Track Design Engineer

At Mott MacDonald, we are driven by purpose and powered by brilliant people. As a trusted engineering, management, and development consultancy, we work with clients to solve complex challenges and deliver sustainable outcomes that make a meaningful difference for the communities we serve.

When you join us as an experienced professional, you will bring your expertise to work that matters while continuing to grow your career. You will collaborate with talented colleagues across disciplines and geographies, contribute your perspective, and help shape better outcomes through technical excellence, innovation, and integrity.

Build on your experience while helping shape what comes next. At Mott MacDonald, you'll work alongside talented people on complex and rewarding projects that make a real difference. We value fresh perspectives, encourage collaboration, and provide opportunities to expand your skills, take on new challenges, and grow your career. Whether you're deepening your technical expertise, broadening your leadership experience, or exploring new opportunities across our business, you'll be supported by a team that is committed to helping you succeed.

At Mott MacDonald, we deliver impactful, career-defining work across engineering, management, and development services worldwide. As a global, employee-owned consultancy, we are driven by innovation, sustainability, and excellence across our core sectors.

We are seeking a Track Design Engineer to join our team in Austin, Texas, supporting a major, high-profile transit program that will transform mobility and connectivity across the city. Based within the client's office, you will work in a fully integrated delivery environment on a complex rail corridor project.

In this role, you will lead the design and coordination of track infrastructure across a large-scale light rail program. You will play a key role in delivering safe, efficient, and constructible track solutions, ensuring integration with civil works, systems, stations, and operations within a complex, multidisciplinary environment.

Key Responsibilities:

• Undertake and oversee horizontal and vertical alignment design, including geometry, clearances, and constructability considerations
• Develop track design packages, including plans, profiles, cross sections, and specifications
• Coordinate closely with civil, structural, systems, and stations teams, ensuring integrated and efficient design solutions
• Support the development of track form solutions (e.g., ballasted, direct fixation, embedded track) appropriate to urban and corridor conditions
• Ensure designs meet safety, operational, and maintenance requirements, including ride quality, durability, and resilience
• Support interface coordination with key systems, including traction power, signaling, drainage, and utilities
• Contribute to constructability reviews, phasing strategies, and staging plans within constrained urban environments
• Support design management activities, including scope, schedule, quality, and risk management
• Provide technical input into procurement, contractor engagement, and design reviews
• Support testing, commissioning, and handover activities as required
• Mentor junior engineers and contribute to the development of the track engineering capability within the team
• Lead the design and delivery of track alignment and track form solutions across the corridor, including at-grade and elevated sections.

Candidate Specification:

We are looking for a technically strong and collaborative engineer with experience in rail track design

• 7+ years of experience in railway track design within transit or infrastructure projects
• BSc / MSc in Civil Engineering or a related discipline
• Professional Engineer (PE) license in Texas, or ability to obtain reciprocity within 6 months
• Proven experience in track alignment and track design, including urban/light rail or heavy rail systems
• Strong understanding of track geometry, track form selection, and rail systems integration
• Experience working within multidisciplinary rail design environments, coordinating across civil, structures, and systems
• Familiarity with relevant track design standards, codes, and best practices (e.g., AREMA, local/state standards)
• Experience supporting design delivery on complex infrastructure programs, ideally within urban environments
• Experience working in client-facing or embedded delivery teams is preferred
• Strong communication, coordination, and problem-solving skills.

Additional Information:

• Full-time Austin-based position
• Relocation support may be available for candidates looking to move to Austin
• Opportunity to contribute to a once-in-a-generation infrastructure program with long-term impact on how the city moves and grows

Bring your expertise, curiosity, and drive to make a difference. If you are ready to join a collaborative consultancy where your perspective is valued, your growth is supported, and you are empowered to lead with integrity, we would love to hear from you.

Benefits & Rewards

Individual pay is determined based on several factors such as work location, education, experience, and unique skills.

In addition to base salary, Mott MacDonald offers performance-based bonuses and a comprehensive benefits package, giving employees a direct connection to our success.

Our comprehensive benefits package is designed to support the health, wellbeing, financial security, and professional growth of our employees. Eligible employees have access to medical, dental, and vision coverage, FSA and HSA accounts, company-paid life insurance, short-term and long-term disability coverage, and a competitive 401(k) plan with company matching. We also provide paid time off, paid holidays, caregiver leave, employee referral bonuses, professional registration and membership reimbursements, and tuition assistance to support continued learning and career development.

Collaboration at Our Core

At Mott MacDonald, we believe great ideas happen when we're together. Our hybrid approach centers on an in-office culture, with most of your time spent collaborating face-to-face and a minimum of three days per week in the office. We balance flexibility with connection, so you and your manager can choose how to meet clients, team, and personal commitments.

Equal opportunity is the law.

We seek to promote fair employment procedures and practices to ensure equal opportunities for all. We encourage individual expression in our workplace and are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels they have the opportunity to contribute.

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All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, protected veteran status, creed, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, citizenship status or disability status.