Principal Scheduling Engineer

Salary range is $101K to $207K with a midpoint of $154K. New hires typically receive between minimum and midpoint, however, we may go slightly higher based on experience, internal equity and market. 

Sound Transit also offers a competitive benefits package with a wide range of offerings, including:

• Health Benefits: We offer two choices of medical plans, a dental plan, and a vision plan all at no cost for employee coverage; comprehensive benefits for employees and eligible dependents, including a spouse or domestic partner.
• Long-Term Disability and Life Insurance.
• Employee Assistance Program.
• Retirement Plans: 401a – 10% of employee contribution with a 12% match by Sound Transit; 457b – up to IRS maximum (employee only contribution).
• Paid Time Off: Employees accrue 25 days of paid time off annually with increases at four, eight and twelve years of service. Employees at the director level and up accrue additional days. We also observe 12 paid holidays and provide up to 2 paid floating holidays and up to 2 paid volunteer days per year.
• Parental Leave: 12 weeks of parental leave for new parents.
• Pet Insurance.
• ORCA Card: All full-time employees will receive an ORCA card at no cost.
• Tuition Reimbursement: Sound Transit will pay up to $5,000 annually for approved tuition expenses.
• Inclusive Reproductive Health Support Services.
• Compensation Practices: We offer competitive salaries based on market rates and internal equity. In addition to compensation and benefits, you’ll find that we provide work-life balance, opportunities for professional development and recognition from your colleagues.

This is a Term-Limited position with an anticipated duration of 5 years.

GENERAL PURPOSE: 

Under general direction, serves as a senior technical expert and owner’s advocate in all matters related to project scheduling on major capital programs. Provides advanced-level professional expertise in the development, evaluation, and defense of construction schedules for complex, multi-contract infrastructure programs; independently reviews, analyzes, and provides detailed technical assessment of contractor-submitted baseline schedules and monthly updates for conformance with contract specifications and sound CPM methodology; leads forensic schedule analysis and delay analysis in support of claims avoidance, claims defense, and dispute resolution; assists with quantitative risk analysis and maintains schedule risk models to support contingency management and program reporting; oversees change management processes and time impact analysis; and provides highly responsible technical expertise and support to the Schedule Engineering Program Manager, Director of Scheduling Estimating Risk and VE, and program leadership.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

The following duties are a representative summary of the primary duties and responsibilities. Incumbent(s) may not be required to perform all duties listed and may be required to perform additional, position-specific duties.

• Develops, updates, and maintains program-level and contract-level master schedules using Oracle Primavera P6, ensuring schedules accurately reflect scope, logic, resource loading, and critical path.
• Prepares and maintains cost-loaded and resource-loaded CPM schedules; generates cash flow projections, earned value metrics, and schedule performance indices to support program-level reporting.
• Engages with the Virtual Design & Construction (VDC) team to coordinate and align 4D BIM models with construction schedules, ensuring conflicts are identified and resolved proactively.
• Performs “what-if” scenario modeling and develops look-ahead schedules to identify emerging risks, evaluate recovery strategies, and support management decision-making.
• Creates and maintains schedule enterprise structure in database, including work breakdown structure (WBS), schedule coding, and SCC mappings; ensures data integrity across integrated project control systems.
• Serves as the primary technical reviewer of contractor-submitted baseline schedules and all periodic updates; evaluates schedules for conformance with contract scheduling specifications, CPM logic integrity, appropriate level of detail, and accurate representation of contractor means and methods.
• Independently identifies and documents schedule deficiencies including artificial float, out-of-sequence progress, illogical restraints, missing scope, and improper activity coding; prepares written review comments and tracks resolution.
• Reviews and validates contractor-submitted schedule narratives, fragnet logic, and supporting documentation; challenges unsupported assumptions and ensures schedule submittals accurately reflect project conditions.
• Leads schedule review meetings with contractors and design consultants; clearly communicates the Agency’s position on schedule compliance issues and documents proceedings to protect the Agency’s interests.
• Uses schedule comparison and analytical tools (e.g., Acumen Fuse, Oracle Primavera Cloud) to evaluate schedule quality, float trends, logic density, and update consistency across reporting periods.
• Serves as the lead in forensic schedule analysis; independently performs delay analysis using recognized methodologies including Windows Analysis, Time Impact Analysis (TIA), Collapsed As-Built, and Measured Mile Impact (MIP) as appropriate to the facts and circumstances of each event.
• Analyzes contractor delay claims and time extension requests to determine entitlement; distinguishes between compensable, excusable, and non-excusable delays; identifies concurrent delay and its impact on contractor entitlement.
• Prepares clear, well-documented schedule narratives and forensic reports in support of dispute resolution, negotiation, and litigation; coordinates with legal counsel, claims consultants, and expert witnesses as required.
• Advises project management and contracts staff on claims avoidance strategies; identifies schedule-related risks and trends early and develops proactive mitigation measures to reduce the Agency’s exposure.
• Analyzes project correspondence, RFIs, submittals, meeting minutes, and change order documentation for schedule implications; provides contractual interpretation and assessment of schedule consequences.
• Develops and maintains schedule risk models; assists in Monte Carlo simulation to produce probability-based schedule forecasts (P50/P80 outcomes) in support of contingency management and program reporting.
• Integrates risk register inputs with schedule risk models; develops and maintains contingency drawdown curves and reports schedule risk exposure to program leadership on a regular basis.
• Performs scenario modeling for scope changes, third-party delays, permitting risks, and other program-level uncertainties; presents findings and recommended actions to project and executive leadership.
• Prepares and presents monthly schedule status reports for project management teams, the Program Management Oversight Consultant (PMOC), and executive leadership; provides clear, accurate, and defensible schedule narratives.
• Analyzes schedule trends and earned value data to produce cost-at-completion projections and forecasted end-date analyses; recommends corrective actions to address schedule slippage or emerging critical path shifts.
• Contributes schedule data to project dashboards and program-level reporting tools; supports development and continuous improvement of scheduling standards, templates, and procedures.
• Coordinates scheduling activities with project management staff, design consultants, third-party agencies, and contractors; ensures schedule integration across multiple concurrent contracts.
• Leads, coordinates, and reviews the work of assigned scheduling staff and consultants; assigns work activities, provides constructive feedback, and makes effective recommendations regarding staff performance.
• Provides training and technical guidance to project controls staff, project managers, and other agency personnel on scheduling tools, methodologies, contract requirements, and organizational procedures.
• Participates in business development and preconstruction activities as requested, including proposal scheduling and schedule input for alternative delivery procurements.
• Serves as staff on a variety of committees as assigned; prepares and presents staff reports and other necessary correspondence; maintains awareness of new trends and developments in scheduling practice and incorporates new methodologies as appropriate.
• Champions and models Sound Transit's core values and demonstrates values-based behaviors in everyday interactions across the agency.
• Contributes to a culture of diversity, equity and inclusion in alignment with Sound Transit’s Equity & Inclusion Policy.
• It is the responsibility of all employees to follow the Agency safety rules, regulations, and procedures pertaining to their assigned duties and responsibilities, which could include systems, operations, and/or other employees.
• It is the responsibility of all employees to integrate sustainability into everyday business practices.
• Other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Education and Experience: Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Architecture or related field. Six years of experience in construction schedule management on major capital programs, including demonstrated experience in contractor schedule review, forensic delay analysis, and claims defense in an owner or owner’s representative capacity; Or an equivalent combination of education and experience. 

