System Ops Duty Officer - 90403384 - Wilmington

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 System Operations Duty Officer (SODO) is a critical operational leader directing the real‑time movement of Amtrak and State‑Supported passenger trains nationwide. Providing 24/7/365 oversight through rotational coverage, the SODO ensures safe, efficient, and reliable service. As the designated authority during disruptions, the role leads incident response, coordinates with Host Railroads, external agencies, and internal Business Lines, and makes time‑sensitive decisions that safeguard passengers and minimize impacts. It requires strong leadership, strategic judgment, and clear communication to manage incidents, implement alternate service plans, and disseminate information enterprise‑wide. The SODO also prepares and delivers the daily “A Report,” giving executive leadership and business units system‑wide operational awareness.

Essential Functions

• Direct real‑time operational decision‑making during service disruptions to ensure passenger safety, service continuity, and effective resolution of incidents.
• Develop and implement alternate operating plans in collaboration with Business Lines to minimize customer impact, optimize system performance, and adjust crew (T&E) and inventory as needed to protect passengers and maximize revenue.
• Lead and coordinate incident response by chairing calls with internal stakeholders and external partners, driving accountability and timely resolution.
• Communicate operational directives system‑wide, both verbally through the Communicator System and in writing via operating advisories, ensuring clarity and consistency.
• Serve as the primary liaison with Host Railroads, NRC, and other external agencies during incidents, representing Amtrak’s operational interests and safeguarding service delivery.
• Prepare and deliver Amtrak’s daily “A Report” to executive leadership and business units, while providing leadership and guidance to System Operations staff to ensure alignment with company policies, safety standards, and service objectives.
  
  

Additional Responsibilities

• Other duties as required or assigned
  
  

Supervisory Responsibility

Does the job supervise?: No

Minimum Qualifications

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent combination of education, training and/or relevant experience.
• Plus 7 years of relevant work experience.
  
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent combination of education, training and/or relevant experience.
• Plus 9 years of relevant work experience.
  
  

Required Knowledge, Skills And Abilities

• Experience in Operations, Transportation, or related fields.
• Demonstrated ability to make independent, time-critical decisions with incomplete information in high-pressure environments.
• Proven experience working across a diverse workforce and multiple organizational levels to achieve operational objectives.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to convey directives clearly to field supervision (trainmasters, road foremen, managers of train operations, etc.).
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and other business applications.
• Ability to work any shift in a 24/7/365 operation.
• Prior leadership experience in train operations, equipment utilization, field transportation management, workforce management, or customer service.
• Experience leading cross-functional teams during operational incidents or large-scale service disruptions.
  
  

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 and/or long-term incentive plan compensation. In addition to your salary, Amtrak offers a comprehensive benefit package that includes health, dental, and vision plans; health savings accounts; wellness programs; flexible spending accounts; 401K retirement plan with employer match; life insurance; short and long term disability insurance; paid time off; back-up care; adoption assistance; surrogacy assistance; reimbursement of education expenses; Public Service Loan Forgiveness eligibility; Railroad Retirement sickness and retirement benefits; and rail pass privileges. Learn more about our benefits offerings here.

Requisition ID:165721

Work Arrangement:06-Onsite 4/5 Days 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.