Staff Railroad Engineer

RINA; Lisle (IL); On-site; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, Vision insurance

401K with discretionary match

Job summary

RINA is a global knowledge company seeking a Staff Railroad Engineer for our Rail & Transit team in the United States. Based in Houston, TX or Chicago/Lisle, IL, you will focus on track design, civil design, and project delivery for freight, passenger, and transit rail projects, under senior engineers and PMs.

You will develop alignments, ensure compliance with AREMA standards, coordinate with Class I railroads and public agencies, and advance toward professional licensure while expanding

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering or Transport Engineering.
• 2+ years of professional rail/transit civil design experience.
• EIT/EI certification.
• Proficiency with AREMA standards and Bentley OpenRail Designer.
• Willingness to travel up to 25%.

Responsibilities

• Develop horizontal and vertical track alignments per AREMA and standards.
• Prepare track layouts for mainline, yard, siding, and industry tracks.
• Support design of track geometries, grade crossings, and structures.
• Produce design deliverables at various project milestones (PS&E, IFC).
• Collaborate with multiple design disciplines and stakeholders.
• Assist in cost estimates and field verifications.

Skills

Rail design experience

Civil design

Strong communication

Travel up to 25%

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering or Transport Engineering

EIT/EI certification

Tools

Bentley OpenRail Designer (MicroStation/InRoads/OpenRoads)

AutoCAD Civil 3D

Hydrology/Hydraulic tools (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.