Metronorth Railroad

Director, Product Development - Timekeeping

Metronorth Railroad$183K — $216K *
Enterprise Technology
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's Degree or equivalent experience in related fields.
  • Minimum of 8 years of relevant experience, including at least 4 years in a supervisory or management role.
  • Deep understanding of technology and enterprise product solutions.
  • Expertise in project management with a focus on agile methodologies.
  • Experience with development in popular programming languages such as Ruby, Python, and Java.

Responsibilities

  • Oversee product lifecycle from inception to retirement.
  • Direct interdisciplinary teams in product design and maintenance.
  • Research and implement leading market practices in IT disciplines.
  • Develop and manage product budgets and timelines effectively.
  • Collaborate with management to align software projects with strategic goals.

Benefits

  • Telework eligibility, allowing for a flexible work environment.
  • Exposure to cutting-edge technology in a high-profile transportation environment.
  • Opportunities for professional development and upskilling within IT.
  • Engagement in impactful projects supporting a massive transit network.
Full Job Description
Job ID: 14981

Business Unit: MTA Headquarters

Location: New York, NY, United States

Regular/Temporary: Regular

Department: Corporate IT Products

Date Posted: Mar 12, 2026

Description

JOB TITLE:

Director, Product Development - Timekeeping

SALARY RANGE:

$183,342 - $216,403

DEPT/DIV:

Information Technology

SUPERVISOR:

Deputy Chief, Technology Officer, Corporate Systems Products

LOCATION :

2 Broadway, New York, NY 10004

HOURS OF WORK:

9:00 am - 5:30 pm (7.5 hours/day) or as required

This position is eligible for telewor k ing, which is currently 2 days per week . New hires are eligible to apply 30 days after their effective date of hire.

Summary

This role is responsible for overseeing the development of product lifecycles from inception/innovation through design, build, and ultimately the ongoing run stage before an eventual product retirement. This role must possess knowledge in an IT discipline critical to IT operations and a broad understanding of related domains (e.g., AI/ML, cloud services, cyber security, penetration testing, architecture, etc.).

This premium technical role demands a high level of expertise and precision, as it involves leading cutting-edge projects, solving complex technical challenges, and ensuring the delivery of premium quality solutions that meet stringent performance and reliability standards. This position requires a proactive approach to innovation, a commitment to continuous improvement, and the ability to inspire and mentor a team of skilled professionals to achieve excellence in their technical endeavors.

The role is responsible for directing interdisciplinary teams assigned to design, develop, and maintain one or more product lines. This includes a range of products critical to IT operations, including, but not limited to:
  • Corp Finance/ Capital Planning & Budget
  • Legal, Risk & Safety
  • Enterprise Asset Management
  • Workforce Products (Payroll, Pension, Timekeeping, Recruitment)
  • Employee Experience
  • Platforms/Back-End Operations/DBA
  • Bus & Paratransit
  • Scheduling Crew Pick
  • Transportation Intelligent Systems, Train Control
  • B&T Products
  • Customer Experience
  • Revenue Fare Collections


Responsibilities

Premium Role Responsibilities - May conduct one or multiple of the responsibilities listed below in the IT discipline:
  • Possesses knowledge in an IT discipline critical to IT operations and a broad understanding of related domains (e.g., AI/ML, cloud services, cyber security, penetration testing, architecture, etc.).
  • Researches and implements new leading market practices.
  • s/standards to inform the strategic direction of key IT disciplines such as AI/ML, cloud services, cyber security, penetration testing, architecture, etc.
  • Possesses knowledge of UX principles to guide the development of products that provide a seamless and intuitive user experience.
  • May collaborate with the cybersecurity team to conduct penetration testing and manage White Hat operations to safeguard our software assets.
  • May contribute to the design and implementation of machine learning models and AI strategies to enhance our transportation computing offerings.
  • May assist in the development and management of cloud-based infrastructure, ensuring scalability, security, and performance.
  • Works closely with senior management to execute software development projects that align with the company's strategic goals.
  • May support the software engineering teams, advocating for best practices in coding, testing, and continuous integration/deployment.

