Rail Bridge Construction Manager (Chicago)

Requisition ID: 101665 

Job Category:  Infrastructure; Construction; Consulting; Engineering; Project Engineering; Project Management 

Location:  Chicago, IL, United States 

Join a company that is passionately committed to the pursuit of a better world through positive change. With more than 70 years of business and technical expertise in mining , energy , and infrastructure , our 10,000 colleagues in 150 countries tirelessly work toward bettering the industries in which we operate. With practical solutions that are safe, innovative and sustainable, we think globally while acting locally. Are you looking for an opportunity to join a diverse group of professionals who are committed to remaining exceptional? We look forward to hearing from you.

Our expertise in infrastructure includes aviation, highways and bridges, planning and advisory services, ports, rail and transit, tunnels, and water. Want to be part of the creation and construction of our cities? Then the infrastructure team is for you!

We are seeking a highly motivated and experienced Senior Railway Bridge Construction Manager & Inspector to join our Chicago, IL office. In this role, you will provide leadership in the planning, inspection, rehabilitation, construction, and maintenance of railway bridge infrastructure projects across North America.

The successful candidate will lead multidisciplinary teams responsible for bridge inspections, condition assessments, constructability reviews, rehabilitation planning, construction management, contractor oversight, field engineering, and construction quality assurance. This role combines technical expertise with hands-on field leadership and requires extensive experience managing complex railway bridge rehabilitation and replacement projects while maintaining safe railway operations.

Experience with railway bridge inspections, construction management, steel bridge rehabilitation, bridge maintenance programs, and movable bridge structures, including bascule, swing, and lift bridges, is considered a strong asset.

You will work closely with railway owners, contractors, maintenance-of-way teams, operations personnel, and engineering specialists to safely deliver bridge programs from initial assessments through construction completion and commissioning.

Key Responsibilities

Construction Management & Project Delivery

• Lead railway bridge rehabilitation, maintenance, strengthening, and replacement projects from planning through construction completion.
• Serve as Construction Manager, Resident Engineer, Project Manager, and/or Owner's Representative for railway bridge projects.
• Manage bridge construction activities while ensuring compliance with client requirements, engineering standards, and regulatory obligations.
• Oversee contractor performance, construction quality, schedule adherence, cost control, safety compliance, and risk mitigation.
• Coordinate construction activities with railway operations to minimize service disruptions and maintain safe train operations.
• Manage construction budgets, change orders, claims reviews, progress reporting, and project forecasting.
• Lead constructability reviews and develop construction staging, work windows, outage plans, and traffic management strategies.
• Coordinate commissioning, project closeout activities, and turnover documentation.

Bridge Inspection & Asset Management

• Lead bridge inspection programs for steel, concrete, timber, culverts, and movable railway bridge structures.
• Direct detailed bridge condition assessments, timber inspections, underwater inspections, and structural evaluations.
• Review and validate bridge inspection reports, defect assessments, maintenance recommendations, and rehabilitation programs.
• Develop bridge maintenance strategies and long-term asset management plans.
• Support clients in prioritizing bridge maintenance, rehabilitation, and replacement projects based on condition, risk, and operational requirements.
• Develop bridge capital investment plans and asset-management-based rehabilitation programs.

Engineering & Technical Leadership

• Provide technical leadership for bridge rehabilitation, strengthening, repair, and replacement projects.
• Conduct and review structural assessments, load ratings, capacity evaluations, temporary works reviews, and rehabilitation concepts.
• Review engineering designs, construction methods, erection plans, shoring systems, falsework plans, and contractor submittals.
• Provide technical expertise in steel bridge rehabilitation, fatigue management, fracture-critical member evaluations, and bridge life extension programs.
• Support the assessment and modernization of movable bridge structures, including lift, swing, and bascule bridges.
• Evaluate emergency bridge conditions and provide recommendations for repairs, temporary works, and operational restrictions.
• Ensure compliance with AREMA, FRA, AASHTO, OSHA, and applicable transportation agency requirements.

Field Engineering & Construction Inspection

• Lead field inspection teams during bridge rehabilitation and replacement projects.
• Perform or oversee construction inspections to verify compliance with plans, specifications, standards, and quality requirements.
• Review contractor quality control programs and implement quality assurance procedures.
• Monitor bridge erection activities, steel fabrication, structural repairs, foundation construction, and track-related bridge work.
• Conduct site investigations and provide field engineering support during construction.
• Review RFIs, shop drawings, work plans, material certifications, and inspection records.
• Prepare construction observation reports, field reports, non-conformance reports, and corrective action recommendations.

