Freight Train Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

At Union Pacific, success is driven by our talented workforce. If you are passionate about contributing to a dynamic team and being at the heart of the railroad industry, we invite you to join us on this exciting journey. We are powered by our people, will you join our Train Crew team?

Train Crew employees are responsible for providing the safe and timely movement of customers’ freight. Previous railroad experience is not required as we provide all necessary training.

As you progress in your career, you may have the opportunity to apply for engine service (fireman’s class) and become a Class 1 Locomotive Engineer. 

In your initial year of service, you can expect earnings of around $80,000. As you advance in your career there is potential for higher earnings, with the median annual wages of an employee with five years of service reaching over $100,000. Each employee is entitled to medical insurance that also covers prescriptions. In addition, the company provides vision, dental, life, and disability insurance.

What Should You Know

• If hired, know that changing seniority locations and/or crafts (moving from train crew to mechanical or engineering) are approved based on business demands and may not be granted.  Plan to commit to your craft and work location for a minimum of 2 years.
• The training class is 14 weeks and includes classroom and on-the-job training.  Attendance for the full 14 weeks and successful completion of all exams during the training period is a requirement for continued employment.  
• After training, you will work either road or yard service based on the territory you hold seniority and seniority date.  
• Road service crews may be required to work between two locations requiring them to stay away from their home terminal point.  Lodging is provided by Union Pacific.
• Yard and local service crews work with an engineer, or by remote control. They classify (sort) the cars from inbound trains and build outbound trains.  
• This is a seniority-based position, and you may be required to cover locations within the area you hold seniority other than the location hired. These locations could be a long distance from the location you were hired or from where you live. Lodging may or may not be provided depending on the collective bargaining agreement you are working under. 
• You may be required to work an assignment that is on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
• You will likely not be eligible for compensated time off during your first year of employment aside from paid sick days.
• Temporary furloughs are possible depending on fluctuations in business volumes. Furloughs and subsequent recalls to work are based on seniority dates.
• Union Pacific does not tolerate the use of drugs and alcohol (even for medicinal purposes). You will be subject to random drug and alcohol testing, mandatory testing for reasonable suspicion, and post-accident testing when applicable. 
• Refer to Train Crew FAQs for more information.

• Inspect equipment, locomotives, and rail cars to ensure they are safe to use or move in a train.
• Perform tasks such as: Coupling (connecting) equipment, aligning drawbars, operating remote control locomotives, applying, and releasing hand brakes, riding rail cars, replacing couplers/knuckles and effectively communicating information to crews, yard controllers, and dispatchers via radio and/or hand signals.
• Maintain accurate written and electronic documentation and prepare necessary materials as required.
• Observe and comply with all railroad rules and regulations pertaining to safety, operations, and the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA).
• Perform additional duties as assigned by a supervisor.

• Applicants must have reached the age of 18 or above.
• Valid driver's license
• Clean driving record in the past 36 months, without any suspension, revocation, cancellation, or denial of your driver's license resulting from a drug or alcohol-related incident. 
• Must not have been involved in diversion or probation or pleaded guilty to a drug or alcohol-related driving incident.
• Must not have refused to undergo a drug or alcohol test related to the operation of a motor vehicle.
• Successfully complete an assessment in English before proceeding to the interview stage.  For more information go to FAQs on UP.jobs.

• Experience working on 2nd and/or 3rd shifts.
• Experience working outdoors in diverse weather conditions (considering professional, personal, and volunteer experiences)
• Experience working with, on, and around heavy equipment in motion (considering professional, personal, and volunteer experiences)
• Experience working in confined spaces and at different heights.

• Candidates are required to successfully pass a Physical Ability Test (PAT) before being considered for employment.  This is separate from the medical exam and will assess your ability to handle the demands of the job. For more information go to the FAQs on UP.jobs.
• Normal color vision, enabling the detection and interpretation of various visual color signals and displays, as well as the ability to determine the speed of moving objects at both close and distant ranges.
• Adequate depth perception to accurately assess the speed and distance of locomotives being moved in the service area.
• The strength to push, pull, lift, and carry objects weighing up to 85 lbs.
• The ability to frequently perform coordinated hand movements for grasping, placing, or moving objects.
• The capacity to engage in physically demanding tasks, including occasional bending, stooping, and kneeling.
• The capacity to bend, stoop, line a switch from one track to another, climb a rail car side ladder, maintain balance while riding a rail car at varying distances, walk up to 5 miles per shift on uneven terrain and occasionally work at heights of 12’ or more.
• The capability to detect unusual sounds and smells during inspections and testing, and promptly respond.

• You may travel with our trains, sometimes spending a day or more away from your home terminal.
• Work outdoors in all weather conditions, including snow, ice, rain, cold and heat. 
• Instead of working a standard 40-hour week, there are variable work hours and irregularly scheduled days off. Train Crew employees are on call, even on nights, weekends, and holidays.
• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States without requiring company sponsorship.