Staff Railroad Engineer

RINA; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, Vision packages

401K with company match

Paid time off

Job summary

RINA seeks a Staff Railroad Engineer to advance track design, civil design, and project coordination for rail projects in Houston, TX or Chicago/Lisle, IL. The role focuses on alignment, drainage, and multidisciplinary collaboration across Class I and public agencies.

You will deliver design packages, perform calculations, and support field activities with opportunities for licensure and career growth within the Project Engineering Division.

Qualifications

• 2+ years of professional engineering experience in rail, transit, or transportation civil design, with direct experience in track design.
• Engineer‑in‑Training (EIT) / Engineering Intern (EI) certification.
• Familiarity with AREMA Manual for Railway Engineering and Class I railroad/design standards.
• Proficiency in design modeling and sheet production using Bentley OpenRail Designer (MicroStation/InRoads/OpenRoads).
• Ability to travel up to 25% of the time and to work near active railroad operations.

Responsibilities

• Develop horizontal and vertical track alignments and grade calculations per standards.
• Prepare track layouts for mainline, yard, siding, and industry tracks with turnout planning.
• Support civil design including drainage, grading, and site plans for rail projects.
• Produce design deliverables at multiple project milestones (PS&E, IFC).
• Collaborate with multiple disciplines and coordinate with railroads and agencies.
• Support field investigations and provide construction-phase input and reviews.

Skills

Workplace dynamics

Foresight

Insight

Empowerment

Interpersonal influence

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering

Tools

Bentley OpenRail Designer

AutoCAD Civil 3D

HY-8

HEC-RAS

Job description

RINA is a global knowledge company where expertise travels across borders, disciplines, and industries. Every day, we collaborate on solving complex challenges that no single field could tackle alone. With a presence in more than 70 countries and 160 years of heritage, we turn individual know-how into collective progress.

We are currently recruiting for a Staff Railroad Engineer to join our office in Houston, TX or Chicago/Lisle, IL within the Project Engineering Division.

Compensation Data

$85,000 - $120,000 commensurate with education and experience.

Mission

We are seeking a motivated Staff Engineer to join our Rail & Transit team, supporting the planning, design, and delivery of freight, passenger, and transit rail projects. Working under the direction of senior engineers and project managers, the Staff Engineer will focus on track design and supporting civil design, track geometry including horizontal and vertical alignment, grading, drainage, railroad civil components and plan production. This role offers hands‑on design experience on Class I railroad projects and public agency projects interfacing with railroads, exposure to multi‑agency coordination, and a clear path toward professional licensure and increased technical responsibility.

Key Accountabilities

Track Design

• Develop horizontal and vertical track alignments, including curves, spirals, superelevation, and grade calculations, in accordance with AREMA, Railroad, and agency standards.
• Prepare track layouts for mainline, yard, siding, and industry tracks, including turnout and crossover placement, special trackwork, and clearance envelopes.
• Work on Corridor improvement projects for dual use Passenger and Freight Railroads.
• Prepare track plans, profiles, typical sections, railroad detail sheets, and construction staging/phasing plans to maintain rail operations during construction.
• Evaluate existing track conditions using survey, LiDAR, and as‑built data to support rehabilitation, upgrade, and capacity improvement projects.
• Support design of grade crossings, crossing surfaces, and track‑related elements at bridges, signals, and platforms.
• Perform quantity take‑offs and assist in developing construction cost estimates for track work.

Civil Design

• Design site grading, roadbed and subgrade sections, earthwork, and retaining wall layouts supporting rail infrastructure.
• Perform drainage analysis and design, including culverts, ditches, storm sewers, and stormwater management features.
• Prepare roadway, utility relocation, and site civil plans associated with grade separations, crossings, and station/facility improvements.
• Develop erosion and sediment control plans and support environmental permitting requirements.
• Collaborate with other design disciplines, coordinate designs interfacing with other groups such as but not limited to structural, signal, roadway, geotechnical, environmental, and utility disciplines.

