Rail Equipment Optimization Lead - Heavy Specialized

Job Description Summary

Job Description

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.

Preferred Qualifications

Direct experience with multi-axle rail cars, heavy-Duty fleets.

Proven track record moving generators and gas turbines across U.S. rail routes.

Background in reliability engineering, predictiv