Principal Transportation Solutions Architect

job summary:

Randstad Digital is seeking a Principal Solutions Architect to join our client's Scalable Service Delivery portfolio. This is an urgent, highly visible role designed for a modern, forward-thinking technical leader who bridges the gap between real-time software integration and daily transportation operations. Moving away from legacy, siloed railroad processes, you will architect the next generation of event-driven, API-based systems that power day-to-day train dispatching, crew scheduling, live tracking, and real-time service disruption management. Operating as an independent consultant, you will replace "ivory tower" advisory models with hands-on, execution-grade technical designs, ensuring Amtrak's core transit engine remains resilient, highly available, and scalable.

location: Washington, Washington, D.C.

job type: Contract

salary: $75 - 85 per hour

work hours: 9am to 5pm

education: Bachelors



responsibilities:

Real-Time Operations Architecture: Define and own the end-to-end integration architecture for daily service operations, ensuring seamless data flow across dispatch, active scheduling, train tracking, and automated disruption mitigation ecosystems.

Modern Integration Engineering: Drive the adoption of modern, cloud-native architecture principles; design robust API-based eventing contracts, pub/sub streaming topologies (Kafka), and event-driven patterns that cross legacy operational boundaries.

Execution-Grade Artifact Delivery: Produce rigorous, production-ready architectural blueprints-including solution design documents, integration maps, API contracts, and Architecture Decision Records (ADRs)-that engineering teams can build against immediately without ambiguity.

Stakeholder Collaboration & Scope Management: Partner directly with operational stakeholders, command center controllers, and planners to ground architectural choices in live workflow contexts rather than idealized process models.

Modernization Advocacy: Act as a change agent within the portfolio, guiding the enterprise away from batch-oriented legacy processes and steering technical investments toward microservices and real-time operational data lakehouses (Databricks/Delta Lake).

qualifications:

Foundational Experience: 10+ years of progressive IT/technology experience, with a strict requirement for a foundational background in hands-on engineering delivery (e.g., application development, systems integration, or data engineering) before transitioning into architecture.

Domain & Architectural Agility: 5+ years as a Solutions or Enterprise Architect. While direct rail experience is valued, candidates with deep architectural experience in high-velocity transit agencies, transportation departments (e.g., MTA, NJ Transit, state DOTs), or complex logistics/aviation operations are highly encouraged to apply.

Modern Tech Stack Fluency: Deep technical command of cloud-hybrid platforms (AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud Platform) optimized for 24/7 high availability, event-driven streaming (Kafka or equivalent), and API first-design principles (REST/GraphQL).

Modern Mindset vs. Legacy Process: Demonstrated commitment to modern architectural patterns. Candidates must show an aptitude for implementing agile, scalable, and real-time data models over entrenched, legacy monolithic workflows.

Consulting & Delivery Excellence: Proven capability within a contractor or consulting model; must possess the ability to deliver independently, manage scope proactively, communicate blockers transparently, and maintain elite artifact quality under minimal supervision.

Equal Opportunity Employer: Race, Color, Religion, Sex, Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, National Origin, Age, Genetic Information, Disability, Protected Veteran Status, or any other legally protected group status.

At Randstad Digital, we welcome people of all abilities and want to ensure that our hiring and interview process meets the needs of all applicants. If you require a reasonable accommodation to make your application or interview experience a great one, please contact

Pay offered to a successful candidate will be based on several factors including the candidate's education, work experience, work location, specific job duties, certifications, etc. In addition, Randstad Digital offers a comprehensive benefits package, including: medical, prescription, dental, vision, AD&D, and life insurance offerings, short-term disability, and a 401K plan (all benefits are based on eligibility).

This posting is open for thirty (30) days.