Rail transportation
10 BNSF Railway engineering leaders
These ten people hold or have held engineering leadership roles at BNSF Railway, from a vice president of engineering and chief engineers to general directors and directors in maintenance, environmental, software, telecom and reliability engineering. A reader can learn how these engineering leaders build and run their teams at BNSF.
Professionals to explore
01—10Asim Ghanchi
LinkedInExperience: Head of Software Engineering, bnsf tech · BNSF Railway
Head of Software Engineering, bnsf tech at BNSF Railway since June 2022. Former Sr. Director Software Engineering (2018–2022), Director of Software Engineering - Asset Management Platform (2013–2018) and Director of Engineering (2007–2012) at BNSF Railway. The profile describes developing technology systems that use AI to improve safety, asset reliability and asset availability.
Brennan M. Caughron
LinkedInExperience: Director of Engineering Services · BNSF Railway
Director of Engineering Services at BNSF Railway since August 2023, a Director-level role in the Engineering and Technical department; the profile places the person in Kansas City, Kansas. Former Manager of Engineering (2019–2023) and Project Engineer (2013–2018) at BNSF Railway.
Chad Scherwinski
LinkedInExperience: AVP & Chief Engineer - North Region · BNSF Railway
AVP & Chief Engineer - North Region at BNSF Railway since May 2024. Former AVP & Chief Engineer System Maintenance and Planning (2020–2024), General Director Maintenance (2016–2020), Director Engineering Certification (2015–2016) and Division Engineer (2012–2015) at BNSF Railway.
David Smat, P.E.
LinkedInExperience: General Director - Environmental Operations, Engineering, Permitting, and Sustainability · BNSF Railway
General Director - Environmental Operations, Engineering, Permitting, and Sustainability at BNSF Railway since April 2013; the profile says the role leads BNSF's Environmental Operations, Environmental Engineering, Permitting, and Sustainability teams. Former Senior Environmental Engineer at Riverwood International (1996–2000) and International Paper (1994–1996).
John Cech
LinkedInExperience: Vice President Of Engineering · BNSF Railway
Vice President Of Engineering at BNSF Railway since October 2018, a role the profile places in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. Former AVP & Chief Engineer System Maintenance & Planning (2016–2018) and Assistant Vice President & Chief Engineer - Central Region (2014–2016) at BNSF Railway.
Landon Smith
LinkedInExperience: Director Reliability Engineering · BNSF Railway
Director Reliability Engineering at BNSF Railway since December 2025, a Director-level role in the Engineering and Technical department. Former Information Technology Product Manager (2018–2025) and Manager of Engineering Reliability (2014–2018) at BNSF Railway, and former Manager, Mechanical Detector Systems at CN (2025).
Patrick Harper
LinkedInExperience: Director Telecom Engineering · BNSF Railway
Director Telecom Engineering at BNSF Railway since March 2021; the profile says the role leads several engineering teams responsible for designing, implementing and maintaining the company's telecommunications infrastructure. Former Manager II IP Network Engineering at BNSF Railway (2017–2021).
Steve Anderson
LinkedInExperience: Chief Engineer South Lines · BNSF Railway
Former Chief Engineer South Lines (2011–2014) and Chief Engineer North Lines (2006–2009) at BNSF Railway, and former General Director Line Maintenance at BNSF Railway (2003–2006). The profile lists a Retired Vice President Engineering role at BNSF Railway and places the person in Keller, Texas.
Todd Kuhn
LinkedInExperience: AVP Chief Engineer, System Maintenance & Planning · BNSF Railway
AVP Chief Engineer, System Maintenance & Planning at BNSF Railway since May 2024; the profile says the role leads BNSF's System Maintenance & Planning organization within the Engineering Department. Former General Director Maintenance Planning (2022–2024), General Director Line Maintenance (2018–2022) and Director Safety - Engineering (2017–2018) at BNSF Railway.
Trent Hudak
LinkedInExperience: Director Engineering Services (Retired) · BNSF Railway Company
Former Director Engineering Services at BNSF Railway Company (2008–2025), listed as retired, a Director-level role in the Engineering and Technical department. The profile says the role covered direction of the design and construction of new railway tracks and related facilities, and places it in Kansas City, Kansas.
Choose the right perspective
Match the person's engineering area to your question, since track maintenance and planning, environmental engineering, software and telecom engineering are led by different groups. Check whether the relevant role is current or former before asking how things work today.
Questions to take into the conversation
- 01How does BNSF plan and prioritize track maintenance and capital work across its network?
- 02How do engineering standards get set centrally and applied by regional engineering teams?
- 03What does a supplier or technology partner need to show to win work with BNSF engineering?
Reaching BNSF Railway engineering leaders
How can I contact one of these BNSF Railway engineering leaders?
Pick one of the 10 people on this page and choose "Book a paid call", or describe your project to find others. You offer a fee for a 15-minute call or a written answer, Instant Expert finds the person's work email and sends the invitation, and they decide whether to accept. The list covers 2 companies: BNSF Railway and BNSF Railway Company, based on profile data retrieved on October 5, 2026. Being listed here doesn't mean someone has agreed to take calls.
How much does it cost to reach BNSF Railway engineering leaders?
You choose the offer, starting at $5 per person. It includes Instant Expert's 20% fee, so an offer that pays the person $100 costs you $125. You're charged only when the person books the call or sends the answer.
What if they don't reply?
You pay nothing. Instant Expert sends follow-up reminders, and if the person hasn't booked or answered within 7 days, the request expires and any hold on your card is released. You can invite several of the 10 people on this list at once and cap your total spend, so you pay only for the ones who accept.
About this directory
This is a professional research starting point based on business profile data retrieved on . Titles and companies reflect that source snapshot and may describe past or present roles. Check the linked profiles for current details. Inclusion does not imply Instant Expert membership or availability.
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