Senior Level Vehicle Acquisition Specialist Jobs
Senior level vehicle acquisition specialist jobs place experienced professionals in charge of sourcing strategy, vendor negotiations, and the operational decisions that drive fleet or inventory outcomes at scale. Openings are concentrated in Consulting & Professional Services, Automotive, and Technology & Software, with a mix of on-site, remote, and hybrid settings, and employers like Zoox, Exponent, and inversion hiring at this level now.
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Seattle, Washington, United States
Joining Arup
Arup’s purpose, shared values, and collaborative approach has set us apart for over 80 years, guiding how we shape a better world.
The Americas Rail Vehicle Maintenance Facility Leader will provide senior leadership for the successful delivery of Operations and Maintenance Facility South in Seattle while enduring Rail Vehicle Maintenance Facility (VMF) capability across the Americas. Success in this role includes coordinated, compliant VMF design delivered on time and within planned resources; strong, trusted relationships with the contractor and owner; and clear ownership of technical, commercial, and delivery outcomes.
The role will also establish a platform for future growth by strengthening VMF delivery consistency, supporting major rail pursuits where maintenance facilities are critical assets, and developing emerging project and design management leaders within the VMF and rail portfolio.
The Opportunity
- Provide senior leadership to large, multidisciplinary Arup and subconsultant teams delivering complex vehicle maintenance facility scope under design‑build and progressive design‑build frameworks.
- Set clear expectations for performance, accountability, and collaboration across design managers, discipline leads, and package managers.
- Foster a strong project culture aligned with Arup values, emphasizing quality, safety, inclusion, and delivery excellence.
- Mentor and develop emerging project, design, and commercial management leaders within the VMF and rail portfolio.
- Identify resourcing needs, support recruitment, and contribute to succession planning as the VMF capability grows across the Americas.
- Provide senior commercial oversight for VMF projects, including scope definition, resourcing strategies, and fee management.
- Identify, assess, and support the capture of scope changes, risks, and opportunities in collaboration with project controls and commercial teams.
- Review and confirm deliverables lists, staffing plans, and program schedules to ensure alignment with contractual requirements.
- Support cost forecasting, change management, and reporting to maintain commercial performance and predictability.
- Contribute to risk and opportunity workshops and ensure commercial considerations are integrated into delivery decisions.
- Build and maintain strong, trusted relationships with transit agencies, contractors, and key stakeholders involved in VMF and rail programs.
- Act as a senior client‑facing leader for vehicle maintenance facility work, supporting client confidence during delivery and pursuits.
- Support and, where appropriate, lead VMF‑related pursuits, proposals, and interviews across the Americas.
- Contribute to the development of VMF market strategy, positioning Arup’s technical and delivery capability in priority rail programs.
- Represent Arup externally through industry engagement and targeted relationship management aligned with VMF growth objectives.
- Provide senior project leadership across one or more major VMF programs, ensuring alignment of technical, commercial, and delivery objectives.
- Oversee and support design management teams across civil/site, track, industrial engineering, SMEP, and architectural disciplines.
- Monitor program progress, key milestones, and interfaces, proactively addressing delivery risks and emerging issues.
- Collaborate closely with contractor and client leadership to resolve challenges and maintain effective working relationships.
- Provide escalation support and continuity of leadership as required to maintain program momentum and delivery assurance.
- Provide senior technical leadership for vehicle maintenance facility design, ensuring integration across disciplines and compliance with codes, standards, and client requirements.
- Establish and maintain robust quality assurance and quality control processes appropriate for large, complex VMF programs.
- Identify and mitigate technical, regulatory, and constructability risks throughout the design and delivery lifecycle.
- Support resolution of complex technical issues through coordinated, multidisciplinary problem‑solving.
- Lead knowledge capture, lessons learned, and capability development to strengthen Arup’s VMF delivery excellence across regions.
At Arup, you belong to an extraordinary collective – in which we encourage individuality to thrive. Our strength comes from how we respect, share and connect our diverse experiences, perspectives and ideas.
You will have the opportunity to do socially useful work that has meaning – to Arup, to your career, to our members and to the clients and communities we serve.
Is this role right for you?
Minimum of 15 years of experience in the Rail industry delivering vehicle maintenance facilities or similarly complex rail operations buildings
Bachelor’s degree in Engineering; Master’s degree is an asset
At least one of the following designations: PE, P. Eng, RA
Senior design and project delivery management experience on complex rail and vehicle maintenance facility programs.
The candidate should have experience delivering complex projects to a high quality on schedule and within budget, encompassing design, technical, and commercial management.
The candidate should be skilled at client relationships, whether they are owners or contractors. Strong relationships with local agencies is desirable but not required.
Experience of Design-Build delivery is required, and Progressive Design-Build preferred. DBIA certification would be a benefit but not a requirement.
Direct experience in the integration of civil/site, track, SMEP, architectural, and operational systems under Design‑Build or Progressive Design‑Build delivery.
