Pacific Northwest Major Projects Leader - Rail & Transport

Joining Arup

Arup's purpose, shared values, and collaborative approach has set us apart for over 80 years, guiding how we shape a better world.

Given our growing business, Arup is looking for a Northwest Major Projects Lead to join our Rail team in Seattle, supporting a portfolio of major rail and transit infrastructure programs across the United States and Canada. This role is suited to a senior Rail professional who combines multidisciplinary design leadership with strong client relationships and a passion for shaping a better future for our community through transportation.

In this senior leadership role, you will work closely with multidisciplinary teams, project managers, contractors and public agencies to deliver complex projects in alignment with client objectives, Arup's commercial goals, and our commitment to quality, safety and sustainability. The Major Projects Lead provides strategic oversight of design development and implementation, supports integrated teams delivering major programs-including those where Arup serves as Prime Consultant-and guides teams and clients through critical phases of decision‑making, risk management, and execution across the program lifecycle.

The Opportunity

* Provide on-the-ground senior leadership to multidisciplinary teams of Arup engineers and subconsultants, establishing clear delivery frameworks that support consistent, high‑quality outcomes.

* Champion quality assurance and governance standards, providing oversight and independent challenge to ensure technical, regulatory, and contractual risks are effectively managed.

* Shape and support business development strategies to grow and diversify Arup's rail portfolio, while cultivating trusted, long‑term relationships with key clients, partners, and industry organizations.

* Act as a senior representative of Arup within the regional rail and transit market, including relationship leadership with selected industry bodies.

* Build and sustain a culture of collaboration, excellence, and accountability across integrated project teams, supporting workforce planning, senior recruitment, and succession.

* Mentor and develop project and technical leaders through coaching, performance reviews, and promotion processes.

* Provide strategic oversight of program performance-across schedule, budget, risk, and delivery outcomes-intervening as needed to support resolution and successful execution.

At Arup, you belong to an extraordinary collective - in which we encourage individuality to thrive. Our strength comes from how we respect, share and connect our diverse experiences, perspectives and ideas.

You will have the opportunity to do socially useful work that has meaning - to Arup, to your career, to our members and to the clients and communities we serve.

Is this role right for you?

* Bachelor's or Master's degree in Engineering with 15+ years of experience providing senior leadership across complex infrastructure projects within multidisciplinary environments.

* Professional Engineering (PE) license.

* Demonstrated experience leading the successful delivery of complex infrastructure projects, with accountability for design and technical excellence, commercial performance, risk, and outcomes.

* Proven ability to build and sustain trusted relationships with senior client stakeholders, including owners, contractors, and public agencies.

* Experience leading major projects delivered through design‑build is required; experience with other alternative delivery models (CM/GC, Progressive Design‑Build, etc.) is preferred.

* Experience across rail and major infrastructure programs; maintenance facility experience is desirable but not required.

* Ability to lead across multiple complex priorities, providing clarity, governance, and strategic focus in fast‑paced, high‑risk environments.

* Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to influence, align, and advise senior stakeholders.

Please note that all applicants must apply directly via the job portal. If this role is not quite what you are looking for, but you are interested in other opportunities for a future with purpose, please sign up to our Talent Community where…