Rail Equipment Optimization Lead
Job Summary
The Rail Equipment Optimization Lead manages specialized rail assets to transport heavy, oversized cargo across North America. The role involves engineering oversight, asset lifecycle management, and operational planning to ensure safety and efficiency. You will coordinate with railroads, manage vendor contracts, and drive continuous improvement in equipment reliability.
Responsibilities
- Manage specialized rail asset strategy and lifecycle
- Coordinate rail capacity and train paths
- Oversee heavy lift operations and route readiness
- Implement reliability and predictive maintenance programs
- Manage vendor contracts and performance metrics
Required Skills
- Mechanical or Railway Engineering background
- Railcar design and load securement expertise
- Knowledge of FRA regulations and 49 CFR
- Heavy haul operations experience
- Vendor and commercial negotiation skills
Job Details
Core Responsibilities
Equipment Strategy and Lifecycle Management: Define strategy for specialized assets (Multi-axle rail cars, heavy-duty flatcars, bolsters); set replacement, refurbishment.
Asset Utilization and Deployment: Match equipment capability to shipment profiles; manage pooling, allocation, and rotation rules to maximize throughput and minimize idle time.
Capacity Coordination: Secure train paths, siding access, and terminal slots with Class I and shortline railroads; align equipment availability with booked capacity and contingency plans.
Heavy Lift and Route Readiness: Support route surveys, permitting, temporary works, and carrier interface for nonstandard moves.
Reliability and Maintenance Programs: Implement preventive and predictive maintenance, condition monitoring, inspection schedules, and root-cause analysis for equipment failures.
Technical Standards and Compliance: Maintain load charts, securement standards, certification records; ensure compliance with carrier rules and U.S. federal rail regulations.
Vendor and Contract Management: Manage relationships with manufacturers, lessors, maintenance providers, and repair shops; negotiate service agreements, warranties, and spare parts contracts. Ability to manage 4PL RAIL management provider.
Performance Monitoring and Continuous Improvement: Track utilization, availability, MTBF, maintenance cost per move, and turnaround time; pilot telemetry and predictive analytics to improve uptime.
Training and Competency Development: Create and deliver training for operations, maintenance crews, and contractors on safe handling, inspection, and specialized equipment operation.
Stakeholder Communication: Produce technical briefings, load plans, and risk assessments for internal stakeholders, customers, carriers, and regulators.
Required Qualifications
Education: Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Railway Engineering, Logistics, or related field.
Experience: Minimum 8 years in rail equipment engineering, heavy haul operations, or asset management; experience moving generators and gas turbines preferred.
Technical Knowledge: Railcar design, load securement, axle load distribution, dynamic behavior under heavy loads, route constraint analysis, and heavy lift planning.
Regulatory Familiarity: Working knowledge of FRA guidance and relevant parts of 49 CFR applicable to railroad operating practices and safety.
Commercial Experience: Experience negotiating with carriers, equipment lessors, and maintenance vendors.