Assistant Director Engineering - Alexandria - Washington Metro

Description

Assistant Director Engineering

Job ID:

260150

Location:

VA -Telegraph Road Facil

Full/Part Time:

Full-Time

Posting Open-Close

02/20/2026

02/27/2026

Union

NRP

Regular/Temporary:

Regular

Job Description

Are you interested in working alongside a dynamic team of systems engineers? WMATA is seeking to fill the position of Assistant Director Engineering within the Automatic Fare Collection department. WMATA is the leading agency of fare collection systems partnering with nine jurisdictional transportation agencies within the Washington Metropolitan Area.

The Assistant Director is responsible for overseeing the development, testing, implementation, sustainment, and monitoring of fare collection equipment, configuration management, software testing and deployment. Incumbent also performs investigation and analysis of SmarTrip data, reporting of software and hardware issues, enhancement of monitoring systems and equipment for Fare Vendors, Fare Gates, Parking Lot Equipment, and Fare Box collection equipment. Ideal candidate must have awareness and ability to implement WMATA policy and procedures, design criteria, and safety rules.

Minimum Qualifications:

Education

• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering or a related field
• In lieu of a Bachelor's degree, a high school diploma and four (4) years of relevant technical experience in systems engineering, maintenance, or design will be considered.

Experience

• A minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in systems engineering design for transportation or other facilities, or systems projects; to include a minimum of five (5) years in a management of staff capacity.

Certification/Licensure

• N/A

Preferred

• Professional Engineering License

Medical Group:

Satisfactorily complete the medical examination for this position, if required. The incumbent must be able to perform the essential functions of this position either with or without reasonable accommodations.

Job Summary/Duties:

The Assistant Director Engineering manages and provides technical guidance, program management and coordination of engineering for the functional disciplines of train signaling, physical security, fire life safety systems, and video surveillance networks, to include design criteria and standards. The incumbent provides technical support for the development and delivery of capital and operationally funded projects, including systems engineering and construction projects. The incumbent is the prime engineering resource for Infrastructure Project Managers. Additionally, this incumbent assist senior leadership in the planning and development of all modernization program requests through data analysis and specification development. The Assistant Director Engineering leads teams of internal employees and external consultants. The Assistant Director Engineering manages and provides technical guidance, program management and coordination of engineering for the functional disciplines of train signaling, physical security, fire life safety systems, and video surveillance networks, to include design criteria and standards. The incumbent provides technical support for the development and delivery of capital and operationally funded projects, including systems engineering and construction projects. The incumbent is the prime engineering resource for Infrastructure Project Managers. Additionally, this incumbent assist senior leadership in the planning and development of all modernization program requests through data analysis and specification development. The Assistant Director Engineering leads teams of internal employees and external consultants.

• Oversees and leads the planning, organizing, and direction of engineering support and design activities to ensure that WMATA train signaling, physical security, fire life safety systems, and video surveillance networks, operate safely, and efficiently.
• Manages and directs the communication and delivery of technical assistance and guidance to WMATA internal customers; collaborates with senior managers from WMATA operating departments to uncover engineering design challenges and develop solutions.
• Collaborates with internal stakeholders to develop and present reports for Executive review, regarding short- and long-term solutions to engineering challenges that may arise during concept, planning, construction or turn-over phases of Capital Improvement and system rehabilitation projects. Provides engineering and construction solutions in collaboration and coordination with internal customers for revenue and non-revenue assets and facilities.
• Oversees, at the team level, consultants and on-call engineering services and work deliverables for assigned program and project portfolio. May develop task orders for additional engineering work and approve related invoices for payment.
• Directs, manages, and supervises subordinate staff to include recommending applicant selection, disciplinary actions, resolution of grievances, assigning duties, directing work, approving leave requests and time sheets, and ensuring appropriate subordinate training is provided.
• Establishes work plans for subordinates against which they will be measured. Conducts performance evaluations of subordinates based upon these work plans. Reviews, discusses, recommends, and takes action on the performance of the personnel within COSI.

OTHER FUNCTIONS

• Conducts frequent field visits to validate solutions and verify conditions. May investigate incidents from time to time as requested.
• May serves as the contracting officer's representative (COTR) for general engineering consultant and other contracts as assigned.
• As a subject matter expert, interacts with external stakeholders including jurisdictional, community and commercial entities; coordinates with regulatory agencies; represents WMATA at industry events. Serves as expert witness and provides expert testimony and conducts inspection and acceptance visits to manufacturing and other vendors.
• Participates in negotiating utility agreements.
• Coordinates "in-house" designs and analyses to fulfill requests from WMATA operating departments.
• Assists with and contributes to resource planning and office budget preparation and oversight.

Evaluation Criteria

Consideration will be given to applicants whose resumes demonstrate the required education and experience. Applicants should include all relevant education and work experience.

Evaluation criteria may include one or more of the following:

• Skills and/or behavioral assessment
• Personal interview
• Verification of education and experience (including certifications and licenses)
• Criminal Background Check (a criminal conviction is not an automatic bar to employment)
• Medical examination including a drug and alcohol screening (for safety sensitive positions)
• Review of a current motor vehicle report

Closing

WMATA is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other status protected by applicable federal law.

This posting is an announcement of a vacant position under recruitment. It is not intended to replace the official job description. Job descriptions are available upon confirmation of an interview.