Senior Right of Way Engineer

About the Positions

We’re seeking Senior Right-of-Way Engineers to support large, complex transit capital programs, including light rail and bus corridors, stations, tunnels, elevated guideway, trackwork, and rail systems, delivered through both traditional and alternative delivery methods. Your focus is the right-of-way engineering that keeps transit corridor delivery moving: right-of-way plans, legal descriptions, parcel and easement documentation, and the coordination across design, survey, acquisition, and construction that decides whether property is available when crews need it.

This post is for future roles and not for a specific opportunity that is available right now. We accept applications and conduct interviews in advance of upcoming hiring needs. When a candidate is selected, their profile is activated in our talent pool for this specialty area. We notify our talent pool candidates first whenever we have a project need.

Responsibilities may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Review right-of-way plans, parcel maps, legal descriptions, and easement exhibits prepared by design consultants, and confirm they match the approved alignment and the property rights the program needs.
• Oversee right-of-way engineering deliverables through agency review and approval, resolving comments across design, survey, and real property teams and driving them to documented closure.
• Evaluate design changes across station, guideway, tunnel, and systems packages for right-of-way impact, and advise program leadership on acquisition risk, schedule exposure, and mitigation options.
• Coordinate the temporary construction easements, permanent easements, right-of-entry, and access agreements that support construction sequencing, and verify the rights secured match what the contractor was given.
• Oversee title research, boundary resolution, encroachment analysis, and record-of-survey work performed by licensed surveying consultants, and review their findings before they drive an acquisition decision.
• Analyze utility relocations, franchise agreements, and third-party property interests, including railroad, municipal utility, and public agency interests that control corridor availability.
• Coordinate street vacations, property transfers, and rights within state and municipal right of way, including temporary construction airspace leases.
• Review right-of-way documentation supporting certification milestones tied to funding, environmental clearance, and advertisement, and confirm the package will stand up to audit.
• Coordinate across acquisition agents, appraisers, legal counsel, and agency staff so parcel delivery stays aligned to the construction schedule.
• Support construction on property rights interpretation during the work, including owner claims and administration of temporary construction easements.
• Mentor less experienced right-of-way engineers and technicians, and review their work for technical accuracy and conformance with program standards.

Attributes

• Excellent written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills.
• Excellent multi-tasking and organizational skills.
• Collaborative mindset that fosters teamwork, trust, and positive relationships.
• Natural curiosity, problem-solving abilities, and a commitment to continuous improvement.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering (civil, transportation, or related engineering discipline), or related field.
• 15+ years of right-of-way engineering experience for large (>$500M), complex, heavy-civil infrastructure projects.
• Experience reviewing right-of-way plans, legal descriptions, parcel maps, and easement exhibits, and taking them through public agency review and approval.
• Knowledge of boundary law, title research, record-of-survey requirements, deeds, plats, title reports, and federal and state right-of-way regulations, including the Uniform Act.
• Experience coordinating with acquisition agents, appraisers, surveyors, utility owners, railroads, and legal counsel.
• Ability to pass a background check and complete the site safety orientation required before performing work on the project site.
• Experience with industry standard right-of-way plan production and parcel mapping software (e.g., AutoCAD Civil 3D, MicroStation, ArcGIS, etc.).
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite/Office 365 (e.g., Outlook, Teams, Word, PowerPoint, etc.).

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in engineering (civil, transportation, or related engineering discipline).
• Active professional certifications and licenses such as PE or PLS registration issued by the applicable state authority, and/or SR/WA (IRWA).
• Experience supporting light rail, commuter rail, or bus rapid transit corridor delivery.
• Experience serving as the owner’s lead right-of-way engineering authority on a program exceeding $1B in construction value.
• Experience with condemnation proceedings, mediation, or expert witness testimony on property rights positions.
• Experience overseeing right-of-way consultants, including their scopes of work, deliverable quality, and appraisal documentation.
• Experience with federally funded transit projects and associated right-of-way certification requirements.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Power BI, Oracle Cloud Analytics, or other dashboard KPI reporting software.

Compensation Details

Expected Salary: $130k-$197k/year ($63-$95/hour). Luster provides the salary range that the company in good faith believes it might offer for this position based on the successful candidate’s level and years of experience, knowledge, skills, abilities, education, certifications, licenses, geographic location, etc. Luster reserves the right to ultimately pay more or less than the posted range depending on circumstances not related to any status protected by local, state, and/or federal law.

Just LOOK at the Benefits We Offer!

• Unlimited flexible time off
• Paid holidays
• Paid parental leave
• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• Flexible spending accounts (healthcare and dependent or elder care)
• Long-term disability insurance
• Short-term disability insurance
• Life insurance and accidental death and dismemberment
• 401(k) plan with guaranteed employer contribution
• Formal career planning and development program
• $2,500 annually toward professional development
• Wellness program with monthly wellness stipend
• Company cell phone or cell phone plan reimbursement
• Free personalized meal planning and nutrition support with a registered dietitian
• Free personal financial planning services
• Employee assistance program
• Employee discounts
• Employee referral bonus

Specific plan details and coverage for each benefit noted above will be provided upon offer.

If you wish to be considered for a position where there is not an active job posted, please search for our 'General Application' and apply.

Luster is committed to creating an inclusive work environment with a diverse workforce. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to criminal history, race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status. This employer participates in E-Verify. The employer will provide the Social Security Administration (SSA) and, if necessary, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) with information from each new employee's I-9 to confirm work authorization.

All positions may be subject to a background check and drug test once a conditional offer of employment is made for any convictions directly related to its duties and responsibilities, in accordance with all applicable local, state, and/or federal regulations.

This job description is meant to describe the general nature and level of work being performed; it is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required for the position.

Luster does not accept unsolicited resumes from any third-party. In the absence of a signed agreement, Luster will not consider or agree to payment of any kind. Any unsolicited resumes presented to Luster personnel, including those submitted to Luster hiring managers, are deemed to be the property of Luster.

Please email hiring@luster.com for accommodations necessary to complete the application process.