Rail Project Manager Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Wilson & Company is seeking a Rail Project Manager to lead freight rail, track, terminal, intermodal, industrial, yard, main line, and related civil infrastructure projects. This client-focused seller-doer will guide multidisciplinary teams, manage scope, schedule, budget, quality, risk, project controls, mentor technical staff, and strengthen long-term rail client relationships from concept development through final design and construction support.

What You'll Do:

• Lead the planning, design, and delivery of freight rail, rail track, main line, yard, terminal, intermodal, industrial rail, and related civil/site infrastructure projects.
• Define and manage project scopes, schedules, budgets, work plans, staffing needs, deliverables, and project execution strategies.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for Class I railroads, short line railroads, industrial rail clients, transit agencies, public agencies, municipalities, subconsultants, and internal project stakeholders.
• Oversee development of technical reports, analyses, design plans, design criteria, specifications, estimates, schedules, contract documents, project guides, meeting notes, project controls, and other deliverables.
• Provide quality oversight, perform or coordinate detailed QC reviews, and ensure project work complies with client standards, AREMA, FRA, DOT, local railroad/transit criteria, applicable codes, regulatory requirements, and established design criteria.
• Coordinate field assessments, site visits, stakeholder meetings, construction reviews, and construction-phase support activities as needed.
• Mentor and develop engineers, EITs, designers, and junior project staff while promoting collaboration, accountability, and technical excellence.
• Support proposal development, scope and fee preparation, interviews, client presentations, and business development initiatives for future rail opportunities.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in civil engineering or a related engineering discipline, Professional Engineer license.
• 10+ years of progressive rail, freight rail, rail track, terminal, intermodal, transit, or related civil infrastructure experience.

• Experience serving as project manager or deputy project manager on rail or transportation infrastructure projects on Class I railroads, short line railroads, industrial rail clients, intermodal facilities, rail-served industrial sites, yards, terminals, main line projects, public agencies, or transit agencies.

• Experience leading multidisciplinary project teams and coordinating with clients, railroads, agencies, subconsultants, and internal stakeholders.
• Strong understanding of engineering standards, permitting processes, regulatory requirements, contract documents, project controls, and client-specific design criteria, including railroad and transportation industry criteria such as AREMA, FRA, DOT, local railroad criteria, transit criteria and applicable freight rail or transportation design standards.
• Valid driver's license and willingness to travel as needed for project assignments, client coordination, and site visits.

• Familiarity with MicroStation, OpenRail Designer, OpenRoads Designer, AutoCAD Civil 3D, or similar CADD/modeling platforms used by rail design teams.
• Proven ability to develop client relationships, win work, prepare proposals, negotiate scope and fees, and identify future project opportunities.
• Demonstrated ability to mentor staff, build high-performing teams, and drive continuous improvement in project delivery.

Annual salary range: $130,000-$175,000 (Depending onexperience, qualifications, licensure, role level, and location.

Please note that Wilson & Company is not currently sponsoring applicants for work visas.

About Us:

For nearly a century, Wilson & Company, Inc., Engineers & Architects, has provided award-winning engineering, architecture, planning, environmental, surveying, geospatial, and construction management services. With employees across multiple offices in the Midwest, Southwest, Rocky Mountain, and Western regions in the United States, we bring people together to practice their craft, create value, and accomplish great things.

Guided by our purpose, we help clients move from concept to completion, transforming unused spaces into productive places, underutilized facilities into efficient ones, and rural or urban challenges into achievable solutions.

At Wilson & Company, we focus on your specific needs, delivering excellence with lasting Higher Relationships in mind. By employing our core values, discipline, intensity, collaboration, shared ownership, and solutions-we create genuine experiences and lasting connections for our clients, employees, and communities.

We support our employees' success and well-being with a comprehensive benefits package, including options for health insurance, life insurance, disability coverage, paid time off, and retirement savings plans. We are proud to be an EEO employer and maintain a drug-free workplace, conducting pre-employment background checks.

Join us and be part of a culture committed to helping you achieve personal and professional success.