Research And Development Project Manager Jobs in Virginia

Some see the railway as transportation, while at Plasser American we see it as transformation. The story of how steel tracks turned the American promise into American progress and forged a trusted pathway to the possibilities of the future. It’s a story that continues today, an American legacy unfolding mile by mile. There is a lot riding on those tracks and we know that support, quality and know-how are all important aspects in staying on track.

That’s why the Plasser American tradition begins with a promise. A promise to do things right. An unapologetic commitment to quality that makes us the longtime trusted leader in cutting edge American made innovations for the North American railway. It’s a promise to see things differently to turn ordinary steel into safer passages. To be a partner that you can count on to engineer solutions for the challenges of today and for the opportunities of tomorrow. From research and design, expert manufacturing and delivering unapparelled services, our customers trust us to keep them ahead of the curve.

Progress is about more than getting from Point A to Point B. It’s knowing you have a trusted foundation to move you forward toward new possibilities waiting around the corner. Join Plasser American to become part of our team forging ahead towards new opportunities in railway maintenance. The railway is a path to the future, choose this path and apply today.

Mid-to-Senior Project Manager

Location: Chesapeake, VA
Travel Requirement: Up to 25% (project site visits)

Plasser American Corporation (PAC) is seeking a Mid-to-Senior Project Manager to lead and coordinate critical railroad equipment projects from manufacturing through commissioning and final handover. This role is ideal for someone with a solid foundation in engineering, a strong background in project management, and a desire to make a tangible impact on complex, high-stakes deliverables in the railroad industry.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the end-to-end project lifecycle—including planning, execution, commissioning, and handover—while maintaining rigorous documentation of project milestones and deliverables.
• Represent PAC in meetings with internal teams, customers, contractors, and senior management to align expectations, resolve issues, and communicate project progress.
• Oversee and coordinate the activities of project engineers and support staff, ensuring timely, on-budget delivery in accordance with contract scope and technical requirements.
• Monitor project risk, assess potential impacts, and take proactive measures to ensure execution remains on track.
• Review and manage project financials and delivery schedules across all engineering and manufacturing disciplines; communicate financial status and forecasts to management.
• Maintain consistent, professional communication with customers, vendors, and internal teams—strengthening stakeholder relationships across all functions.
• Ensure scope, schedule, and cost changes are controlled and documented, maintaining alignment with contractual obligations and funding.
• Conduct regular visits to active sites and partner facilities to supervise on-the-ground progress and resolve technical or procedural challenges.
• Maintain structured project documentation, including schedules, cost tracking, and change control records.
• Support root-cause analysis and assist in the development of technical solutions in collaboration with design, manufacturing, and service teams.
• Track and report project performance through timely updates, status summaries, and risk assessments for internal and external reporting.
• Ensure project adherence to company and industry quality standards, and safety, especially in relation to specialized rail equipment.
• Collaborate effectively with international teams located in Austria, India, Australia, and other global locations. Flexibility to attend meetings outside of standard business hours—including early mornings or late nights due to time zone differences—is required.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Project Management, or a related technical field preferred.
• Minimum 5 years of project management experience—preferably with heavy equipment or complex mechanical/rail systems.
• Strong working knowledge of the railroad industry and prior experience interfacing with class one railroad and transit is a significant advantage.
• PMP certification preferred (or willingness to obtain within 1 year of employment).
• Proven expertise with Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, Project, PowerPoint, Visio, Teams).
• Experience with scheduling software (e.g., MS Project, Primavera, or equivalent).
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Effective communicator with demonstrated leadership in cross-functional environments.
• Willingness and ability to travel domestically and internationally up to 25%.

Benefits:

• Accrue 80 Hours of Paid Time Off during your first year of employment
• 10 Paid Holidays per year
• 401(k) match of $0.50 for every $1.00 you contribute up to 6% of your salary
• You may receive a merit bonus after completion of the audit at the end of the fiscal year
• Free Short and Long Term Disability after 90 days of employment
• Free Life Insurance – 2 times your annual salary
• Company Events
• Free employee medical and dental coverage. – valued at $7,500.00

About Plasser American:

As part of the Plasser family brand, which is the largest Maintenance of Way equipment provider in the world, PAC is a rapidly growing provider of railway equipment in North America. Continuing for the next few years, PAC will continue to make significant investments in the North American Market including a new office building and a substantial addition to our manufacturing facility. PAC is making the needed investments to continue its growth trajectory for many years to come. The next several years will be an exciting time of transformation. We look to the future to enhance our team and achieve our goals.