Core Role Responsibilities
  • Oversees the product vision and strategy being implemented into the product development team's work.
  • Reviews and oversees potential identified and unidentified risks to the product. Supports the development of mitigation strategies.
  • Develops the budget for product initiatives. Oversees that product initiatives are completed on time and within budget.
  • Leads and manages through change, including the ability to adapt to shifting priorities and market conditions.
  • Translates strategies and policies into operational plans, ensuring alignment with company objectives.
  • Directs IT teams, fostering professional growth and ensuring adherence to best practices.
  • Delivers monthly or quarterly results, with performance subject to regular review against targets.
  • Collaborates with IT and business leaders to create and manage product roadmaps aligned with digital strategies.
  • Oversees team compliance with governance processes and adherence to technology architectures and methodologies.
  • Develops and monitors system support processes to maintain product quality and sustainability.
  • Understands customer needs, market trends, and the competitive landscape to inform product strategy and feature prioritization.
  • Contributes to or influences the strategic direction of one or more disciplines within IT.
  • Directs day-to-day operations and motivates team(s) to achieve results; may be responsible for a budget.
  • Oversees product lifecycle, from ideation, definition, prototyping, design, validation & testing, launch, run stage, and eventual product retirement.
  • Records metrics on the sustainability, viability, and quality of delivered products within agreed service targets.
  • Monitors the effectiveness and efficiency of product(s), and develops, proposes, and implements improvement strategies.
  • Oversees team priorities and resource demand/supply; recommends timelines and resources needed to achieve goals and objectives.
  • Attracts, develops, coaches, and retains high-performance team members, empowering them to elevate their level of responsibility, span of control, and performance.
  • Identifies, assesses, and mitigates risks. These risks may arise from numerous sources (e.g., financial instability, legal obligations, strategic management mistakes, and unforeseen incidents).
  • Ensures program/portfolio/product and personnel adhere to all organizational policies and procedures, as well as any relevant laws and regulations, including MTA standards, ethical polices and guidelines. Performs periodic recertifications of devices and user usage.
  • Establishes and monitors metrics for organizational performance to ensure alignment with MTA's objectives. Responsible for maintaining dashboards, deploying tools for service optimization, and overseeing usage to enhance monitoring effectiveness.
  • If applicable, identifies and selects vendors and products to be standardized by MTA, and orchestrates the establishment of contracts for their initial purchase and continued procurement. Collaborates with MTA IT Finance, technical teams, Legal, Procurement, specific MTA agency personnel, and vendors to establish contractual agreements and distribution protocols.
  • Performs other duties and tasks as assigned.
  • Observing the work performed by the contractor.
  • Reviews invoices and approves them if the work meets contractual standards.
  • Addresses performance issues with the contractor when possible.
  • Escalates issues to other parties as needed

Required Qualifications
  • Education: Bachelor's Degree or related fields or equivalent experience. An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.
  • Experience: Minimum of 8 years of relevant experience with a minimum of four years supervisory/ management experience

Technical Skills
  • An expert with a deep understanding of technology.
  • Expert ability to develop and implement enterprise product solutions. Ability to prioritize, handle multitasking, and work in an agile environment. Ability to quickly learn and understand new technologies.
  • Strong experience in managing projects and initiatives.
  • Strong experience with constant shifting needs and demands of the business Departments.
  • Experience in at least one software engineering methodology, including but not limited to : Waterfall , Agile, Scrum, DevOps, Extreme Programming (XP), Kanban, Lean, Rapid Application Development (RAD)
  • Experience with the following language(s): Job Specific (e.g., Ruby, Python, Java, C++, COBOL, etc.)
  • Familiarity with the following vendor-specific platforms: Job Specific (e.g., Azure, Windows Server platforms, or Linux)

