Freight Rail Track Engineer

Gannett Fleming, Inc.; Kansas City (MO); Hybrid; USD 80,000 - 115,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work environment

Wellness programs and comprehensive保险

401(k) retirement plan

Tuition reimbursement

Professional development support

Incentive compensation

Job summary

GFT is seeking a Freight Rail Track Engineer to join our Transportation Team in Kansas City, MO or Omaha, NE. The role supports Midwest rail design with a hybrid work model requiring presence at one of the offices.

The position emphasizes design of track alignments, coordination with Class I railroads, and mentoring junior engineers. Requires a Civil Engineering degree, 4+ years rail experience, PE licensure within 6 months, and AREMA proficiency.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering from an accredited university.
• Minimum of 4 years' professional experience in rail design (freight, passenger, or intermodal projects preferred).
• Licensed Professional Engineer, or able to obtain licensure within 6 months of hire.
• Proficiency in MicroStation and/or OpenRail.
• Understanding of AREMA standards, Class I railroad design guidelines, and industry best practices.
• Strong communication skills and ability to work with public agencies, railroads, and private developers.
• Prior leadership experience or readiness to take on a lead design role.

Responsibilities

• Lead track and rail infrastructure design for freight railroads, intermodal facilities, and industrial rail projects.
• Develop plan and profile designs using MicroStation/OpenRail for new track alignments, industry track loops, yard expansions, and rehabilitation projects.
• Prepare horizontal and vertical alignment designs, turnout and crossover layouts, drainage considerations, and grading plans.
• Coordinate with Class I railroads (BNSF, UP, CN, CSX, KCS, etc.), public agencies, and private clients to meet project specifications.
• Perform site investigations, track geometry calculations, and constructability assessments.
• Work alongside civil, structural, and signal teams to integrate rail projects into broader transportation networks.
• Support permitting and compliance with AREMA standards and railroad engineering guidelines.
• Mentor junior engineers, conduct quality control (QC) reviews, and help develop best practices for rail design.

Skills

Rail design

MicroStation/OpenRail

AREMA standards

Leadership

Communication

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering

Tools

MicroStation

OpenRail

Job description

Position Overview

GFT is seeking a Freight Rail Track Engineer to join our Transportation Team in any of the following Kansas City, MO or Omaha, NE locations. This role follows a hybrid work model, requiring regular attendance at one of these office locations.

Key Responsibilities

This role will support our Midwest Area on a variety of design and planning projects with an emphasis on Rail design. The ideal candidate will have a demonstrated ability to understand the application of engineering fundamentals on transportation engineering design projects for a variety of clients, particularly states, municipalities, and railroads. This position is with our Midwest Design Team.

• Lead track and rail infrastructure design for freight railroads, intermodal facilities, and industrial rail projects.
• Develop plan and profile designs using MicroStation/OpenRail for new track alignments, industry track loops, yard expansions, and rehabilitation projects.
• Prepare horizontal and vertical alignment designs, turnout and crossover layouts, drainage considerations, and grading plans.
• Coordinate with Class I railroads (BNSF, UP, CN, CSX, KCS, etc.), public agencies, and private clients to meet project specifications.
• Perform site investigations, track geometry calculations, and constructability assessments.
• Work alongside civil, structural, and signal teams to integrate rail projects into broader transportation networks.
• Support permitting and compliance with AREMA standards and railroad engineering guidelines.
• Mentor junior engineers, conduct quality control (QC) reviews, and help develop best practices for rail design.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering from an accredited university.
• Minimum of 4 years' professional experience in rail design (freight, passenger, or intermodal projects preferred).
• Licensed Professional Engineer, or able to obtain licensure within 6 months of hire.
• Proficiency in MicroStation and/or OpenRail.
• Understanding of AREMA standards, Class I railroad design guidelines, and industry best practices.
• Strong communication skills and ability to work with public agencies, railroads, and private developers.
• Prior leadership experience or readiness to take on a lead design role.

Compensation

The salary range for this role is $80,000 - $115,000. Salary is dependent upon experience and geographic location.

Benefits

• Hybrid (in-person and remote) work environment.
• Comprehensive benefits package including wellness programs, parental leave, and pet insurance, in addition to medical, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance.
• Tax-deferred 401(k) savings plan.
• Competitive paid-time-off (PTO) accrual.
• Tuition reimbursement for continued education.
• Commitment to professional development, access to internal and external training programs, and support of active participation in professional organizations.
• Incentive compensation for eligible positions.

Job Details

• Location: Kansas City, MO; Omaha, NE
• Core Business Hours: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
• Employment Status: Full-Time
• Criminal background check required for all advertised positions.

Equal Opportunity Employer

GFT is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veterans’ status or other characteristics protected by law.