Client Leadership & Business Development

• Build and maintain strong relationships with Class I railroads, short-line railways, transit agencies, ports, industrial railway operators, and public-sector clients.
• Support business development initiatives through client engagement, proposal preparation, strategic pursuits, and technical presentations.
• Identify opportunities for bridge rehabilitation, maintenance, inspection, and capital improvement programs.
• Mentor junior engineers, inspectors, and construction management personnel.
• Foster a culture of safety, quality, technical excellence, and continuous improvement.

Required Skills & Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering with specialization in Structural Engineering or Construction Engineering from an accredited university.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license in Illinois or ability to obtain licensure through reciprocity.
• Minimum 15 years of experience in railway bridge construction, inspection, rehabilitation, maintenance, and project delivery.
• Demonstrated experience serving as Construction Manager, Resident Engineer, Project Manager, Senior Inspector, or Owner's Representative on major transportation infrastructure projects.
• Extensive experience with railway bridge inspections, structural condition assessments, and rehabilitation programs.
• Strong knowledge of bridge construction means and methods, staging, temporary works, and contractor operations.
• Experience managing bridge construction contracts, budgets, schedules, change orders, and claims.
• Proven experience coordinating construction activities within active railway operating environments.
• Strong understanding of steel bridge systems, rehabilitation techniques, fatigue management, and fracture-critical inspections.
• Experience with field inspection, quality assurance, quality control, and construction monitoring programs.
• Strong knowledge of AREMA Manual for Railway Engineering, FRA regulations, OSHA requirements, AASHTO bridge standards, and applicable transportation agency standards.
• Experience working directly with Class I railroads, short lines, transit authorities, ports, or industrial rail operators.
• Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary project teams and manage complex construction projects safely and efficiently.
• Demonstrated success in client relationship management and business development.
• Excellent leadership, communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate effectively with clients, contractors, construction personnel, and executive stakeholders

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in Structural Engineering, Construction Management, or Civil Engineering.
• Certified Construction Manager (CCM) designation.
• Experience managing major bridge rehabilitation or replacement programs for Class I railroads.
• Qualifications as a bridge inspector under railway or transportation agency bridge inspection programs.
• Experience with movable bridge inspection, operation, rehabilitation, or construction management.
• Experience with accelerated bridge construction (ABC) techniques.
• Experience overseeing bridge fabrication, erection, and heavy lifting operations.
• Knowledge of bridge asset management systems and capital planning programs.
• Established relationships with North American railways, contractors, and transportation agencies.
• Demonstrated experience leading large multidisciplinary railway bridge inspection and construction programs.

Why join us?

• Work with great people to make a difference
• Collaborate on exciting projects to develop innovative solutions

• Flexible work environment
• Long term career development
• Think globally, work locally

Don't meet every single requirement? You don't need to. At Hatch, we are building a diverse, inclusive workplace that fosters innovation. If you're interested in this role, we encourage you to apply even if your past experiences don't perfectly align with the skills we've listed.

We're committed to fostering a workforce that reflects the diversity of the communities in which we operate and serve. Hatch is an Equal Opportunity Employer that considers applicants without regard to age, race, color, national origin, citizenship, religion, creed, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, veteran, or any other protected status. If you have any accommodation requirements, please let us know. We'll do our best to meet your needs in accordance with applicable local legislation.

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Hatch is proud to offer a comprehensive benefits package to meet the diverse needs of our employees. This includes:

• Health and Welfare benefits : Top-tier medical coverage (one plan with no employee premium required), prescription drug, dental, vision; flexible spending accounts and a health savings account (with a generous employer contribution); life, accident, and disability insurance; employee assistance program (EAP), employee wellness program
• Retirement Savings : 401(k) with employer match of 50% per dollar up to 6%, fully vested after three years; additional 3% in profit-sharing contribution after one year of employment (immediately vested)
• Paid Time Away from Work : 3-4 weeks of vacation based on experience and company discretion, prorated in the 1st year based on hire date (up to 2.5 weeks can be carried over per year); 10 paid holidays; 10 sick days per calendar year, with the ability to carry-over sick time to a maximum of 40 days to be used for future FMLA-qualifying events; Partial Paid Parental leave up to 12 weeks for birth parents and 4 weeks for non-birth parents.

Base Compensation: $120,000 - $160,000 (Actual compensation is subject to variation due to such factors as education, experience, skillset, and/or location).

The benefits listed above apply to US-based, full-time permanent applicants only. Hatch reserves the right to change plans at its discretion.