Lead Subject Matter Expert (Quality Assurance & Control) - Rolling Stock Engineering

This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, which manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for a Lead Subject Matter Expert (Quality Assurance & Control) – Rolling Stock Engineering based in the United States. Join a specialized rail and transit consulting environment dedicated to improving the safety, reliability, and performance of rail transportation systems across North America. As a Lead Subject Matter Expert in Quality Assurance and Control, you will provide technical leadership across rolling stock engineering projects, including new vehicle procurement, fleet modernization, rebuilds, and fleet management initiatives. You will oversee manufacturing quality, conduct inspections and audits, and ensure that rail vehicles meet applicable technical specifications, industry standards, and client expectations. Working alongside engineers, management consultants, clients, and subcontractors, you will help deliver complex projects with a strong focus on safety, quality, and operational excellence. You will also contribute to design reviews, first article inspections, and continuous improvement initiatives throughout the vehicle lifecycle. This role combines hands-on technical expertise with team leadership, stakeholder engagement, and independent project delivery. It offers an opportunity to influence the quality and long-term performance of passenger rail and transit fleets while supporting the future of sustainable mobility.

Lead and support rolling stock engineering projects from concept through completion, including new vehicle procurement, existing vehicle modifications, rebuilds, and fleet management activities. Oversee quality assurance and quality control activities across different rail vehicle types, including locomotives, multiple units, and passenger rail cars. Conduct first article inspections and assess manufacturing quality before and after vehicle delivery to verify compliance with technical specifications and contractual requirements. Perform on-site manufacturing inspections, including welding inspections where applicable, to identify defects, verify workmanship, and ensure adherence to quality standards. Organize and lead quality audits, supervising inspection teams and subcontractors to ensure consistent execution and reliable project outcomes. Participate in design reviews and ensure that appropriate quality assurance processes, inspection requirements, and approval gates are incorporated and implemented throughout project development. Implement and maintain QA/QC procedures for engineering models, simulations, and technical deliverables, ensuring accuracy, consistency, reliability, and continuous improvement. Prepare clear, comprehensive inspection reports and other technical documentation, ensuring deliverables meet established quality expectations, project budgets, and deadlines. Serve as a technical liaison between clients, project stakeholders, engineering teams, manufacturers, and subcontractors, addressing quality concerns and facilitating effective communication. Support procurement and vehicle rebuild programs by verifying that construction activities comply with applicable standards, specifications, and project requirements. Monitor fleet delivery performance and quality, identifying potential issues and recommending corrective actions to improve reliability and overall project execution. Contribute to client relationship management, business development, marketing activities, and project scope definition by providing specialist technical expertise. Work independently and collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams to deliver high-quality consulting services across passenger rail and transit projects. Requirements: Education: Bachelor's degree in engineering or a related technical field, with relevant experience in rolling stock engineering and quality assurance and control. Rail industry experience: Demonstrated experience supporting rail vehicle or transit procurement projects, particularly in manufacturing quality, inspections, quality control, and compliance verification. Quality assurance expertise: Strong knowledge of QA/QC methodologies, quality audits, manufacturing processes, inspection procedures, and technical documentation. Certifications: Certified Quality Auditor and Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) credentials are desirable. Multi-modal rail knowledge: Experience across different rail transportation modes, particularly high-speed and intercity rail, commuter rail, light rail and streetcar systems, and subway networks. Regulatory knowledge: Experience working with rail regulatory authorities, including the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and Federal Transit Administration (FTA), in relation to rail vehicles. Fleet performance experience: Familiarity with fleet management, vehicle delivery performance, manufacturing quality oversight, and post-delivery inspections is preferred. Technical inspection capabilities: Ability to assess rail vehicle construction, evaluate manufacturing quality, participate in design reviews, and verify compliance with technical standards and specifications. Leadership and supervision: Experience coordinating or supervising inspectors, subcontractors, and multidisciplinary project teams, including during audits and on-site inspections. Communication skills: Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to prepare accurate technical reports and communicate effectively with clients, manufacturers, and internal stakeholders. Project management: Ability to manage multiple priorities, work independently, meet deadlines, and deliver high-quality work within defined project scopes and budgets. Analytical and problem-solving skills: Strong attention to detail and the ability to identify quality issues, assess risks, recommend corrective measures, and support continuous improvement. Working arrangements and travel: Comfortable working remotely from a home office or an appropriate indoor office environment, with travel required for project implementation, manufacturing inspections, audits, and site visits. Physical requirements: Ability, with or without reasonable accommodation, to work at a computer for periods of up to four hours, participate in telephone conversations for up to three hours daily, sit through meetings for up to three hours without breaks, and walk or stand for up to four hours during site visits. The role also requires the ability to inspect rail vehicles in manufacturing facilities, including areas such as inspection pits, platforms, and vehicles at different stages of completion. Benefits: Competitive annual salary: $182,000–$212,000 USD gross per year for full-time employment, depending on qualifications and professional experience. Bonus opportunities: Additional bonus compensation. Medical insurance: Multiple healthcare plan options, ranging from low-deductible to high-deductible coverage. Dental and vision insurance: Coverage to support dental and vision care. Health and flexible spending accounts: Access to Health Savings Accounts (HSA) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA). Life and disability insurance: Employer-paid life insurance, accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) coverage, and short-term and long-term disability insurance. Employee Assistance Program: Confidential support services available to employees and members of their households. Retirement savings: 401(k) plan with employer safe harbor contributions. Paid time off: Competitive vacation allowance and 11 paid company holidays. Paid parental leave: Parental leave benefits to support employees and their families. Supplemental insurance: Optional accident, critical illness, and hospital indemnity coverage, including wellness benefits. Commuter benefits: Tax-advantaged options for eligible public transportation and parking expenses. Remote work flexibility: Primarily remote work from the United States, with travel for inspections, audits, and project-related activities. Professional impact: The opportunity to contribute to major rail and transit engineering projects focused on safety, quality, reliability, and sustainable transportation.