Principal Technologist

About this job

Your success is a train ride away! As we move America’s workforce toward the future, Amtrak connects businesses and communities across the country. We employ more than 20,000 diverse, energetic professionals in a variety of career fields throughout the United States. The safety of our passengers, our employees, the public and our operating environment is our priority, and the success of our railroad is due to our employees. Are you ready to join our team? Our values of ‘Do the Right Thing, Excel Together and Put Customers First’ are at the heart of what matters most to us, and our Core Capabilities, ‘Building Trust, Accountability, Effective Communication, Customer Focus, and Proactive Safety & Security’ are what every employee needs to know and do to be most impactful at Amtrak. By living the Amtrak values, focusing on our capabilities, and actively embracing and fostering diverse ideas, backgrounds, and perspectives, together we will honor our past and make Amtrak a company of the future. Job Summary The Principal Technologist serves as a senior technical leader responsible for designing, engineering, and implementing innovative technology solutions across Amtrak's enterprise environment. The role combines deep technical expertise with a strong focus on innovation, automation, problem prevention, operational efficiency, and continuous improvement. This position partners with Digital Technology teams and Amtrak business organizations to understand current processes, identify technology and end-user experience gaps, and develop solutions that improve how work is performed. The Principal Technologist identifies opportunities to prevent recurring problems, automate manual processes, reduce labor hours, improve reliability, and enhance the employee and customer experience. This role goes beyond resolving complex technology problems by identifying how those problems can be prevented, automated, or eliminated and by using technology to improve how work is performed across Amtrak. Essential Functions Provide senior-level technical leadership across enterprise endpoint, mobile, cloud, identity, application, and infrastructure technologies. Engineer, support, and optimize solutions utilizing Microsoft Intune, Azure, Microsoft Entra ID, Microsoft 365, SailPoint, ServiceNow, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and related enterprise technologies. Design and maintain device management, provisioning, application deployment, security, compliance, identity, authentication, and technology lifecycle solutions. Identify recurring technical issues and develop proactive, automated, or self-healing solutions that address root causes and prevent future incidents. Identify manual and labor-intensive processes and develop automation that reduces operational effort, processing time, support demand, and employee labor hours. Develop automation and system integrations using PowerShell, Microsoft Graph API, REST APIs, JSON, Microsoft Copilot, generative AI, and other scripting and workflow technologies. Partner with Amtrak business organizations to document current processes, identify inefficiencies and technology gaps, and design improved workflows and solutions. Lead technology initiatives from requirements gathering and solution design through implementation, adoption, and measurement of results. Use telemetry, support trends, operational data, and customer feedback to identify opportunities to improve reliability and the end-user technology experience. Develop technical standards, documentation, reusable automation, operational procedures, and scalable engineering solutions. Collaborate across security, infrastructure, cloud, network, application, identity, and support teams while providing technical guidance and mentoring to other technology professionals. Minimum Qualifications Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent combination of education, training and/or relevant experience. Plus 7 years of relevant work experience. Extensive experience designing, engineering, supporting, and integrating enterprise technology solutions in large, complex environments. Advanced knowledge across multiple areas, including endpoint management, mobile technologies, cloud services, identity and access management, enterprise applications, automation, and systems integration. Strong experience with technologies such as Microsoft Intune, Azure, Microsoft Entra ID, Microsoft 365, Windows, iOS, Android, PowerShell, Microsoft Graph API, REST APIs, ServiceNow, SailPoint, or comparable enterprise platforms. Demonstrated experience developing automation and process improvements that reduce manual effort and improve operational efficiency. Preferred Qualifications Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent combination of education, training and/or relevant experience. Plus 9 years of relevant work experience. Experience with Microsoft Copilot, generative AI, AI-assisted automation, or related emerging technologies. Experience developing automated remediation, self-service, or zero-touch solutions. Experience using endpoint telemetry, analytics, or operational data to proactively identify technology issues and improvement opportunities. Experience developing proofs of concept and business cases for technology investments and process improvements. Knowledge of Lean, Six Sigma, Agile, ITIL, or similar continuous-improvement methodologies. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Knowledge in these Key technology Areas: Microsoft Azure | Microsoft Intune | Microsoft Entra ID | Active Directory | SailPoint | Microsoft 365 | Windows | macOS | iOS/iPadOS | Android | Mobile Device Management | PowerShell | Microsoft Graph API | REST APIs | JSON | ServiceNow | Conditional Access | Endpoint Security and Compliance | Application Deployment | Device Lifecycle Management | Microsoft Copilot | Generative AI | Systems Integration | Monitoring and Analytics Strong communication and interpersonal skills; collaborative team player; self-motivated Skilled in analyzing complex technical issues, making sound decisions, and implementing effective problem resolution strategies The salary/hourly range is $113,200.00 – $146,664.00. Pay is based on several factors including but not limited to education, work experience, certifications, etc. Depending on an employee’s assigned worksite or location, Amtrak may consider a geo-pay differential to be applied to the employee’s base salary. Amtrak may offer additional incentive and pay programs to recognize and reward our employees, including a short-term incentive bonus based upon factors such as individual and company performance that is commensurate with the level of the position. Health and Wellbeing Financial and Retirement Work and Family Life Support Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance 401K with Employer Match Generous Paid Time Off Wellness Programs Railroad Retirement Benefits Paid Caregiving Days and Backup Care Health Savings Account Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness Fertility and Family Building Benefits No-cost Personal Health Advocate Student Loan Assistance Adoption and Surrogacy Assistance Medical Plan Opt-out Credit Tuition and Education Reimbursement Paid Family Leave Life Insurance Rail Pass Privileges Short- and Long-term Disability Insurance Employee Assistance Program No-cost Financial Advisor Sessions Commuter and Flexible Spending Accounts Learn more about our benefits offerings here. Requisition ID:167518 Work Arrangement:02-Remote Optional Click here for more information about work arrangements at Amtrak. Relocation Offered:No Travel Requirements:Up to 25% You power our progress through your performance. We want your work at Amtrak to be more than a job. We want your career at Amtrak to be a fulfilling experience where you find challenging work, rewarding opportunities, respect among colleagues, and attractive compensation. Amtrak maintains a culture that values high performance and recognizes individual employee contributions. Amtrak is committed to a safe workplace free of drugs and alcohol. All Amtrak positions requires a pre-employment background check that includes prior employment verification, a criminal history check and a pre-employment drug screen. Candidates who test positive for marijuana will be disqualified, regardless of any state or local statute, ordinance, regulation, or other law that legalizes or decriminalizes the use or possession of marijuana, whether for medical, recreational, or other use. Amtrak's pre-employment drug testing program is administered in accordance with DOT regulations and applicable law. In accordance with DOT regulations (49 CFR § 40.25), Amtrak is required to obtain prior drug and alcohol testing records for applicants/employees intending to perform safety-sensitive duties for covered Department of Transportation positions. If an applicant/employee refuses to provide written consent for Amtrak to obtain these records, the individual will not be permitted to perform safety-sensitive functions. In accordance with federal law governing security checks of covered individuals for providers of public transportation (Title 6 U.S.C. §1143), Amtrak is required to screen applicants for any permanent or interim disqualifying criminal offenses. Note that any education requirement listed above may be deemed satisfied if you have an equivalent combination of education, training and experience. Amtrak is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race/color, to include traits historically associated with race, including but not limited to, hair texture and hairstyles such as braids, locks and twists, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth and related conditions, such as lactation), national origin/ethnicity, disability (intellectual, mental and physical), veteran status, marital status, ancestry, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, genetic information, citizenship or any other personal characteristics protected by law.