Principal Engineer - Surveyor - 90386117 - Wilmington

Date:  Jul 14, 2026
Location: 

Wilmington, DE, US, 19801

Company:  Amtrak

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.

 

Job Summary

The Principal Engineer – Surveyor is responsible for supervising track surveys and right-of-way mapping work on all Amtrak-owned or maintained properties.  This position will coordinate track protection for field work with their colleagues in Electric Traction, Signals and Communications, Structures, Division Engineers, Engineering Production and Real Estate.  The Principal Engineer – Surveyor will maintain the inventory and manage updates of field instruments. 

Essential Functions

  • Works autonomously and safely, supervising Amtrak field survey crew or consultant-provided survey personnel in surveying field work.
  • Secures on track protection for survey crews.
  • Supervises and qualified to perform highly technical survey tasks using mobile surveying solutions, robotic survey equipment, GNSS equipment, data collection devices, digital and optical levels as well as taking field notes and creating cut sheets.
  • Reviews and processes field data for release to design engineers.
  • Creates survey plans for transmittal to design team members and consultants.
  • Responsible for supervising track and right-of-way surveys and verifying that the lines and grades of the proposed improvements are within the clearance envelopes and right-of-way boundaries. The surveys include existing track alignment data, topographic surveys in support of track designs; layout in support of track construction and renewal; record surveys of completed work; boundary line surveys along the railroad right of way.
  • Support field engineering and maintenance staff, addressing construction challenges and change requests.

Minimum Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s Degree required OR equivalent combination of training, education and relevant experience may be considered in lieu of a degree. Plus,
  • 7 years of relevant experience required
  • 9+ years of relevant experience preferred

Preferred Qualifications

  • Professional Land Survey license or registration
  • Qualified in AMTRAK RWP and AMT II and MW1000
  • Participation in a professional survey society

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

  • Fundamental knowledge of general civil engineering principles.
  • Ability to read, understand and produce engineering drawings and documents.
  • Ability to absorb information, think critically and make sound engineering decisions.
  • Willingness to learn CAD software and become a highly skilled technical draftsman.
  • Working knowledge of Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel and Power Point).
  • Attention to detail and completeness.

Work Environment

  • This is a flexible position with time allotted to both field and office work.
  • Travel: 30%

The salary/hourly range is $124,600.00 – $161,352.00. Pay is based on several factors including but not limited to education, work experience, certifications, 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. 

Health and Wellbeing Financial and Retirement Work and Family Life Support
Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance 401K with Employer Match Generous Paid Time Off 
Wellness Programs Railroad Retirement Benefits Paid Caregiving Days and Backup Care
Health Savings Account Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness Fertility and Family Building Benefits
No-cost Personal Health Advocate Student Loan Assistance Adoption and Surrogacy Assistance
Medical Plan Opt-out Credit Tuition and Education Reimbursement Paid Family Leave
  Life Insurance Rail Pass Privileges
  Short- and Long-term Disability Insurance Employee Assistance Program
  No-cost Financial Advisor Sessions Commuter and Flexible Spending Accounts

Learn more about our benefits offerings here.

 

Requisition ID:166813

Work Arrangement:06-Onsite 4/5 Days Click here for more information about work arrangements at Amtrak.
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 equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race/color, to include traits historically associated with race, including but not limited to, hair texture and hairstyles such as braids, locks and twists, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth and related conditions, such as lactation), national origin/ethnicity, 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.