Program Manager/Testing & Commissioning Lead

STV is seeking an experienced Program Manager/Testing & Commissioning Lead to join our growing Systems Department in our New York City office. This position will play a critical role in supporting the delivery of complex rail and transportation infrastructure programs, with a primary focus on testing, commissioning, systems integration, and operational readiness activities.

The successful candidate will provide leadership and oversight throughout the commissioning lifecycle, ensuring that all systems, subsystems, and interfaces are planned, tested, validated, and placed into service safely and efficiently. The Commissioning Lead will work closely with owners, contractors, system suppliers, operations personnel, and engineering teams to coordinate commissioning activities, resolve technical issues, and ensure compliance with project requirements.

This role is ideal for a seasoned commissioning professional with extensive experience leading testing and commissioning efforts on major transportation, rail, tunnel, transit, or infrastructure projects.

Key Responsibilities

Commissioning Management & Project Leadership

• Coordinate CCM's testing and commissioning activities for the East River Tunnels project, utilizing a commissioning support team as necessary.

• Oversee the activities of the Contractor's commissioning coordinator and system managers, ensuring effective communication and coordination with the Amtrak project team.

• Ensure all systems, subsystems, and interfaces adhere to the approved commissioning plan and project requirements.

• Develop, maintain, and manage commissioning schedules, procedures, and execution plans.

• Lead commissioning meetings, workshops, readiness reviews, and stakeholder coordination efforts.

• Monitor, track, and report on commissioning progress, milestones, risks, issues, and results.

• Support the development and implementation of commissioning strategies for complex transportation and rail systems.

Stakeholder Coordination & Collaboration

• Facilitate and promote collaboration among project stakeholders, including Amtrak, LIRR, Engineer of Record, contractor personnel, system managers, installers, suppliers, manufacturers, and technical specialists.

• Serve as the primary commissioning liaison between the owner, engineering teams, contractors, vendors, and operations personnel.

• Coordinate multidisciplinary teams to ensure successful testing, integration, and operational acceptance of systems.

• Ensure timely communication of commissioning requirements, schedules, deficiencies, and resolutions.

Testing & Systems Integration

• Oversee factory acceptance testing (FAT), site acceptance testing (SAT), integrated systems testing, and operational readiness demonstrations.

• Verify that testing activities are performed in accordance with approved procedures, specifications, safety requirements, and quality standards.

• Coordinate resolution of testing deficiencies, punch-list items, and commissioning issues.

• Support systems integration activities across communications, signaling, traction power, facilities, tunnel systems, SCADA, and other transportation infrastructure elements.

• Review test documentation, commissioning reports, turnover packages, and certification records.

Operational Readiness & Turnover

• Support system handover, operational readiness assessments, and final acceptance activities.

• Assist with Amtrak decommissioning activities as required.

• Coordinate training, documentation, and transition activities necessary for successful operations and maintenance turnover.

• Ensure all commissioning deliverables are completed and properly documented.

Quality, Safety & Compliance

• Promote a strong safety culture throughout all commissioning activities.

• Ensure compliance with project specifications, agency requirements, and applicable industry standards.

• Identify commissioning risks and implement mitigation strategies.

• Support quality assurance and quality control initiatives throughout project delivery.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Systems Engineering, Transportation Engineering, or related discipline.

• Minimum 12 years of progressive experience in testing, commissioning, systems integration, startup, or operational readiness activities.

• Experience supporting rail, transit, tunnel, transportation, or major infrastructure projects.

• Demonstrated experience coordinating multidisciplinary testing and commissioning programs.

• Strong understanding of systems integration, commissioning methodologies, and operational acceptance processes.

• Experience managing contractors, suppliers, system vendors, and stakeholder interfaces.

• Knowledge of industry standards, safety requirements, and commissioning best practices.

• Excellent communication, leadership, facilitation, and problem-solving skills.

• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced project environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting major rail or transportation agencies such as Amtrak, MTA, LIRR, NJ Transit, PATH, SEPTA, or similar organizations.

• Experience with tunnel, rail systems, communications, signaling, traction power, facilities, or integrated transportation systems.

• Professional Engineer (PE) license preferred.

• PMP, CCM, or commissioning-related certifications preferred.

• Experience on design-build, program management, or large-scale capital infrastructure programs.

• Familiarity with East River Tunnel, Northeast Corridor, or other major transportation infrastructure projects.

Compensation Range: $187,747.98 - $214,569.12

STV offers the following benefits • Health insurance, including an option with a Health Savings Account • Dental insurance • Vision insurance • Flexible Spending Accounts (Healthcare, Dependent Care and Transit and Parking where applicable) • Disability insurance • Life Insurance and Accidental Death & Dismemberment • 401(k) Plan • Retirement Counseling • Employee Assistance Program • Paid Time Off (starting at 16 days) • Paid Holidays (9 days) • Back-Up Dependent Care (up to 10 days per year) • Parental Leave (up to 80 hours) • Continuing Education Program • Professional Licensure and Society Memberships

STV is committed to paying all of its employees in a fair, equitable, and transparent manner. The listed pay range is STV’s good-faith salary estimate for this position. Please note that the final salary offered for this position may be outside of this published range based on many factors, including but not limited to geography, education, experience, and/or certifications.

Not sure this role is the perfect match? We encourage you to apply if STV’s work and values resonate with you. We know great candidates don’t always meet every qualification, and research shows women and people of color are less likely to apply unless they do. At STV, we believe strong talent comes from a wide range of backgrounds, and your skills and experience may align with this or another opportunity as we continue to grow.