable result)

• Meet precision, technical, and specification requirements
• Understand how decisions will impact all Operations departments, other agency departments (e.g., Vendor-Contract Management (VCM), OMB (Office of Management and Budget), etc.) and Metro stakeholders
• Prepare accurate and comprehensive reports and correspondence
• Determine strategies to achieve goals
• Establish and implement policies and procedures
• Understand, interpret, and apply laws, rules, regulations, policies, procedures, contracts, budgets, and labor/management agreements
• Manage and mentor technical teams, manage consultants, assign work, and manage capital projects.
• Maintain confidentiality at all times
• Represent the agency at conferences and before the public
• Mediate and negotiate
• Work independently
• Travel to vendor sites
• Read, write, speak, and understand English

Special Conditions

• This job specification is not to be construed as an exhaustive list of duties, responsibilities, or requirements
• The physical demands described are representative of those that must be met by the employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job
• Metro provides reasonable accommodation to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions
• This classification is at-will and the incumbent serves at the pleasure of the hiring authority
• Contributes to ensuring that the Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) policies and programs of Metro are carried out

Working Conditions

• Typical office situation
• Close exposure to computer monitors and video screen
• Extensive safety training and/or use of protective devices and personal protective gear

Physical Effort Required

• Sitting at a desk or table
• Operate a telephone or other telecommunications device and communicate through the medium
• Type and use a keyboard and mouse to perform necessary computer-based functions
• Communicating through speech in the English language required
• Good distance vision and/or depth perception to judge distances
• Color recognition (e.g., distinguishing wires, resistors, containers, light signals, etc.)

(ML)

Metro is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, ancestry, national origin, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, religion, age, veteran status, or disability. Learn more about Metro’s Equal Employment Opportunity Program . Metro does not deny participation in the application process to anyone with prior justice system involvement, in line with Fair Chance hiring practices.

Selection Procedure

Applicants who best meet job-related qualifications will be invited to participate in the examination process that may consist of any combination of written, performance, or oral appraisal to further evaluate job-related experience, knowledge, skills and abilities.

Application Procedure

To apply, visit Metro's website at www.metro.net and complete an online Employment Application.
Computers are available to complete online Employment Applications at the following Metro locations:

METRO Headquarters, Employment Office
One Gateway Plaza
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Open: Monday through Friday, 8am-4pm
(Closed Sat & Sun)

Metro Talent Hub
8501 S. Evermont Place
Los Angeles, CA 90044
Open: Monday through Friday, 9am-5pm
(Closed Sat & Sun)

East Los Angeles Customer Center
4501 B Whittier Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90022
Open: Tuesday through Saturday, 10am to 6pm
(Closed Sun & Mon)

Wilshire/Vermont Customer Center
3183 Wilshire Blvd, Ste 174
Los Angeles, CA 90010
Open: Monday through Friday, 10am-6pm
(Closed Sat & Sun)

Rosa Parks Customer Center
Willowbrook/Rosa Parks Station
11720 Wilmington Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90059
Open: Monday through Friday, 6am to 6:30pm
(Closed Sat & Sun)

Telephone: (213) 922-6217 or persons with hearing or speech impairments can use California Relay Service 711 to contact Metro.

All completed online Employment Applications must be received by 5:00 p.m. on the closing date. Late applications will not be considered.

*Open to the public and all Metro employees

This job bulletin is not to be construed as an exhaustive list of duties, responsibilities, or requirements. Employees may be required to perform other related job duties.

*Please refer to the applicable benefit type (Regular or Temporary)*

BENEFITS FOR REGULAR EMPLOYEES

Benefits cover probationary or regular full-time (working at least 40 hrs/week) employees of Metro.

We offer a range of high-quality medical, dental and vision plan options as well as health care spending accounts for you and your family. Metro will cover a significant portion of your health care premiums.

Medical/Dental/Vision Plan - Employee has the choice of 3 separate medical plans and 3 dental plans. A separate vision plan is included in each medical plan.

Group Life Insurance - PTSC pays for an amount equal to your annual salary, rounded up to the nearest $1,000. Minimum amount of life insurance is $30,000.

Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance - PTSC provides $50,000 coverage for each employee. Additional voluntary coverage in amounts up to $500,000 is available at favorable premium rates.

Long-Term Disability Insurance - 100% employer paid. Provides employees with a minimum income of 60% of earnings after six months of disability. Buy up or buy down options available.

Holidays - 12 days a year: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents' Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veterans' Day, Cesar E Chavez, Juneteenth,Thanksgiving Day, Day After Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day.

Time off with Pay (TOWP) - Compensates employees who are on approved absence from work for reasons such as illness, injury, medical and dental appointments, personal business, vacation, or observance of (a) religious holiday.
Years of Service Annual Accrual
Hire date - 5 years 20 days
Beginning of 6th - 10th year 25 days
Beginning of 11th - 15th year 30 days
Beginning of 16th + years 35 days

Pension Plan - PTSC retirement plan is the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS). Vesting is five (5) years. Minimum retirement age is 52, based on the 2% at 62 formula.

Other Benefits: Transportation passes for employees and/or eligible dependents; Medicare; Tuition reimbursement; credit union membership; SDI; Deferred Compensation Plan; 401(K) Thrift plan; EAP; Medical and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts; Flexible work schedules; and Jury Duty Pay.

BENEFITS FOR TEMPORARY EMPLOYEES

Temporary (Contingent) employees are eligible for the following benefits only:

• Kaiser medical insurance
• Public Pension Plan
• 457/401K Plan
• Flex Spending
• Paid Sick Time
• Fare Media
• Rideshare Subsidies
• Metro One Fitness membership

For more information on the Benefits Enrollment for Contingent Employees, please visit LA Metro’s Pension & Benefits website at benefits.metro.net

Closing Date/Time: 11/3/2025 5:00 PM Pacific

• 

• Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority - LA Metro

Show more