Chief of Structures

State of Maryland

$99K — $156K *
Transportation
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Maryland Professional Engineer License is mandatory at appointment time.
  • Minimum of two (2) years managing engineering projects as a licensed engineer.
  • At least one (1) year of experience in Structural Engineering or Trackwork Engineering.
  • Twelve (12) years of experience in Professional Engineering is preferred.
  • One (1) year supervisory or consultant management experience is ideal.

Responsibilities

  • Provide strategic leadership for rail and transportation infrastructure projects.
  • Manage and supervise staff and contractor performance in the track and structures division.
  • Oversee design work for various transit projects including Metro and Light Rail.
  • Collaborate with procurement to develop technical proposals and scopes of work.
  • Lead technical project reviews and streamline QA/QC processes.
  • Conduct comprehensive inspections of MTA structures and perform field site checks.
  • Develop and mentor an engineering team in technical subjects and best practices.

Benefits

  • Participation in safety meetings and adherence to safety policies are encouraged.
  • Bilingual applicants are specifically encouraged to apply.
Full Job Description
Salary: $99,442.00 - $156,822.00 Annually
Location : Baltimore City
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number: 7666-MTA-COS-07/26-wj
Department: Maryland Transit Administration
Opening Date: 07/08/2026

Description
MARYLAND TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION
Transportation Design Engineer VI (7666)
Chief of Structures
Career Service
**Bilingual applicants are encouraged to apply**

The Transit Administration (MTA) is recruiting for Chief, Track & Structures.
The Chief of Track and Structures provides strategic program leadership for rail, transit, and transportation infrastructure projects. This senior position is responsible for managing a team of professional engineers, project managers, and support staff in delivering high-quality, compliant, and efficient structural design solutions across the organization's capital program. Tasks include, but are not limited to:

- Providing management oversight for all staff operating within the track and structures division, including supervising the performance, work quality, and activities of MTA staff and external consultant engineers and designers. Sharing strategic direction on complex management and technical decisions

- Overseeing and/or directly administering design and engineering work for core capacity, strategic capital projects, system enhancements, expansions, improvements, and State of Good Repair projects for Metro, Light Rail Transit, Freight, and MARC. Developing and managing schedules, budgets, cost estimates, and negotiations for assigned projects, ensuring completeness, accuracy, and alignment with transportation priorities.

- Serving as a skilled collaborator with the Office of Procurement by developing technical proposals, including scopes of work, and sitting on selection committees for engineering contract solicitations.

- Leading multidisciplinary technical project reviews and recommending design solutions in coordination with MTA departments and other state and local agency partners

- Developing and managing internal and/or consultant-based resources providing engineering support and guidance to the Departments of Operations and Maintenance of Way including technical specifications, maintenance and inspection programs, emergency and incident response and safety risk assessment and mitigation

- Streamlining and facilitating the QA/QC process, including coordination with MTA operational divisions such as construction, systems, operations, and maintenance.

- Overseeing comprehensive MTA inspection programs encompassing tunnels, bridges, elevated structures, culverts, and other auxiliary structures situated along the transit system, and performing field site inspections as required

- Maintaining involvement throughout the project lifecycle from planning and initiation to construction, commissioning, and closeout phases

- Reviewing RFIs, contract deliverables, submittals, change order requests, and contractor invoices, recommending corrective actions as necessary

- Participating in Risk Management Assessments and implementing risk mitigation strategies

- Developing and leading a team of technical subject matter experts in the review and resolution of contractor claims, including preparation of technical position papers and recommended outcomes. Tasks will also include contract review, coordinating with MTA legal, and negotiating with contractors

- Coordinating with Procurement, Capital Programming, and Project Managers for fund certifications, annual task fund lists, calls for projects, presentations, executive summaries, State of Good Repair reports, and executive memorandums related to construction projects

- Providing project support to other MTA departments including reviewing budgets and financial plans and performing special analyses as requested by MTA senior management.

- Providing oversight and management of budget planning and reporting related to the Track and Structural Engineering components of the MTA Capital program and Consolidated Transportation Program

- Working closely with project teams and fund managers to evaluate changes, resolve issues, and align budget allocations with transportation priorities
- In-depth knowledge of structural engineering principles, codes, and standards and practices in broad areas related to bridge design; geotechnical/foundation design, substructure design, superstructure design, and retaining and noise walls

- Familiarity with structural design and analysis, materials, and construction techniques for making informed decisions and ensuring compliance with regulations

- The ability to identify and analyze problems, propose solutions, and make informed decisions, which includes critical thinking skills and the ability to troubleshoot and resolve issues that arise during the construction process

- Conduct preliminary and detailed structural analysis and design, ensuring compliance with local and national building codes and standards.