Please note that all applicants must apply directly via the job portal. If this role is not quite what you are looking for, but you are interested in other opportunities for a future with purpose, please sign up to our Talent Community where you will be kept up to date with roles suitable for you to shape a better world.
What we offer you
At Arup, we care about each member’s success, so we can grow together.
Guided by our values, we provide an attractive total reward package that recognizes the contribution of each of our members to our shared success. As well as competitive, fair and equitable pay, we offer a career in which all of our members can belong, grow and thrive – through benefits that support health and wellbeing, a wide range of learning opportunities and many possibilities to have an impact through the work they do.
We are owned in trust on behalf of our members, giving us the freedom, with personal responsibility, to set our own direction and choose work that aligns with our purpose and adds to Arup’s legacy. Our members collaborate on ambitious projects to deliver remarkable outcomes for our clients and communities. Profit Share is a key part of our reward, enabling members to share in the results of our collective efforts.
Benefits at Work - At Arup, we have a comprehensive and valuable benefits program that works for our employees and their families while keeping costs low. These benefits provide health and welfare security for you as well as paid time off for rest and renewal. As a member of Arup, everyone shares in our success through a global profit share scheme (payments are dependent on the firm’s financial performance). Our Global Profit Share Plan (paid bi-annually) provides an opportunity for you to share in the success of the Firm. As a valued employee of Arup, you can also choose to participate in our 401(k) plan with up to 10% company match to help you save for your future
Flexible Working - We believe that flexible arrangements create a more inclusive way of working that supports our diversity and the wellbeing of our people. Options for alternative schedules and the ability to work outside of the office for a portion of your workweek are available
Seattle Hiring Range – Hiring Range - The good faith base salary hiring range for this job if performed in Seattle is $230,000 to $260,000 per year. This range is commensurate with experience, educational background, and skill level. Benefits are not included in the base salary. Please note hiring ranges for candidates performing work outside of Seattle will differ.
Different People, Shared Values
Arup is an equal opportunity employer that actively promotes and nurtures a diverse and inclusive workforce. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, regardless of age (within legal limits), gender identity or expression, marital status, disability, neurotype or mental health, race or ethnicity, faith or belief, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, and whether you’re pregnant or on family leave. We are an open environment that embraces diverse experiences, perspectives, and ideas – this drives our excellence.
Guided by our values and alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, we create and contribute to equitable spaces and systems, while cultivating a sense of belonging for all. Our internal employee networks support our inclusive culture: from race, ethnicity and cross-cultural working to gender equity and LGBTQ+ and disability inclusion – we aim to create a space for you to express yourself and make a positive difference. Discover more about life at Arup at www.arup.com/careers/your-life-at-arup.
Our Application Process
We will be reviewing our candidates for this position on a rolling basis. Once you have applied you will be evaluated and potentially moved on to the next round, at which point a member of the talent resourcing team will reach out to you directly.
Arup is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, spouse of a protected veteran, or disability.
Stay safe online. Recruitment fraud is on the rise, and Arup’s name, logo, and branding have been used in fraudulent job advertisements. Arup will never ask for bank information as part of our recruitment process.
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Senior Level Vehicle Acquisition Specialist Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a senior level vehicle acquisition specialist job?
Employers at this level expect a demonstrated record of leading acquisition pipelines, managing vendor relationships, and making data-driven purchasing decisions with real budget responsibility. Candidates who can speak to cost savings they negotiated, processes they redesigned, or junior staff they mentored stand out. Tailoring your resume to show ownership of outcomes, not just participation in tasks, is the clearest way to signal readiness for a senior role.
Which companies hire senior level vehicle acquisition specialists?
Companies hiring senior level vehicle acquisition specialists right now include Zoox, Exponent, and inversion, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Hiring at this level tends to come from large fleet operators, automotive retailers, rental companies, and organizations with significant vehicle procurement needs across multiple locations.
Are there remote senior level vehicle acquisition specialist jobs?
Yes, though many roles require on-site presence for inspections, lot management, or vendor meetings. About 22% of senior level vehicle acquisition specialist openings are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, with fully remote positions more common in procurement-focused roles where sourcing and negotiation happen primarily through digital platforms and dealer networks.
What makes a vehicle acquisition specialist role senior level?
Senior level roles carry ownership of acquisition strategy, not just execution of individual transactions. That means setting sourcing targets, managing vendor scorecards, overseeing budgets, and guiding junior specialists or cross-functional teams. The expectation is that you can identify inefficiencies in a procurement process, propose solutions, and implement them, while operating with minimal oversight and accountability for measurable results.
Which industries hire the most senior level vehicle acquisition specialists?
Senior Level vehicle acquisition specialist roles concentrate in Consulting & Professional Services, Automotive, and Technology & Software, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. These sectors drive demand because they manage large or continuously rotating vehicle inventories where experienced acquisition leadership directly affects cost control, resale value, and operational uptime.