Principal Architect - 90384048 - Philadelphia

Your success is a train ride away!

As we move America’s workforce toward the future, Amtrak connects businesses and communities across the country. We employ more than 20,000 diverse, energetic professionals in a variety of career fields throughout the United States. The safety of our passengers, our employees, the public and our operating environment is our priority, and the success of our railroad is due to our employees.

Are you ready to join our team?

Our values of ‘Do the Right Thing, Excel Together and Put Customers First’ are at the heart of what matters most to us, and our Core Capabilities, ‘Building Trust, Accountability, Effective Communication, Customer Focus, and Proactive Safety & Security’ are what every employee needs to know and do to be most impactful at Amtrak. By living the Amtrak values, focusing on our capabilities, and actively embracing and fostering diverse ideas, backgrounds, and perspectives, together we will honor our past and make Amtrak a company of the future.

SUMMARY OF DUTIES:
This position will direct the design of building and yard facility upgrades and state of good repair improvements within Amtrak’s 50+ nationwide, multi-building maintenance of equipment (MoE) and maintenance of way (MoW) yard facilities. The types of projects would include but aren’t limited to, new buildings, repairs to existing buildings, interior renovations, site improvements, and equipment or utility upgrades.   This role will serve as both a Design Manager (DM) and Architecture Subject Matter Expert (SME).  The responsibilities will include managing all core functions of design including field visits, scoping, drawing production, drawing reviews, and coordination with both other internal Subject Matter Experts (SME) staff and external architecture/engineering firms and consultants. As an Architectural Subject Matter Expert (SME) for the Facilities Design Team this role will perform drawing reviews, guide code interpretations and acceptance.

This position will function as the Design Manager (DM) of multiple multi-discipline projects.  Tasks include performing field evaluations, scope of work preparation, specification writing, and supervision of bid package development, including construction budget and schedule estimating. As a multi-discipline DM, this position requires an adequate breadth of general architectural / engineering design knowledge to provide the multi-discipline oversight, coordination and review during the design package development and milestone review process, with the support of other Amtrak team SME’s to provide detailed discipline-specific reviews. This DM role will also require management of varied non-building projects including utilities or replacement/upgrade of equipment such as fueling stations, sanding systems, air compressors, pumps, 480 ground power, control systems, HVAC systems, cranes, drop tables, and other equipment required to service railroad rolling stock or support maintenance of way employees. 

As the Architectural SME, this position will be the technical lead on the architectural aspects of their own and other DM-led Facilities projects within Amtrak’s nationwide network of yards, shops and other facilities to guide the new or repair designs of maintenance / crew buildings, warehouses, control centers, offices, and commissaries. This role also includes developing and maintaining design standards and specifications associated with Facilities design. as well as equipment.

This position collaborates with internal stakeholders, including law, real estate, digital technology, sustainability, environmental, historic preservation, transportation, mechanical, and engineering, as well as external stakeholders such as local and state agencies, utility companies, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), state and federal historic preservation entities, and freight / commuter railroads, to execute projects. 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
• Lead the design of individual projects including tasks like: requirements gathering, on-site evaluations, diagnosing issues, developing a scope of work, managing design schedules, design budgets, production of construction documents and specifications, and coordinating design alignment and collaboration between impacted stakeholders. 
• Manage external architectural and engineering resources  
• Create, lead, and provide technical review on capital design projects such as new building initiatives, building repairs and renovations, building reprogramming, energy conservation / sustainability projects, and other state of good repair projects by functioning as sole point of contact for all design phase and construction phase Architect of Record (AOR) support activities. 
• Lead the review of project documents prepared by outside Architects and Engineers with other Amtrak SME’s to ensure project compliance with Amtrak policies, standards, guidelines and all applicable federal/state/regional regulatory agency codes and requirements. Ensure alignment with project requirements and limitations.  
• Provide Architectural review of other Design Manager’s project milestones. 
• Provide Architectural expertise to Amtrak field engineering and maintenance staff. 
• Provide technical support during construction and respond to submittals, RFI’s, and change order requests. 
• Self-perform design services and drawings on small Facility design projects with limited oversight.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
• Bachelor of Architecture (BARCH) Degree 
• Licensed Registered Architect (RA) 
• Experience in design, construction, and project management. 
• Experience in management and leadership of multi-discipline design projects using outside architecture and engineering consulting firms. 
• Extensive understanding of building codes, design specifications, and recommended practices including ADA requirements. 
• Demonstrated experience working in a matrix organization wherein support is provided across the company to functional leads, projects managers and field-located end users.

