Senior Subject Matter Expert - Rail Infrastructure Maintenance & Asset Management

DB E.C.O. North America (with “E.C.O.” representing “Engineering, Consulting and Operations") offers specialized rail and transit consultancy services to public agencies, passenger and freight railroads. DB E.C.O. North America is part of the DB E.C.O. Group and leverages Deutsche Bahn’s global expertise to advance mobility and rail transportation across the U.S. and Canada. Their cross-disciplinary team collaborates closely with clients to innovate their portfolios and elevate business performance. With a focus on sustainability, safety, and operational excellence, they strive to enhance the customer experience, increase rail usage, and “Transform The Future Of Mobility.” 

Department: Consulting, Infrastructure Domain

Reports to: Senior Manager

Location: Laguna Niguel or Sacramento, CA (Hybrid)

Tasks & Responsibilities:

• Lead and support consulting engagements in rail infrastructure maintenance, infrastructure management, and asset management.
• Advise clients on the development and implementation of maintenance strategies, asset management strategies, and long-term infrastructure management approaches.
• Develop maintenance concepts covering preventive, predictive, condition-based, and corrective maintenance, including inspection regimes, intervention planning, maintenance frequencies, and resource requirements.
• Support clients in optimizing asset lifecycle performance, including renewal and replacement planning, investment prioritization, lifecycle costing, and long-term capital planning.
• Assess existing maintenance organizations, processes, standards, systems, and capabilities and develop practical recommendations and implementation roadmaps.
• Develop organizational concepts, roles and responsibilities, governance structures, processes, procedures, performance standards, and KPIs for infrastructure maintenance and asset management.
• Evaluate maintenance and asset management practices against industry standards, international best practices, and relevant benchmarks.
• Analyze the interaction between infrastructure condition, maintenance activities, railway operations, reliability, availability, safety, and lifecycle cost.
• Lead technical workstreams and coordinate multidisciplinary teams and subject matter experts.
• Develop clear, actionable recommendations based on technical analysis and translate complex technical topics into decision-making material for senior and executive audiences.
• Prepare and deliver client presentations, reports, proposals, and other consulting deliverables.
• Build and maintain relationships with key client stakeholders and industry partners across the rail and transit sector.
• Support business development activities, including identification of client needs, development of technical approaches, preparation of proposals, and participation in client discussions.
• Contribute to the development of the Infrastructure Maintenance & Asset Management consulting practice, including reusable methodologies, tools, benchmarks, frameworks, and client offerings.
• Leverage Deutsche Bahn's technical expertise and international experience and adapt relevant practices to the needs of North American rail and transit clients.
• Mentor and coach consultants and junior team members and contribute to the development of technical capabilities within the Infrastructure team.

Requirements:

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in engineering, transportation, asset management, or a related technical discipline.
• Minimum of 10 years of relevant professional experience in rail infrastructure maintenance, infrastructure management, asset management, or a closely related field.
• Strong practical understanding of railway infrastructure assets and their maintenance requirements, ideally across several asset classes such as track, civil structures, signaling, communications, traction power, stations, and associated systems.
• Excellent understanding of rail infrastructure maintenance strategies and maintenance planning, including preventive, predictive, condition-based, and corrective maintenance approaches.
• Excellent understanding of asset lifecycle management, renewal and replacement planning, investment planning and prioritization, lifecycle costing, and long-term capital planning.
• Strong knowledge of infrastructure asset management frameworks, maintenance organizations, governance structures, processes and procedures, performance management, and industry benchmarks.
• Experience developing, implementing, or reviewing maintenance plans, asset management plans, maintenance standards, inspection regimes, maintenance frequencies, and resource requirements.
• Strong understanding of the relationship between infrastructure maintenance, railway operations, system reliability and availability, safety, and customer performance.
• Experience leading complex technical projects or workstreams involving multidisciplinary teams and senior stakeholders.
• Ability to combine technical expertise with a strategic and business-oriented perspective and develop practical, implementable solutions.
• Experience in management consulting, advisory services, or a comparable client-facing environment is preferred.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills and the ability to structure complex and ambiguous problems.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate complex technical matters clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Excellent presentation skills and experience presenting recommendations to senior client stakeholders.
• Strong client orientation and ability to develop trusted relationships with technical and executive stakeholders.
• Ability and willingness to contribute to business development and the continued growth of the Infrastructure Maintenance & Asset Management practice.
• Independent, structured, collaborative working style with a strong sense of ownership and the ability to drive initiatives forward.

Working Conditions and Travel:

Minimal overnight travel by land and air. 

Physical Requirements, with or without a reasonable accommodation: 

• Ability to work at a computer workstation for periods up to 4 hours at a time 
• Ability to speak on the telephone for a total of up to 3 hours per day 
• Ability to sit for up to 3 hours without breaks at meetings 
• Ability to walk and stand for up to 4 hours without breaks at program site visits and meetings

We offer an annual gross salary between $165,000 and $193,000 + bonus (USD) for full-time employment, depending on professional qualifications and experience.

Quick overview of our U.S. Health & Wellness Benefits: 

• Medical Insurance: Multiple options - Low to High Deductible plans 

• Dental & Vision 

• Health Savings & Flexible Spending Accounts 

• Life & AD&D Insurance, Short-term, and Long-term Disability: Company-paid 

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for employees and their household members 

• Commuter Benefits: Use tax-free money to pay for eligible transit and parking expenses (Train, subway, bus, ferry, parking). 

• Parental Paid Leave 

• Supplemental Coverage: Optional accident, critical illness, and hospital indemnity plans with wellness benefits. 

• Retirement Savings (401k) with company safe harbor contributions 

• Vacation & Holidays: Competitive time off plus 11 paid company holidays 

DB E.C.O North America, Inc. provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, veteran status, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements. DB E.C.O North America, Inc. complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment.  

For California applicants: We follow the California Fair Chance Act, San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, and/or Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring. As is the case for applicants in any jurisdiction, you do not need to disclose your criminal history or participate in a background check until a conditional job offer is made to you. After providing a conditional offer and conducting a background check, we will consider hiring any qualified individual with arrest or conviction records in accordance with all relevant laws, and specifically will assess whether any conviction history directly relates to the job duties.  We will take into consideration the individual’s explanation and potential mitigating factors as defined by the law.  

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire. 

---

Quick overview of our Canada Health & Wellness Benefits: 

We offer a comprehensive, company‑paid benefits program for employees and their eligible dependents. This includes Basic Life Insurance, Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D), Dependent Life Insurance, Long‑Term Disability, extended Health and Dental coverage, and access to an Employee Assistance Program (EAP). 

In addition, the Company supports your long‑term financial well‑being by subsidizing a Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) of your choice with a contribution equal to 5% of your basic salary. 

We also provide competitive vacation time along with 11 paid company holidays, so you have the time you need to rest, recharge, and enjoy life outside of work.