Operations & Programs Leader, Engineering & Product Management

Additional Information

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

What could you accomplish in a place that puts People First?

At Wabtec, it’s not just about a job - it’s about the impact you make. When our people come together, we’re Expanding the Possible by continuously improving what we do and how we do it - for our clients and each other.

If you’re ready to revolutionize how the world moves for future generations, Wabtec is the place for you.
 

Who are we?

Wabtec is a leading global provider of equipment, systems, digital solutions, and value-added services for the freight and transit rail sectors. Drawing on more than 150 years of experience, we are leading the way in safety, efficiency, reliability, innovation, and productivity. Whether it’s freight, transit, ports, logistics, mining, industrial, or marine, our expertise, technologies, and people together – are accelerating the future of transportation. With roots that date back to George Westinghouse, Thomas Edison, and Louis Faiveley, Wabtec has always built technologies and implemented solutions for a variety of sectors that are critical to meeting the needs of customers and governments alike.

Our global team of about 30,000 employees worldwide delivers performance that moves the world forward. We’re lifelong learners, obsessed with better. Learn more at www.WabtecCorp.com.

Culture powers us and the possibilities.

We believe the best ideas come from a mix of experiences and backgrounds. At Wabtec, we strive every day to create a place where everyone belongs. We’re building a culture where leadership, inclusion and your unique perspective fuel progress.

We’re proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We welcome talent of all backgrounds, experiences, and identities, including race, gender, age, disability, veteran status and more.

Need accommodation? Just let us know - we’ve got you.

Job Description

Who will you be working with?

The mission of the Fleet Innovation & Transformation team is to accelerate fleet transformation by consistently providing compelling solutions and innovative technologies that improve reliability, sustainability, and performance.

The Operations & Programs Leader role reports directly to the VP of Product Management & Technology and indirectly to the Senior Director of Services Engineering. The role connects strategy to execution across the Fleet Innovation & Transformation Engineering and Product Management organization. The role combines leadership of the organization’s operating cadence, engineering financial planning, and strategic business planning with direct engineering leadership of selected high-priority locomotive modernization and new product development programs

How will you make a difference?
Drive strategic execution and operational excellence across Engineering and Product Management by translating leadership priorities into actionable plans, overseeing engineering budget planning and performance, and ensuring alignment between investments, resources, and business objectives. Lead high-impact engineering programs from planning through delivery, coordinating cross-functional teams, managing risks, budgets, schedules, and dependencies, while enabling faster decision-making and stronger accountability. By connecting stakeholders, improving governance and operating processes, and maintaining visibility into critical initiatives, you will help accelerate execution, optimize resource allocation, and deliver successful engineering outcomes that meet technical, commercial, and customer commitments.

What do we want to know about you?

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, with strong technical and business acumen.
• Proven leadership experience in a complex organization, including demonstrated responsibility for cross-functional engineering program delivery.
• Demonstrated ability to manage competing and changing priorities in a complex, fast-paced environment while maintaining clear ownership and execution discipline.
• Demonstrated resilience, composure, and sound judgment under pressure, with the ability to create clarity, make decisions, and drive execution through ambiguity.
• Experience managing engineering budgets, financial forecasts, integrated schedules, resources, and program risks.
• Ability to influence across a matrix organization, drive accountability without direct reporting authority, and resolve cross-functional issues.
• Strong analytical and executive communication skills, including the ability to translate strategic priorities into executable plans and present clear options, trade-offs, and recommendations to leaders and customers. 
• Familiarity with enterprise financial and reporting tools, engineering workflow and design-review systems, and product lifecycle and drawing-management systems.

*Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in accounting, finance, or engineering finance.
• MBA or advanced education in Finance or Accounting, or a master’s degree in Systems Engineering or a related engineering field.
• North American or international locomotive expertise, including modernization or new product development experience.
• Experience implementing engineering projects in a manufacturing environment.
• Six Sigma, reliability, or related continuous-improvement training.

What will your typical day look like?

• Review program milestones, technical deliverables, validation progress, and emerging risks with cross-functional teams.
• Assess engineering spending, forecasts, and resource needs; resolve variances and prepare allocation recommendations.
• Remove execution barriers across Engineering, Product Management, Commercial, Services, Manufacturing, and Sourcing.
• Prepare and lead operating reviews, clarify decisions needed, and follow through on actions and commitments.
• Balance organizational priorities with assigned program commitments, adjusting plans and escalating trade-offs as business needs change.

Benefits

At Wabtec, people come first. That’s why we ensure our employees feel valued and have the tools they need to thrive. By joining us, you will have access to a range of benefits designed to support your well-being and development. Here’s what we offer to make you feel part of a company that supports your professional and personal journey:

• Medical Assistance extended to dependents (spouse and children)
• Dental Assistance extended to dependents (spouse and children)
• Profit Sharing
• Private Pension Plan
• Meal Policy according to location
• Life Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program: psychological, legal, financial, and social support
• Headspace – mental health app
• Christmas Card or Basket for employees (based on location)
• Christmas Gift for children up to 11 years old
• Extended Maternity Leave
• Program for Pregnant Women and Babies
• Language Incentive Policy
• Mentorship Programs and access to training platform
• Wellhub
• Pharmacy Assistance