Transit Facility Architect Lead

Job Description

Parsons is hiring an experienced Transit Facilities Architect Lead to support and grow our Canada Rail & Transit business. This role is ideal for a senior architect with deep expertise in transit stations, maintenance and storage facilities, rail and bus depots, and zero‑emission bus (ZEB) facilities , along with proven leadership in project delivery and pursuit support.

Our Rail & Transit portfolio across Canada includes new station design, station upgrades, rail depot design, bus depot design, and related systems/infrastructure integration . In addition to leading the execution of active projects, you will help expand our facilities practice by supporting pursuits, identifying capability gaps (especially BIM/digital delivery), and working closely with Parsons’ architecture and multi‑disciplinary teams to deliver excellence for our clients.

• Lead all phases of transit facility projects (planning/feasibility, concept, schematic, detailed design, and construction support) ensuring delivery meets scope, schedule, budget, and quality expectations.
• Serve as Architectural Lead and/or Project Manager for complex transit facilities, coordinating architectural design with civil, structural, MEP, systems, rail, operations, safety, and sustainability requirements.
• Ensure designs reflect transit operating needs, maintainability, passenger experience, safety/security, accessibility, and resilience.

• Act as a primary point of contact for clients and stakeholders, maintaining trusted relationships and responding effectively to feedback.
• Lead and participate in workshops, design reviews, value engineering, and stakeholder engagement activities (owners, operators, municipalities, Indigenous communities where applicable, constructors, and third parties).

• Identify, qualify, and support pursuits across Western Canada including:
• Maintenance & Storage Facilities
• Zero Emission Bus Facilities (charging infrastructure integration and facility impacts)
• Transit stations and station upgrades
• Contribute to proposals, interviews, technical approaches, schedules, resourcing plans, and fee development in coordination with Parsons leadership.

• Champion design quality management and best practices, ensuring deliverables meet Parsons and client standards, applicable codes, and authority requirements.
• Lead BIM strategy and execution (model‑based coordination, clash detection workflows, BIM execution planning) and identify gaps in team capability with action plans to close them.

• Build, mentor, and develop high‑performing teams; provide technical direction, coaching, and review of deliverables.
• Support hiring, resourcing, and capability development to grow Parsons’ transit facilities architecture practice in Canada West.

• Bachelor’s degree in Architecture (or related field) or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 20+ years of progressively responsible experience delivering transit/transportation facilities (stations, depots, maintenance facilities, operations buildings, and/or intermodal facilities).
• Demonstrated leadership delivering projects through feasibility to detailed design and construction support, coordinating multi‑disciplinary teams.
• Strong knowledge of Canadian building codes , accessibility requirements, and life‑safety principles as applied to complex public/infrastructure facilities.
• Proven experience with alternative delivery models (Design‑Build, P3, Alliance/CM), including architect responsibilities during procurement and construction.
• Business development experience supporting pursuits (proposal writing, technical leadership, interviews, client strategy).

• Registered Architect (or eligibility/active progress toward registration) with a Canadian provincial association (OAA, AAA, AIBC, MAA, etc.).
• Experience with ZEB facilities , charging infrastructure interface impacts, and facility planning for electrification.
• Strong proficiency in BIM and design tools such as Revit, AutoCAD,…