Senior Subject Matter Expert - Rail and Roadway Systems Eng & Design - TS-MCX, GS-0810-13 (44861)

Announcement Type

TARP - Internal Opportunity (Non-Comp/VIOP)

Position Type

Permanent

USACE Organization

Northwestern Division (NWD) - Omaha District

Locations (City, State)

Omaha, NE

Multiple Locations

Position Overview/Duties

Are you a recognized authority in both railroad and roadway engineering? The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Transportation Systems Mandatory Center of Expertise (TS-MCX) is seeking a dynamic and highly experienced Top Technical Expert to oversee and shape critical transportation infrastructure for U.S. Army and Air Force installations, both stateside and overseas.

This is a premier leadership role where you will directly influence the safety, efficiency, and long-term viability of defense transportation systems, providing essential consulting, review, and mentorship across the USACE enterprise.

Key Responsibilities & Areas of Impact
You will serve simultaneously as on of the top technical rail experts and the TS-MCX experts for roadway systems, encompassing design, construction, and evaluation across a broad range of projects.

1. Top Technical Rail Expert & Liaison (Approx. 35%)

Design & Standards Leadership: Serve as a leading technical rail expert for U.S. Air Force and Army installations globally. Lead the development and maintenance of DoD railroad design and evaluation manuals, procedures, and engineering standards to ensure safe, efficient, and timely project execution.

System Integrity: Investigate needs and set the scope for improvements to DoD installation railroads. On projects, ensure the adequacy of studies (sub-grade, drainage, topography) and determine all design elements, including horizontal/vertical alignment, ballast, ties, and crossings.

Strategic Advising: Advise superiors, Air Force and Army installation leadership, and other Federal agencies on policy and technical matters related to TS-MCX rail requirements. Coordinate the interests of DoD, government agencies, and railroad companies on installation rail infrastructure for both peacetime and mobilization.

Risk Mitigation: Identify deficiencies, adverse trends, and potentially critical rail system problems (e.g., those impacted by abandonment or restructuring), and plan special projects to address them through standards, manuals, and procedures.

2. Roadway Systems Design & Problem Solving (Approx. 30%)

Technical Authority: Serve as the TS-MCX expert for the design, construction, and maintenance of roads, streets, non-organizational/organizational parking, and special vehicle guideways/roadways. Determine all necessary design details, including location, geometrics (grades, curves, sight distances), surfacing (flexible and rigid), and drainage structures (ditches, catch basins, erosion protection).

Criteria Development: Update and/or develop Army and Corps of Engineers manuals for roadway, site grading, storm drainage, and subsurface drainage.

Advanced Analysis: Analyze and develop engineering solutions for unusual or controversial technical roadway and railroad design and construction problems of considerable scope and complexity, applying principles of soil mechanics, structural dynamics, materials science, and systems analysis.

Design Review: Perform mandatory reviews of Army and Air Force railroad and special vehicle guideway/roadway designs, and optional reviews of roadway designs, ensuring technical adequacy and coordination with using service requirements.

3. Consulting, Liaison, and Technical Advancement (Approx. 25%)

Global Consulting: Provide one-step consulting services for both roadway pavement and railroad field problems worldwide, addressing challenges immediately and effectively.

Criteria Review: Review draft Engineering Regulations (ERs), Unified Facility Criteria (UFC), Engineer Technical Letters (ETLs), and Unified Facility Guide Specifications (UFGS) related to all rail and roadway infrastructure, ensuring technical accuracy and alignment with current DoD criteria.

Representation: Represent the TS-MCX at meetings and conferences with USACE districts, divisions, research laboratories, and HQUSACE technical specialists, leading discussions and presenting findings on railroad and roadway design and evaluation.

Mentorship: Maintain and promote technical advances and methodologies by providing assistance, advice, review, and mentoring to less experienced staff and through active participation in Project Delivery Teams (PDTs).

4. Expertise Development & Program Support (Approx. 10%)
Innovation: Stay current with state-of-the-art technology and changing DoD rail needs by engaging in industry technical committees, literature reviews, seminars, and symposiums.

Knowledge Transfer: Present technical papers and briefings as required to disseminate knowledge and best practices across the USACE and defense communities.

Contract Support: Provide crucial technical support for contracting Architect-Engineer (A-E) services, including writing scopes of work and assisting with contract negotiations to support the TS-MCX mission.

Qualifications Profile

We are looking for a highly motivated expert with a proven track record in complex railroad and roadway engineering projects. The ideal candidate will possess exceptional technical acumen, strategic leadership skills, and the ability to operate effectively in a high-stakes, globally focused environment.

Join USACE and lead the future of defense transportation infrastructure!

Other Conditions and Requirements

This job opportunity is open to CURRENT, PERMANENT USACE EMPLOYEES ONLY. This opportunity is being announced through the USACE Voluntary Internal Opportunities Program (VIOP). Current, permanent USACE employees with noncompetitive eligibility to be placed in this position are eligible to apply. This Program may only be utilized for noncompetitive placements, to include voluntary reassignments, promotions not‐to‐exceed 120 days, voluntary changes to lower grade, details, and deployment opportunities. Employees interested in permanent or temporary promotions longer than 120 days must apply through USAJOBS, or other approved merit procedures or hiring authorities. Temporary or term employees and Department of Army Fellows assigned to USACE will not be considered for positions or assignments through VIOP. Location(s): Omaha, NE, or other U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) CONUS offices, subject to negotiation.

Other Requirements:
•  Applications must be submitted after 12:01 AM (EST) of the posted Job Posting Open Date and before 11:59 PM (EST) of the posted Job Posting Close Date to receive consideration.
•  All positions require the applicant to be a citizen of the United States.
•  Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, are required to register for Selective Service prior to appointment.
•  A trial or probationary period may be required.
•  Direct deposit of pay is required.
•  This position has a Temporary Duty (TDY) or business travel requirement of 25% of the time.
•  This position requires that the incumbent possess or obtain and maintain a valid state Driver's License in one of the 50 U.S. states or possessions to operate vehicles.
•  This position requires the following training/certifications prior to employment or within a specified period of time after appointment: Incumbent is required to possess and maintain a Professional Engineer (PE) license/ registration. 

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy: The United States government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service or other non-merit factor

To learn more, please visit the Office of Equal Opportunity (https://www.eeoc.gov/federal-sector/federal-employees-job-applicants).

Qualifications

Candidates will be evaluated IAW OPM Requirements: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/

Reasonable Accommodation

Reasonable accommodation is available to qualified employees with disabilities. You can request a reasonable accommodation at any time during the application process, hiring process or while on the job. Requests are evaluated on a case-by-case basis.