Project Delivery & Coordination

• Produce and assemble design deliverables at preliminary, 30/60/90/100%, and final (IFC) milestones, including plans, specifications, and estimates (PS&E).
• Prepare design calculations, technical memoranda, and basis‑of‑design documentation.
• Participate in internal QA/QC reviews and address comments from railroads, public agencies, and project partners.
• Support stakeholder outreach with aerial exhibits.
• Support coordination with Class I and commuter railroads, state DOTs, FRA, municipalities, and utility owners.
• Conduct field investigations and site visits to verify existing conditions, and provide construction‑phase support including RFI responses and submittal reviews.
• Track assigned tasks against project schedules and budgets, and communicate progress and issues to the project manager.
• Follow all company and railroad safety requirements, including roadway worker protection protocols when on or near active track.

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering or Transport Engineering.

Qualifications

• 2+ years of professional engineering experience in rail, transit, or transportation civil design, with direct experience in track design.
• Engineer‑in‑Training (EIT) / Engineering Intern (EI) certification.
• Working knowledge of AREMA Manual for Railway Engineering and familiarity with Class I railroad and/or transit agency design standards.
• Proficiency in design modeling and sheet production using Bentley OpenRail Designer (MicroStation/InRoads/OpenRoads).
• Ability to perform track geometry, earthwork, and drainage calculations.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to prepare clear technical documentation.
• Ability to travel up to 25% of the time to project sites and work in field conditions near active railroad operations.
• Valid driver's license.

Preferred Qualifications

• Professional Engineer (PE) license or the ability to obtain licensure within the next 1–2 years.
• Experience on freight and passenger rail projects, including Class I railroad, commuter rail, or light rail work.
• Experience with publicly funded projects (e.g., state DOT, FRA, or FTA) and associated design, documentation, and grant requirements.
• Familiarity with hydrologic and hydraulic software (e.g., HY‑8, HEC‑RAS, StormCAD)
• Experience with Bentley ProjectWise or similar document management systems.
• Experience with track design for yard, terminal, grade separation, or multi-track corridor projects.
• Roadway Worker Protection (RWP) training and railroad contractor safety orientation (e.g., eRailSafe).
• Exposure to 3D modeling, BIM, Digital Twin, or digital delivery workflows.
• Experience in civil design software such as AutoCAD Civil 3D.

Competencies

• WORKPLACE DYNAMICS - Resourcefulness in shaping progress and working efficiently.
• FORESIGHT & INSIGHT - Context awareness adopting a systemic perspective and informed decision making.
• PERSONAL EMPOWERMENT - Ownership for life, work and results, striving to grow professionally and personally.
• INTERPERSONAL INFLUENCE - Skills and strategies we use to interact effectively with others.
• DOMAIN & BUSINESS ACUMEN - Applying a scientific approach and critical thinking in operations and solution development within area of expertise.

At RINA, your growth drives our innovation. We bring together engineers, inspectors, digital minds and specialists from more than 100 nationalities, creating an environment where diverse perspectives sharpen how we think, collaborate and deliver.

RINA North America provides a comprehensive benefits package, including the following insurance options: Medical, Dental, Vision, Medical Flexible Spending Account, Dependent Care Spending Account, Health Savings Account, Transit, Parking, Basic Life, Basic AD&D, Voluntary Life, Voluntary AD&D, Short‑Term Disability, Long‑Term Disability, Voluntary Accident, Voluntary Critical Illness, Identity Theft Protection, Pet Insurance, and Employee Assistance Program. Additional benefits provided include paid time off, company holidays, tuition reimbursement, nursery grant, travel resource services, and 401K plan with company discretionary match.

Flexibility and respect drive how we work. We are committed to building a workplace where every person feels valued, empowered to develop their potential, and safe from discrimination or harassment of any kind. It is the policy of RINA to provide equal employment opportunity to all individuals regardless of their race, color, religion, gender (including pregnancy), national origin, age, disabilities, marital status, sexual orientation, genetics, military status, disabled veterans, recently separated veterans, other protected veterans (veterans who served during a war or in a campaign or expedition for which a badge has been authorized), and Armed Forces service medal veteran, or any other characteristic protected by state or federal law. We are strongly committed to this policy and believe in the concept and spirit of the law.

RINA does not accept unsolicited resumes from search firms or agencies. Any resume submitted to any employee of RINA without a prior written search agreement will be considered unsolicited and the property of RINA. Please, no phone calls or emails.