Premium Technical Skills (Must meet the criteria for at least one of the premium skills/IT disciplines listed below in order to align to a premium role.)
  • Knowledge of network security, including firewalls and enterprise cloud integrations, and experience in systems administration for Linux and Windows OS, as well as virtualization in the cloud.
  • Knowledge of deploying and managing hybrid multi-cloud environments (Azure, AWS, GCP) and on-premises systems.
  • Knowledge of cloud computing, including architecture, development, operations, security, automation, and financial management.
  • Knowledge of infrastructure automation using scripting languages (shell, Python, Ruby, PowerShell) and configuration management tools (Terraform, Chef, Puppet, CloudFormation).
  • Knowledge of large-scale data center migrations to the cloud.
  • Knowledge of AI/ML solutions and operations.
  • Knowledge of modern AI and ML frameworks and architectures to develop and deploy AI models.
  • Knowledge of software for simulation modeling and analysis of rail systems, such as train performance simulators, traffic management systems, and maintenance management software.
  • Knowledge of evaluating an organization's security infrastructure, IT systems, and protocols.
  • Knowledge of conducting authorized security penetration testing to identify vulnerabilities.

Leadership Skills
  • Expert leadership in leading change by developing inter/intra team communication and cohesiveness; sustainment of culture and supporting staff during organizational growth/changes.
  • Expert leadership in leading people by working with staff to develop systems to ensure consistent, high-quality project management discipline for all technology-related initiatives and endeavors.
  • Expert leadership in driving results by meeting organizational goals and customer expectations and making decisions that produce high-quality results by applying technical knowledge, analyzing problems, and calculating risks.
  • Expert leadership in business acumen by providing direction on evaluation, selection, implementation, and maintenance of information systems, ensuring appropriate investment in strategic and operational systems.
  • Expert leadership in building coalitions by internally and externally building partnerships with key stakeholders to help achieve the MTA's mission or common goals through influence or negotiations.

Behavioral Skills
  • Demonstrated ability to lead teams, provide coaching, and direct feedback.
  • Expert in active listening, attention to detail, customer service, prioritization, and problem-solving skills.
  • Expert in working independently and strategically.
  • Expert in identifying and analyzing risks and developing effective mitigation strategies.
  • Expert technical knowledge and a diverse skillset to understand various technologies, systems, and potential risks.
  • Expert in critical thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
  • Expert in interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills, with the ability to effectively collaborate with both technical and non-technical peers.
  • Expert in managing multiple projects simultaneously and prioritizing tasks based on urgency and impact.
  • Extensive hands-on experience with related tools.
  • Expert experience with working under pressure and meeting deadlines individually and collaboratively. Thinks logically, assesses problems, and is results-oriented .
  • Expert in identifying complex business and technology risks and associated vulnerabilities.
  • Expert in communicating effectively, both orally and in writing, to interact with team members, customers, management, and support personnel (technical and non-technical).
  • Expert in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with employees at all levels within the organization, and with both internal and external customers.

Competencies

Core Competency

Proficiency Level

Competency Definition

Collaborates

Expert

Building partnerships and working collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives

Cultivates Innovation

Expert

Creating new and better ways for the organization to be su

About Metronorth Railroad

Metro-North Railroad is a commuter railroad that serves the northern suburbs of New York City. The railroad was founded in 1983 and is owned by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA). Metro-North operates three main lines, the Hudson Line, the Harlem Line, and the New Haven Line, which together serve over 85 million passengers annually. The railroad has a fleet of over 400 rail cars and operates over 700 trains per day. In addition to commuter service, Metro-North also operates several tourist trains, including the popular Fall Foliage and Holiday Express trains.
Learn more about Metronorth Railroad
Size
7,000 employees
Industry
Net Income
$100 million
Founded
1983
5 Year Trend
-5%
Revenue
$1 billion

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