MINIMUM KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:
• 7 – 10 years of relevant experience. 
• Thorough knowledge of building design procedures, building M/E/P systems, building materials and systems, construction procedures and detailing.  Proficiency with the design process from inception through bids and construction support.    
• Demonstrated experience in developing biddable design and construction documents  
• Excellent verbal and written communication, organizational, collaborative and relationship building skills with demonstrated experience both within and outside an organization. 
• Must be able to initiate work from a bare problem statement and perform / manage all investigation, design and contract packaging to drive toward an efficient result with minimal impact to operations. 

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
• 10+ years of relevant experience 
• Above-noted design experience within industrial or institutional facilities 
• Master’s Degree 
• Prior work experience as an Owner’s Representative performing all phases of development including planning, scoping, budgeting, estimating, constructing, and project close-out in a fast-paced environment with projects ranging in size and complexity. 
• Knowledge, understanding and prior experience of passenger rail operations, business functions, design / construction processes, and infrastructure requirements. 
• Prior work experience writing RFP’s, bidding, and contracting with outside architecture and engineering consulting firms. 
• Familiarity with architecturally and historically sensitive facilities. 

WORK ENVIRONMENT:
• Travel up to 25%, must have a valid driver’s license 

COMMUNICATIONS AND INTERPERSONAL SKILLS:
Must have excellent oral and written communication skills.

PAY TRANSPARENCY:

The salary/hourly range is $124,600-$161,352. Pay is based on several factors including but not limited to education, work experience, certifications, internal equity, etc. Depending on an employee’s assigned worksite or location, Amtrak may consider a geo-pay differential to be applied to the employee’s base salary. Amtrak may offer additional incentive and pay programs to recognize and reward our employees, including a short-term incentive bonus based upon factors such as individual and company performance that is commensurate with the level of the position and/or long-term incentive plan compensation. In addition to your salary, Amtrak offers a comprehensive benefit package that includes health, dental, and vision plans; health savings accounts; wellness programs; flexible spending accounts; 401K retirement plan with employer match; life insurance; short and long term disability insurance; paid time off; back-up care; adoption assistance; surrogacy assistance; reimbursement of education expenses; Public Service Loan Forgiveness eligibility; Railroad Retirement sickness and retirement benefits; and rail pass privileges. Learn more about our benefits offerings here.

Requisition ID:163290
Posting Location(s):Pennsylvania

Work Arrangement:04-Hybrid Weekly 
Job Family/Function:Engineering 
Relocation Offered:No 
Travel Requirements:Up to 25% 

You power our progress through your performance.
 

We want your work at Amtrak to be more than a job. We want your career at Amtrak to be a fulfilling experience where you find challenging work, rewarding opportunities, respect among colleagues, and attractive compensation. Amtrak maintains a culture that values high performance and recognizes individual employee contributions. 

Amtrak is committed to a safe workplace free of drugs and alcohol. All Amtrak positions requires a pre-employment background check that includes prior employment verification, a criminal history check and a pre-employment drug screen. 

Candidates who test positive for marijuana will be disqualified, regardless of any state or local statute, ordinance, regulation, or other law that legalizes or decriminalizes the use or possession of marijuana, whether for medical, recreational, or other use. Amtrak's pre-employment drug testing program is administered in accordance with DOT regulations and applicable law.  

In accordance with DOT regulations (49 CFR § 40.25), Amtrak is required to obtain prior drug and alcohol testing records for applicants/employees intending to perform safety-sensitive duties for covered Department of Transportation positions. If an applicant/employee refuses to provide written consent for Amtrak to obtain these records, the individual will not be permitted to perform safety-sensitive functions.

In accordance with federal law governing security checks of covered individuals for providers of public transportation (Title 6 U.S.C. §1143), Amtrak is required to screen applicants for any permanent or interim disqualifying criminal offenses. 

Note that any education requirement listed above may be deemed satisfied if you have an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.

Amtrak is an EOE/Affirmative Action Minority/Female employer, and we welcome all to apply. We consider candidates regardless of race/color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth and related conditions), national origin/ethnicity, age, disability (intellectual, mental and physical), veteran status, marital status, ancestry, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, genetic information, citizenship or any other personal characteristics protected by law.