Executive Director of Engineering Oversight (Chief Engineer)

Salary range is $140k to $450k, with a midpoint of $295k. New hires typically receive between minimum and midpoint, however, we may go slightly higher based on experience, internal equity and market.

Sound Transit also offers a competitive benefits package with a wide range of offerings, including:

• Health Benefits: We offer two choices of medical plans, a dental plan, and a vision plan all at no cost for employee coverage; comprehensive benefits for employees and eligible dependents, including a spouse or domestic partner.
• Long-Term Disability and Life Insurance.
• Employee Assistance Program.
• Retirement Plans: 401a - 10% of employee contribution with a 12% match by Sound Transit; 457b - up to IRS maximum (employee only contribution).
• Paid Time Off: Employees accrue 25 days of paid time off annually with increases at four, eight and twelve years of service. Employees at the director level and up accrue additional days. We also observe 12 paid holidays and provide up to 2 paid floating holidays and up to 2 paid volunteer days per year.
• Parental Leave: 12 weeks of parental leave for new parents.
• Pet Insurance.
• ORCA Card: All full-time employees will receive an ORCA card at no cost.
• Tuition Reimbursement: Sound Transit will pay up to $5,000 annually for approved tuition expenses.
• Inclusive Reproductive Health Support Services.
• Compensation Practices: We offer competitive salaries based on market rates and internal equity. In addition to compensation and benefits, you'll find that we provide work-life balance, opportunities for professional development and recognition from your colleagues.

Under general guidance from the Deputy Chief Executive Officer (DCEO) for Agency Oversight (AO), the Executive Director of Engineering Oversight (Chief Engineer) is accountable and responsible for leading the engineering function at Sound Transit. The Engineering Division includes programs focused on infrastructure engineering, systems engineering and integration, and technical standards. The Chief Engineer provides strategic leadership to the Directors of those programs while integrating and aligning the Division's work efforts with those of other divisions and departments, including technical staff outside of Agency Oversight. The Chief Engineer is also responsible for providing strategic partnership to the DCEO. The Chief Engineer represents Agency Oversight as well as the broader Agency on technical and design issues of consequence and provides recommendations to the DCEO and other agency executives on complex and multi-disciplinary technical issues, as required. The Chief Engineer collaborates frequently with leaders in and outside of Agency Oversight including consultants, contractors, and high-level officials in partner agencies and local authorities having jurisdiction (AHJs). In addition to outstanding leadership, decision-making, strategic, and critical thinking skills, the Chief Engineer is able to communicate highly complex, technical issues thoughtfully and succinctly. The Chief Engineer may serve as acting DCEO when required.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

The following duties are a representative summary of the primary duties and responsibilities. Incumbent(s) may not be required to perform all duties listed and may be required to perform additional, position-specific duties.

• Strong working knowledge and proven experience in Rail Operations Engineering and Strategy.
  
• Exceptional communications skill with a strong focus on articulating and presenting engineering concepts, challenges, and mitigations to a wide variety of audiences (organizational leadership, public officials, the general public, and all other stakeholders).
  
• Advanced engineering and operations leadership experience.
  
• Assists in the preparation and presentation to the Board of Directors.
  
• Identifies opportunities for improvement and efficiencies in the department.
  • Strong knowledge and expertise in the Engineering of assets throughout the entire lifecycle of asset management, while developing and enforcing policies related to asset design, construction, operations and maintenance.
  • Experience in maintaining technical oversight, governance, and strategic alignment to ensure system safety, reliability, and maintainability, with the ability to have the ultimate authority and sound decision making to support safety and reliability.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Education and Experience:
Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Architecture, Transportation or Urban Planning or related field, and twelve years of experience in the management and direction of project designs or the construction of mass transit, transportation, or public works projects; Or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Ten years of progressively senior leadership, budgetary, planning and workforce management experience. Management experience in the public sector, and related to the planning, design, construction, and delivery of transportation/transit systems and facilities is preferred. A Professional Engineering certification is preferred, but not required.

Required Knowledge and Skills:

• Strong leadership skills at both a Program and Agency level
• Exercising independent judgment.
• Analytical, strategic, and critical thinking.
• Engineering principles related to the design, construction, and maintenance of transit infrastructure.
• Working cooperatively with all levels of an organization, as well as establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with key staff and elected officials outside the Agency and the public.
• Leading and empowering teams of diverse staff to deliver complex projects under pressure.
• Setting overall direction, monitoring progress, and making course corrections as required.
• Translating complex, technical information for decision-makers in clear written and verbal communication.
• Efficient and inclusive decision-making.
• Pertinent federal, state, and local laws, codes, and regulations as they apply to transit operations.
• Risk assessment and strategic planning.
• Principles of supervision, training, and performance evaluation.
• Advanced principles and practices of governmental budget preparation and administration, including principles of financial management (expenditure tracking, variance identification, and revenue tracking).
• Contract and procurement strategies and management principles.
• Policy and procedure development.
• Presentation development and public speaking skills.
• Working effectively under pressure to meet deadlines and adjust to changing priorities.

Physical Demands / Work Environment:

• Work is performed in a hybrid office and field environment.
• Positions working in field may occasionally be exposed to dangerous machinery, extreme weather conditions, physical harm, hazardous chemicals, and/or extreme noise.
• The Agency promotes a safe and healthy work environment and provides appropriate safety and equipment training for all personnel as required.

Sound Transit is an equal employment opportunity employer. No person is unlawfully excluded from employment action based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status or other protected class.