Civil Engineering Transit Intern

SmartRecruiters, Inc.; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 32,000 - 44,000; Full time

Job summary

AECOM is seeking a Civil Engineering Transit Intern in Chicago to join the Transit Engineering Group. This internship supports the Forest Park Branch Rebuild project and offers hands-on experience in final design under supervision.

You will learn transit design, create designs and drawings using Bentley OpenRail Designer, and work with multiple engineering disciplines. The program begins May 2027, for students pursuing a Civil Engineering degree.

Qualifications

• Pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering with at least two years of study completed.
• Interest in pursuing an Engineer-in-Training certification is desirable.
• Willingness to work in a collaborative engineering team.

Responsibilities

• Assist with rail project design and plan development under supervision.
• Learn transit design concepts and contribute to technical sessions.
• Collaborate with transit, roadway, structures, and environmental teams.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Communication

Interdisciplinary coordination

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering

Two years of study completed

Tools

Bentley MicroStation/OpenRail/OpenRoads

Job description

• Legal Entity: AECOM Technical Services Inc
• Business Line: Transportation
• Work Location Model: Hybrid
• Primary Location: US - Chicago, IL - 130 East Randolph
• Compensation: USD 23.35 - USD 32.11 - hourly

Company Description

Work with Us. Change the World.

At AECOM, we're delivering a better world. Whether improving your commute, keeping the lights on, providing access to clean water, or transforming skylines, our work helps people and communities thrive. We are the world's trusted infrastructure consulting firm, partnering with clients to solve the world’s most complex challenges and build legacies for future generations.

There has never been a better time to be at AECOM. With accelerating infrastructure investment worldwide, our services are in great demand. We invite you to bring your bold ideas and big dreams and become part of a global team of over 50,000 planners, designers, engineers, scientists, digital innovators, program and construction managers and other professionals delivering projects that create a positive and tangible impact around the world.

We're one global team driven by our common purpose to deliver a better world. Join us.

Job Description

AECOM is seeking a Civil Engineering Transit Intern to join our growing Transit Engineering Group in Chicago, Illinois. This is a unique opportunity to contribute to the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) Forest Park Branch Rebuild project to revitalize the Congress Line corridor. Internship experience will include assisting with the final design of the Forest Park Branch Rebuild project, which is currently one of the most critical projects in the CTA's system. AECOM also led the design of Phase I of the Forest Park Branch Rebuild.

This position is expected to begin in May 2027.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Assists with the engineering design of rail projects—including track design, corridor modeling, design plan development —under the supervision of an experienced engineer.
• Learns transit design alongside the AECOM Transit Design Group through various initiatives stretching beyond our projects to elevate our group’s expertise in transit design. Various initiatives include creating PowerPoint slides for technical design sessions, updating project sheets, and centralizing examples of specific elements of transit rail projects.
• Work collaboratively with other interns and engineers within our transit, roadway design, structures, water, and environmental departments of our office.
• Builds analytic and design skills.
• Creates designs, calculations, sketches, diagrams, schematic drawings, and final working drawings in Bentley OpenRail Designer under the supervision of an experienced engineer.
• Uses computer software as a tool for solving basic engineering problems.
• Performs work under supervision following an agreed-upon budget and schedule.
• Contributes to the development of reports and documentation needed for the pursuit of federal grants.
• Conducts limited field work related to the design process.

Qualifications

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

• Candidates must be pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering and must have completed at least two years of study . Candidates who have recently graduated with a Bachelor’s degree and plan to continue with the Master’s degree are eligible to apply for these positions. Recent graduates must have been enrolled in their bachelor’s degree in the most previous school term with an interest in pursuing an advanced degree in the same or similar discipline at the conclusion of the internship.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Previous internship or co-op experience with an emphasis in civil engineering fields such as rail design, roadway design, site design, utility design, stormwater, and multimodal transportation projects.
• Desire to help shape high quality transit systems in cities across the United States, including a focus next summer on significant transit projects in Chicago.
• Involved in student organizations such as AREMA, APTA, ASCE, SWE, ITE, WISE, EWB, WTS, Steel Bridge, Concrete Canoe, and Chi Epsilon.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Working knowledge of Bentley MicroStation/OpenRail/OpenRoads .
• Basic knowledge of transportation topics.
• Willingness to pursue an Engineer-in-Training certification upon graduation by having passed or have a plan to pass the Fundamentals of Engineering exam.
• An understanding of AREMA, APTA, CDOT, and/or IDOT Standards.
• An ability to coordinate among multiple disciplines including track, civil, drainage, electrical, structural, and urban planning.
• Good interpersonal skills, good command of the English language both verbally and written, the ability to express thoughts clearly, good time management skills, and a good attitude toward work.
• Ability to work as a member of a team or perform independent work as required.

Additional Information

• Sponsorship for U.S. employment authorization is not available for this position.
• Relocation assistance is not available for this role.

At AECOM, we are committed to maintaining a secure and trustworthy recruitment process and take any fraudulent hiring activity seriously. To support this commitment, all newly hired employees are required to attend an in-person Day 1 onboarding at an AECOM office location as a condition of employment.

About AECOM

AECOM is proud to offer comprehensive benefits to meet the diverse needs of our employees. Depending on your employment status, AECOM benefits may include medical, dental, vision, life, AD&D, disability benefits, paid time off, leaves of absences, voluntary benefits, perks, flexible work options,well-being resources, employee assistance program, business travel insurance, service recognition awards, retirement savings plan, and employee stock purchase plan.

AECOM is the global infrastructure leader, committed to delivering a better world. As a trusted professional services firm powered by deep technical abilities, we solve our clients’ complex challenges in water, environment, energy, transportation and buildings. Our teams partner with public- and private-sector clients to create innovative, sustainable and resilient solutions throughout the project lifecycle – from advisory, planning, design and engineering to program and construction management. AECOM is a Fortune 500 firm that had revenue of $16.1 billion in fiscal year 2025. Learn more at aecom.com.

What makes AECOM a great place to work

You will be part of a global team that champions your growth and career ambitions. Work on groundbreaking projects - both in your local community and on a global scale - that are transforming our industry and shaping the future. With cutting-edge technology and a network of experts, you’ll have the resources to make a real impact. Our award-winning training and development programs are designed to expand your technical expertise and leadership skills, helping you build the career you’ve always envisioned. Here, you’ll find a welcoming workplace built on respect, collaboration and community—where you have the freedom to grow in a world of opportunity.

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we believe in your potential and are here to help you achieve it. All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.