- Demonstrate a thorough understanding of structural engineering principles and effectively communicate technical ideas and solutions to team members and clients.

- Design, analyze, and specify structural systems including steel, reinforced concrete, masonry, and timber for both new buildings and renovations/additions to existing structures.

- Lead or support an engineering team in evaluating, selecting, specifying, and engineering all structural systems for the project.

- Provide construction administration services and collaborate with contractors to address any construction issues that arise during the construction phase.

- Prepare detailed condition assessment reports on the condition of existing structures and systems.

- Coordinate with other divisions to ensure integrated design and functionality.

- Mentor and guide junior engineers within the Structural department, fostering a culture of growth and knowledge-sharing.
Qualifications

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Possession of a Maryland Professional Engineer License, in the appropriate option, is required. Evidence of license must be presented at the time of appointment.

Experience: Two (2) years of experience managing engineering projects as a licensed, professional engineer. *One (1) year of experience in Structural Engineering or Trackwork Engineering.

*This statement contains a Selective Qualification, which is more focused in scope than the Minimum Qualifications for this classification. Selective Qualifications are utilized when the position requires specific or bona-fide occupational qualifications (i.e., knowledge, skills or abilities).SUBSTITUTION INFORMATION
U.S. Armed Forces military service experience as defined under the Experience Requirement of the Minimum Qualifications may be substituted for the required education and experience on a year-for-year basis.

The ideal candidate will possess twelve (12) years of experience in Professional Engineering and one (1) year of supervisory or consultant management experience.
If you have held more than one (1) position at the same employer, please list each position (and the duties of that position) that you held and the length of time that you held each position.

Applicants must submit a CURRENT copy of their Complete Driving Record (NOT more than 30 days old), (NOT the 36 months driving record) available from MVA with their application to be considered.


SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
Employees may be subject to emergency recall 24 hours a day and may be required to maintain a reliable communication link (telephone or pager) for the purpose of emergency call back requirements.

Eligible applicants may be subject to a background investigation under Federal or State laws and regulations. A conviction is not an automatic disqualification to employment. Erroneous, misleading or fraudulent information on an application is sufficient grounds for rejection from the hiring process, removal from the list of eligibles, withdrawal of an offer for employment or immediate discharge.

Additional Information

Employees should adhere to all safety rules, policies, regulations, and personal protective equipment requirements to support a safe and healthy working environment. Employees may attend and participate in safety meetings and should report hazards, unsafe acts, near misses, injuries, and accidents immediately to the Office of Safety and supervision.

Employees should adhere to all safety rules, policies, regulations, and personal protective equipment requirements to support a safe and healthy working environment. Employees may attend and participate in safety meetings, be aware of hazards in their work area, and should report hazards, unsafe acts, near misses, injuries, and accidents immediately.

TO APPLY:
You must complete a Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) application (Form DTS-1) to be considered for this recruitment. Resumes may not be substituted for the application. Since the examination for this recruitment may be an evaluation and rating of the information you provide on your application, it is essential that the application is filled out completely and accurately, listing all relevant experience in detail and addressing the specific requirements shown above. Please include all relevant experience on your application. This includes, but is not limited to, full or part time, volunteer, military, acting capacity, or any other experience that is relevant to the position you are applying for within MDOT, one of the modal administrations, or the Authority.

NOTE: Applications not completely filled out will not be considered. The selected candidate will be subject to background and reference checks. Employees are subject to the State Substance Abuse Policy to include possible drug testing.

It is highly recommended that applications be completed and submitted online by registering at Make sure you meet the minimum and selective qualifications and follow the instructions on MDOT's Online Employment Center website.

Applicants not applying online may obtain a DTS-1 Application form by calling (410) 767-3860 and mail to: MTA Office of Human Resources, 6 Saint Paul Street, 5th Floor, Baltimore, MD 21202. Applicants may also submit their application directly to the Office of Human Resources.

Applicants with degrees granted outside of the United States will be required to provide a written evaluation of education documentation by a credentialing organization such as: International Credential Evaluation (WES),

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