Engineering Program Manager

Department and Salary

Department: Charlotte Area Transit System Department Salary: $108,851.00 - $156,473.59 Commensurate with Experience Thank you for your interest in joining the team that keeps Charlotte moving, at a very exciting time for our organization. At the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS), we’re committed to delivering safe, reliable, and innovative transit services for our growing community, and we value employees who bring professionalism, passion, and a commitment to public service. This position is currently employed by CATS, a department of the City of Charlotte. With the passage of the PAVE Act and last year’s sales tax referendum, CATS is preparing to transition from a City department to the newly created Metropolitan Public Transit Authority (MPTA). The MPTA was established to strengthen regional transit governance, improve accountability, and support long‑term investment in mobility. It’s an important and exciting step forward for transit in our region. Employees hired into this role will remain City employees through December 31, 2026, and will transition to MPTA employment on January 1, 2027. Benefits and compensation will follow City provisions through 2026 and shift to MPTA provisions in 2027, with clear information shared in advance. Your core duties, reporting structure, and daily responsibilities will remain consistent, with no break in service. If anything delays the transition, your City employment, including compensation and benefits, will remain in place until the move to the MPTA occurs. The creation of the MPTA positions us for a more modern, sustainable, and efficient transit system, one that can better support the Charlotte region for decades to come. We’re excited about what’s ahead and appreciate your interest in being part of it.

Summary

The Engineering Manager provides technical leadership, project and program oversight, and multidisciplinary coordination for engineering initiatives supporting CATS capital delivery, system modernization, rehabilitation, facility improvements, infrastructure upgrades, and other engineering-related priorities. Depending on assignment, this position may oversee work associated with rail, bus, facilities, systems, utilities, civil works, vertical construction, accessibility, special projects, or other engineering programs requiring strong technical judgment and disciplined project execution. This role serves as a manager-level engineering lead responsible for translating agency goals, operational needs, planning inputs, technical standards, and stakeholder requirements into practical engineering solutions and coordinated delivery approaches. Work includes engineering review, consultant and contractor coordination, technical decision support, procurement support, implementation and field coordination, risk identification, documentation oversight, and support for turnover into operations and maintenance. The position works across internal departments, outside consultants, contractors, utilities, regulators, and partner agencies to help ensure engineering work is safe, feasible, maintainable, compliant, and aligned with long‑term agency objectives. The Engineering Manager helps strengthen CATS’ engineering function by improving technical consistency, supporting sound and well‑documented engineering decisions, coordinating effective delivery across a portfolio of assigned work, and helping ensure projects and programs are implemented in a manner that supports safety, operational continuity, lifecycle stewardship, and public accountability.

Major Duties and Responsibilities

The following duties are standard for this position. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the classification if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment for this classification.

Program and Project Leadership

Leads assigned engineering programs, projects, or technical workstreams, including planning, design review, implementation support, and transition into operations or maintenance as applicable. Establishes work priorities, technical expectations, project approaches, and coordination structures for assigned engineering initiatives. Helps define scope, objectives, assumptions, constraints, and execution strategies for projects that may vary in size, complexity, delivery method, and technical discipline. Tracks progress, risks, dependencies, and engineering support needs across multiple concurrent assignments.

Technical Review and Engineering Stewardship

Oversees or performs engineering review of plans, specifications, reports, studies, calculations, models, submittals, technical criteria, and related work products. Helps ensure engineering solutions are aligned with agency standards, codes, operational requirements, safety expectations, constructability needs, maintainability, and lifecycle asset performance. Identifies technical issues, design conflicts, scope gaps, implementation concerns, or system compatibility risks and supports timely resolution. Supports technically sound, practical, and well‑documented engineering decisions across assigned work.

Cross‑Functional Coordination

Coordinates with operations, maintenance, planning, safety, procurement, asset management, finance, capital program management, and other internal stakeholders to support successful project and program delivery. Works with consultants, contractors, utility providers, regulators, local jurisdictions, and partner agencies as needed to support design, permitting, implementation, and turnover. Helps align engineering work with operational constraints, implementation timing, regulatory requirements, and broader agency priorities. Supports collaborative resolution of technical and programmatic issues across disciplines and departments.