Preferred Licenses or Certifications:  

• Planning & Scheduling Professional (PSP) certification issued by AACE International.
• Certified Construction Manager (CCM) or Project Management Professional (PMP).

Required Knowledge and Skills:

• Advanced CPM scheduling theory and practice, including critical path analysis, float management, resource loading, and cost loading.
• Recognized forensic delay analysis methodologies, including Windows Analysis, Time Impact Analysis (TIA), Collapsed As-Built, and Measured Mile Impact (MIP).
• Principles of concurrent delay, delay entitlement, and compensability in a construction contract context.
• Construction contract types, procurement strategies, and scheduling specification requirements for major infrastructure programs.
• Quantitative schedule risk analysis, including Monte Carlo simulation techniques and probability-based schedule forecasting.
• Earned value management concepts and application to schedule and cost performance measurement.
• 4D BIM methodologies and the integration of construction schedules with virtual design and construction models.
• Construction methods, sequencing, and means and methods for civil infrastructure, transit, rail, utilities, and related project types.
• Principles and practices of claims avoidance, change management, and dispute resolution in public capital program environments.
• Pertinent federal, state, and local laws, codes, and regulations applicable to public agency capital programs.
• Principles of project controls integration, including the relationship between cost, schedule, and risk.
• Expert proficiency in Oracle Primavera P6; working knowledge of Oracle Primavera Cloud and schedule comparison/analytical tools such as Acumen Fuse and Change Inspector.
• Independently constructing, deconstructing, and evaluating complex contractor CPM schedules; identifying logic errors, float manipulation, out-of-sequence progress, and specification non-conformance.
• Performing forensic delay analysis and preparing clear, defensible written reports suitable for use in dispute resolution, mediation, or litigation.
• Developing and presenting quantitative risk analysis results, contingency drawdown models, and probability-based schedule forecasts to program and executive leadership.
• Interpreting and applying contract scheduling specifications, drawings, scopes of work, and other contract documents to evaluate contractor schedule submittals and claims.
• Working knowledge of 4D visual planning methodologies and BIM coordination tools (e.g., Navisworks, Synchro).
• Preparing cost-loaded and resource-loaded schedules; generating cash flow analyses, earned value metrics, and schedule performance reports.
• Communicating complex schedule and claims analysis findings clearly and persuasively to technical and non-technical audiences, including legal counsel, executive leadership, contractors, and oversight agencies.
• Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with contractors, consultants, regulatory agencies, and internal stakeholders.
• Leading and mentoring junior scheduling staff; providing direction, feedback, and technical development.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite, Power BI or equivalent data visualization tools, and collaborative project management platforms.

Physical Demands / Work Environment:  

• Work is performed in a hybrid environment with an expectation of working in office a minimum of 3 days per week.
• The Agency promotes a safe and healthy work environment and provides appropriate safety and equipment training for all personnel as required. 

Sound Transit is an equal employment opportunity employer. No person is unlawfully excluded from employment action based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status or other protected class.