Design Manager Railways - Project Management

Job Description

AECOM Enterprise Capabilities is seeking a highly motivated and experienced Design Manager to be based in the Bogotá, Colombia office. The successful candidate will lead the multidisciplinary design delivery of complex railway transportation projects, overseeing all phases of project development, including feasibility studies, site due diligence, concept development, preliminary and detailed engineering, construction documentation, and construction phase support. The role requires strong technical leadership, effective coordination of global and multidisciplinary teams, and the ability to deliver high-quality engineering solutions that meet client expectations, project schedules, budgets, and quality standards. 

The ideal candidate has extensive experience managing the design of major railway infrastructure projects, possesses a strong background in civil and transportation engineering, and demonstrates outstanding leadership, stakeholder management, and communication skills in both Spanish and English.

The responsibilities of this position include, but are not limited to:

• Performs various management, leadership, and people accountability responsibilities for a specific technical group or department.
• Has full responsibility for interpreting, organizing, executing, and coordinating technical assignments.
• Generally requires multi-disciplinary knowledge of engineering.
• Plans and develops engineering tasks concerned with unique or controversial problems. This involves exploration of subject area, definition of scope and selection of problems for investigation and development of novel concepts and approaches.
• Maintains liaison with units within the organization and individuals inside and outside of the organization.
• Responsible for acting independently on technical matters. Work at this level usually requires extensive progressive experience.
• Proactively manage and communicate change throughout the project both within AECOM and to our clients.
• Identify problems early and develop creative solutions.
• Proactively communicate with all stakeholders to provide project updates and resolve outstanding issues.
• Works under minimal supervision. Supervision received is essentially administrative with assignments given in terms of broad general objectives and limits.
• Manages group of engineers and/or technicians, coordinating activities of the unit.

Qualifications

Minimum Requirements 

• Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering, Transportation Engineering, Construction Management or a related discipline.
• Minimum of 6 years of progressively responsible experience in railway engineering, design, or design management, or demonstrated equivalent combination of education and professional experience.
• Proven experience managing multidisciplinary railway infrastructure projects through all design phases.
• Strong understanding of railway engineering principles, design standards, project delivery methodologies, and engineering quality processes.
• Advanced English proficiency (written and spoken).

Preferred Qualifications 

• Master's degree in Railway Engineering, Transportation Engineering, Civil Engineering, or a related field.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible experience in railway engineering, design, or design management, or demonstrated equivalent combination of education and professional experience.
• Demonstrated experience leading the design of large-scale railway infrastructure projects, including multidisciplinary coordination.
• Strong knowledge of international railway design standards and engineering best practices.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in both English and Spanish.
• Strong leadership, negotiation, and stakeholder management capabilities.
• Proven ability to lead geographically distributed teams in fast-paced, schedule-driven environments.
• Excellent planning, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Strong presentation, client management, and interpersonal communication skills.
• PMP certification and/or professional engineering registration are considered an asset.

Additional Information

• Relocation assistance is not available for this position.
• Sponsorship for Colombia work authorisation is not available for this position, now or in the future.

At AECOM, we are committed to maintaining a secure and trustworthy recruitment process and take any fraudulent hiring activity seriously. To support this commitment, all newly hired employees are required to attend an in-person Day 1 onboarding at an AECOM office location as a condition of employment.

About AECOM 

AECOM is proud to offer comprehensive benefits to meet the diverse needs of our employees. Depending on your employment status, AECOM benefits may include medical, dental, vision, life, AD&D, disability benefits, paid time off, leaves of absences, voluntary benefits, perks, flexible work options, well-being resources, employee assistance program, business travel insurance, service recognition awards, retirement savings plan, and employee stock purchase plan. 

AECOM is the global infrastructure leader, committed to delivering a better world. As a trusted professional services firm powered by deep technical abilities, we solve our clients’ complex challenges in water, environment, energy, transportation and buildings. Our teams partner with public- and private-sector clients to create innovative, sustainable and resilient solutions throughout the project lifecycle – from advisory, planning, design and engineering to program and construction management. AECOM is a Fortune 500 firm that had revenue of $16.1 billion in fiscal year 2025. Learn more at aecom.com. 

What makes AECOM a great place to work 

You will be part of a global team that champions your growth and career ambitions. Work on groundbreaking projects - both in your local community and on a global scale - that are transforming our industry and shaping the future. With cutting-edge technology and a network of experts, you’ll have the resources to make a real impact. Our award-winning training and development programs are designed to expand your technical expertise and leadership skills, helping you build the career you’ve always envisioned. Here, you’ll find a welcoming workplace built on respect, collaboration and community - where you have the freedom to grow in a world of opportunity. 

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we believe in your potential and are here to help you achieve it. All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.