At HDR, our employee-owners are fully engaged in creating a welcoming environment where each of us is valued and respected, a place where everyone is empowered to bring their authentic selves and novel ideas to work every day. As we foster a culture of inclusion throughout our company and within our communities, we constantly ask ourselves: What is our impact on the world?
Watch Our Story:' https://www.hdrinc.com/our-story'
Each and every role throughout our organization makes a difference in our ability to change the world for the better. Read further to learn how you could help make great things possible not only in your community, but around the world.
In the role of Principal Rail Planning Manager, we'll count on you to:
- Develop operating plans for freight and passenger rail projects by working with track and signal designers and clients to match operating plans to clients needs and engineering standards and requirements
- Create planning documents and tools that describe and elaborate new or changed rail operations
- Advise Rail Traffic Controller (RTC) modelers analyze RTC outputs and develop RTC inputs in order to successfully use the RTC model
- Provide rail operations expertise to internal HDR engineers economists planners and environmental scientists and external clients
- Provide project management expertise in projects involving the railroad and transit industry.
- Understand rail traffic patterns regulatory requirements operational needs and market strategies of the railroad and transit industry.
- Actively participate in HDR marketing and rail business class market development provide mentoring and education both informally and formally to junior staff
- Provide knowledge of the industry that enables senior staff to make appropriate decisions
- Consult to clients on a trusted-advisor basis; and demonstrate ownership and personal responsibility for delivering quality output and schedule and budget adherence.
- Seek out and develop opportunities for HDR market growth and work proactively and collegially as a member of numerous teams and multiple projects at any one time.
- Have excellent oral and written communications skills to proactively engage HDR clients and staff to receive timely accurate and complete information then document information appropriately.
Preferred Qualifications
- A license/certification
- PMP certification
- Experience in railroad and transit operations communications and leadership through a management position such as Trainmaster Train Dispatcher or Manager of Train Operations
- Demonstrated excellence in communications skills through prior job performance
- Leadership role where junior staff has been developed and mentored
- Demonstrated ability to work with teams
- Demonstrated ability to work with public officials and agencies rail industry officials rail experts and rail disciplines such as engineering.
- A Bachelor's Degree in an engineering communications economics or social science field
- At least ten (10) years of experience in the railroad/transit industry
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in related field
- 7 years related experience
- A minimum of 2 years project management experience
- Must have the ability to interact with various design teams, have excellent organizational, project management and communication (both written and verbal) skills
- An attitude and commitment to being an active participant of our employee-owned culture is a must
What We Believe
HDR is our company. Together, we build on each other's life experiences and perspectives to make great things possible every day. This shapes our collaborative culture, encourages organizational trust and connects us closer to the clients and communities we serve.
Our Commitment
As employee owners, we all have a role in creating an inclusive environment where each of us is welcomed, valued, respected and empowered to bring our authentic selves to work every day.
Our eight Employee Network Groups (Asian Pacific, Black, Hispanic/Latino(a), LGBTQ+, People with Disabilities, Veterans, Women, Young Professionals) help create a sense of belonging and foster a supportive environment where everyone is empowered to engage and contribute. Each group has an executive sponsor and is open to all employees.
We provide a comprehensive benefits package that promotes employee ownership, employee health, performance, and success, which includes medical, dental, vision, short and long-term disability, life insurance, an employee assistance program, paid time away, parental leave, paid holidays, a retirement savings plan with employer match, employee referral bonus and tuition reimbursement. The expected compensation range for this position depends upon skills, experience, education and geographical location. (Stated benefits are for full-time regular positions. Temporary and part-time roles eligible for limited benefits.) {Irvine}: $155,000 - $221,000
Primary Location
:
United States-California-Irvine
Industry
:
Freight Rail
Schedule
:
Full-time
Employee Status
:
Regular
BusinessClass
:
Transit Engineering
Job Posting
:
Oct 13, 2025 |
HDR, Inc.
life insurance, parental leave, paid holidays, tuition reimbursement
Oct 13, 2025