Procurement, Consultant, and Contractor Support

Supports development of scopes of work, procurement documentation, technical requirements, bid support materials, and consultant or contractor selection inputs. Coordinates consultant and contractor activities related to design, technical services, implementation support, field issue resolution, and technical closeout. Reviews work products and monitors performance to help ensure consultant and contractor work is timely, complete, and aligned with agency expectations. Supports contract administration activities, technical negotiations, task order development, and amendment review as assigned.

Implementation, Field Coordination, and Turnover

Provides engineering guidance during implementation, field coordination, testing, commissioning, activation, and turnover activities as needed. Participates in site visits, inspections, coordination meetings, technical reviews, and issue resolution efforts involving active work environments. Helps ensure engineering changes, field conditions, and implementation issues are addressed in a manner consistent with agency standards and project objectives. Supports technically sound transition of completed work into operations, maintenance, and system‑of‑record documentation.

Engineering Governance and Documentation

Ensures engineering documentation adheres to agency governance standards, technical review expectations, document control requirements, and turnover procedures. Maintains organized records of reviews, approvals, technical comments, decisions, assumptions, risks, and follow‑up actions. Supports traceability, technical consistency, and defensibility of engineering work products and program decisions. Helps strengthen engineering governance and disciplined review practices across assigned projects and programs.

Leadership and Staff Support

Provides direction, guidance, and support to assigned engineers, coordinators, analysts, or other technical staff. Supports workload management, quality expectations, professional development, and technical consistency within the team. Helps mentor staff, support lessons learned, and encourage continuous improvement in engineering practice and delivery methods. Promotes professionalism, accountability, collaboration, and sound engineering judgment.

Other Responsibilities

Monitors emerging engineering practices, technologies, standards, and implementation methods relevant to assigned programs and projects. Performs related duties as assigned.

Core Competencies

• Engineering Program Leadership – Ability to lead engineering work across a varied portfolio of projects or programs in a disciplined, organized, and results‑oriented manner. Maintains focus on priorities, scope, quality, and follow‑through across multiple assignments. Helps translate agency needs into practical engineering approaches. Supports reliable execution in both structured and evolving project environments.
• Technical Review and Judgment – Ability to evaluate engineering issues and support sound technical decisions that reflect safety, constructability, maintainability, and agency standards. Reviews technical materials carefully and logically. Identifies issues affecting compliance, implementation, or long‑term performance. Supports practical and defensible engineering solutions.
• Cross‑Functional Coordination – Ability to work effectively across departments, disciplines, and stakeholder groups to support engineering delivery. Coordinates effectively across internal and external groups. Supports alignment between engineering work and operational or programmatic needs. Helps resolve cross‑functional issues affecting successful delivery.
• Implementation and Delivery Awareness – Ability to connect engineering decisions to field execution, operating conditions, turnover needs, and long‑term asset stewardship. Keeps focus on what is needed for successful implementation and handoff. Recognizes implications of technical decisions on operations and maintenance. Supports engineering solutions that can be sustained over time.
• Engineering Governance and Documentation – Ability to maintain disciplined technical review, documentation, and decision traceability across assigned work. Supports compliance with agency standards and documentation expectations. Maintains organized records and consistent review practices. Helps ensure engineering work is well‑controlled and audit‑ready.
• Leadership and Professional Influence – Ability to guide staff, communicate technical issues clearly, and build confidence across technical, operational, and leadership audiences. Provides reliable direction and support to assigned staff. Communicates technical issues and tradeoffs clearly. Helps build trust in engineering recommendations and program direction.

Supervision Given to

Engineer I, Engineer II, Lead Engineer, Engineering Project Coordinator, or other assigned technical staff, depending on assignment.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, architecture, construction management, systems engineering, or a closely related technical field and five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in engineering, public infrastructure, transit, facilities, utilities, systems, capital delivery, or related project/program delivery environments; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Registered North Carolina Professional Engineer (PE) or Registered Architect (RA) or PE or RA registration in another state with the ability to receive reciprocity within six (6) months.
• Experience leading or coordinating engineering work involving design review, technical evaluation, procurement support, implementation, field coordination, or operational transition.
• Experience working with consultants, contractors, internal stakeholders, and regulatory or permitting agencies in a structured project environment.
• Experience supervising staff or coordinating technical resources is preferred within the minimum experience profile.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in engineering, architecture, construction management, public administration, or a related field.
• PMP, CCM, LEED AP or other relevant professional credential.
• Experience in public transit, public infrastructure, utilities, facilities, systems engineering, or comparable public‑sector or service‑sensitive environments.
• Experience supporting projects in active operating environments where technical work must be coordinated with ongoing service or facility operations.
• Experience with project delivery, lifecycle asset stewardship, system modernization, commissioning, turnover, or configuration control activities.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Knowledge of: Engineering fundamentals across infrastructure, systems, facilities, and operating environments. Project delivery practices, permitting, capital documentation requirements, and cross‑disciplinary coordination in public‑sector or service‑sensitive environments. Asset lifecycle management, implementation risk management, and change impacts on operational environments. Engineering governance, technical review, testing, commissioning, turnover, and documentation control practices relevant to assigned work. Skill in: Leading multidisciplinary teams, prioritizing competing workstreams, and managing projects with evolving scope or varied technical requirements. Reviewing technical documents, interpreting engineering issues, and supporting practical resolution of interdisciplinary conflicts. Communicating complex technical concepts clearly to nontechnical audiences and decision makers. Facilitating consensus‑based decision‑making among diverse stakeholders. Organizing technical reviews, project records, and follow‑up actions in a disciplined manner. Ability to: Adapt engineering oversight to different project types while maintaining compliance, safety, and documentation rigor. Anticipate operational and implementation impacts and support improvements that integrate effectively with existing systems and practices. Guide initiatives from concept to implementation while aligning technical solutions with long‑term strategic objectives. Make defensible engineering decisions in dynamic environments with multiple constraints and stakeholders. Build productive relationships across technical, operational, and leadership groups while maintaining momentum and accountability.

Working Environment and Physical Demands

Works in a combination of office, meeting, field, shop, and project site environments associated with engineering, systems, infrastructure, facilities, and operating support initiatives. Requires regular participation in project meetings, technical reviews, field visits, inspections, coordination sessions, testing activities, and implementation discussions. May involve walking project or operating sites, navigating uneven terrain, climbing stairs, and reviewing plans, specifications, and technical documents for extended periods. Requires use of standard office and communication equipment and, when applicable, appropriate personal protective equipment in field environments. May include occasional attendance at meetings or field activities outside standard business hours based on project, operational, or stakeholder needs. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the role.

Conditions of Employment

The City’s Background Check Policy requires background checks to be conducted on final internal or external candidate(s) applying for any position with the City of Charlotte. The type of information that will be collected as part of a background check includes, but is not limited to: reference checks, social security verification, education verification, criminal conviction record check, and, if applicable, a credit history check, sex offender registry and motor vehicle records check. Background checks must be in compliance with all federal and state statutes, such as the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). The checks must be consistent with the guidelines set forth by these laws requiring organizations to obtain a candidate’s written authorization before obtaining a criminal background report, motor vehicle records check or credit report; and to properly store and dispose of information derived from such reports. Final candidates must pass a pre‑employment drug‑screening test and physical examination. During the selection process, candidates may be asked to take a skills test, and/or participate in other assessments. The City of Charlotte is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, national origin, marital status, age, disability, sexual orientation, political affiliation or on the basis of actual or perceived gender as expressed through dress, appearance, or behavior. Our culture is to serve the community honorably.

Benefits

The City of Charlotte provides a comprehensive benefits package to eligible employees. Click here to learn more about the City of Charlotte’s benefits. The City of Charlotte is a drug and alcohol‑free workplace.

Our City, Our Mission

When you join the City of Charlotte, you become part of Team Charlotte — a dedicated group of professionals working together to make a meaningful impact on our community and its future. The City of Charlotte has more than 8,000 employees working across 19 departments to serve close to 1 million residents. From public safety and clean water to transportation, housing and an international airport, our teams deliver essential services to keep Charlotte connected, safe and empowered with opportunity for all. As public servants, we are guided by a clear mission: to be committed to exceptional service every day. No matter the department or role, every team member plays a part in helping our city grow, thrive and meet the needs of those who rely on us. We are a values‑driven organization, working collaboratively, acting with integrity and delivering reliable results. We embrace a forward‑thinking mindset, encouraging curiosity, innovation and continuous improvement. The City of Charlotte is committed to making our services and programs accessible to all. Upon request, auxiliary aids, written materials in alternate formats, language access, and other reasonable accommodations or modifications will be provided. To make a request, please fill out the Innovation & Technology ADA request form or call View phone number on click.appcast.io. Looking for an internship? Explore opportunities on our Internship Career Site and take the first step toward your career with the City of Charlotte.