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Freight Train Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

... rigidity of a train. Existing warehouse racking can also be retrofitted making storage-and ... As a Senior Robotics Engineer, you will be a hands‑on contributor and mentor, leading a focused ...

PLM/ PDM Systems Architect

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$261K/yr

Join our dynamic team and help shape a smarter, greener future for global freight. Senior PLM ... Support engineers and production staff directly - triage issues, onboard and train new users, and ...

We train a unique model for each customer, which means model training and inference work ... Emergency air freight is needed for misallocated products. Poor production planning means workers ...

Showing results 21-40

Freight Train Engineer information

See California salary details

$35K

$94.8K

$165.8K

How much do freight train engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 7, 2026, the average yearly pay for freight train engineer in California is $94,849.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $79,000.00 and $106,600.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a freight train engineer?

A Freight Train Engineer operates and controls freight trains, ensuring the safe and efficient transportation of goods. They monitor train speed, track signals, and mechanical systems while following safety regulations and schedules. Engineers communicate with dispatchers and rail yard personnel to coordinate movements and handle emergencies. This role requires extensive training, certification, and knowledge of rail systems, mechanical functions, and safety protocols.

What are some typical challenges faced by freight train engineers on the job?

Freight Train Engineers often face challenges such as operating trains in various weather conditions, adhering to strict timetables, and responding quickly to equipment or track issues that arise en route. They must remain vigilant for unexpected obstacles or signals and comply with complex safety regulations at all times. Additionally, engineers frequently work irregular hours, including nights, weekends, and holidays, which can affect work-life balance. Despite these challenges, the role offers an engaging environment with strong teamwork and opportunities for advancement into supervisory or training positions.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a freight train engineer, and why are they important?

To succeed as a Freight Train Engineer, you need strong mechanical aptitude, attention to detail, and a high school diploma or equivalent, often supplemented by a federally mandated locomotive engineer certification. Familiarity with train control systems, safety protocols, and electronic logging devices is essential for operating and navigating freight locomotives safely. Excellent situational awareness, clear communication, and the ability to remain calm under pressure are key soft skills in this role. These competencies ensure safe train operation, adherence to schedules, and effective responses to unexpected challenges on the rail.

How do you become a freight train engineer?

To become a freight train engineer, candidates typically need a high school diploma or equivalent, followed by on-the-job training or an apprenticeship program provided by a railroad company. They must obtain a locomotive engineer license or certification, which involves passing written and practical exams, and often requires a clean driving record and good communication skills. Experience operating trains and knowledge of safety protocols are also essential.

What does a freight train engineer do on a freight train?

A freight train engineer operates and controls the locomotive to move freight cars along rail lines, ensuring safe and efficient transportation. They monitor gauges, manage speed, communicate with dispatchers, and perform safety checks throughout their shift, which often involves long hours and adherence to strict regulations.

What are the most commonly searched types of Freight Train Engineer jobs in California?

The most popular types of Freight Train Engineer jobs in California are:

What are popular job titles related to Freight Train Engineer jobs in California?

For Freight Train Engineer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

Infographic showing various Freight Train Engineer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 82% Full Time, 16% Part Time, 1% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 96% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 3% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $94,849 per year, or $45.6 per hour.

Senior ML Ops Engineer (Machine Learning Infrastructure)

Parallel Systems

Los Angeles, CA • Hybrid

$150K - $250K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 11 days ago


Job description

Parallel Systems is pioneering autonomous battery-electric rail vehicles designed to transform freight transportation by shifting portions of the $900 billion U.S. trucking industry onto rail. Our innovative technology offers cleaner, safer, and more efficient logistics solutions. Join our dynamic team and help shape a smarter, greener future for global freight.

Senior ML Ops Engineer (Machine Learning Infrastructure)

Parallel Systems is seeking an experienced MLOps/ML Infrastructure Engineer to lead the design and development of the scalable systems that power our autonomy and perception pipelines. As we build the first fully autonomous, battery-electric rail vehicles, you will play a critical role in enabling the ML teams to develop, train, and deploy models efficiently and reliably in both R&D and real-world environments.

This is an opportunity to take full ownership of the ML infrastructure stack, from distributed training environments and experiment tracking to deployment and monitoring at scale. You'll collaborate closely with world-class engineers in autonomy, robotics, and software, helping shape the core systems that make real-time, safety-critical ML possible. If you're driven by building robust platforms that unlock innovation in AI and robotics, we'd love to work with you. 

This can be a hybrid role (minimum of 1 week per month onsite in Los Angeles) for a senior engineer with experience in 0 to 1 builds of perception systems. 

Responsibilities:

  • Design and implement robust MLOps solutions, including automated pipelines for data management, model training, deployment and monitoring. 
  • Architect, deploy, and manage scalable ML infrastructure for distributed training and inference. 
  • Collaborate with ML engineers to gather requirements and develop strategies for data management, model development and deployment. 
  • Build and operate cloud-based systems (e.g., AWS, GCP) optimized for ML workloads in R&D, and production environments. 
  • Build scalable ML infrastructure to support continuous integration/deployment, experiment management, and governance of models and datasets. 
  • Support the automation of model evaluation, selection, and deployment workflows. 

What Success Looks Like: 

  • After 30 Days: You have developed a deep understanding of the product goals, existing infrastructure, and stakeholder requirements. You've conducted technical discovery and proposed a preliminary MLOps architecture—evaluating various ML tools, cloud services, and workflow strategies—clearly outlining pros and cons for each option. 
  • After 60 Days: You've delivered a detailed design document that outlines the end-to-end ML pipeline, including data ingestion, model training, deployment, and monitoring. Based on feedback from ML engineers and stakeholders, you've iterated on the design and built PoC for the core ML workflow aligned with the approved architecture. 
  • After 90 Days: You have delivered the core features of the MLOps pipeline and successfully integrated key tools (e.g., MLflow, SageMaker, or Kubeflow). You've also initiated the implementation of the remaining features, ensuring the infrastructure supports scalable, repeatable workflows for model experimentation and deployment in both R&D and production environments. 

Basic Requirements: 

  • Bachelor's or higher degree in Computer Science, Machine Learning, or a relevant engineering discipline. 
  • 5+ years of experience building large-scale, reliable systems; 2+ years focused on ML infrastructure or MLOps. 
  • Proven experience architecting and deploying production-grade ML pipelines and platforms. 
  • Strong knowledge of ML lifecycle: data ingestion, model training, evaluation, packaging, and deployment. 
  • Hands-on experience with MLOps tools (e.g., MLflow, Kubeflow, SageMaker, Airflow, Metaflow, or similar). 
  • Deep understanding of CI/CD practices applied to ML workflows. 
  • Proficiency in Python, Git, and system design with solid software engineering fundamentals. 
  • Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, or Azure) and designing ML architectures in those environments. 

Preferred Qualifications: 

  • Experience with deep learning architectures (CNNs, RNNs, Transformers) or computer vision. 
  • Hands-on experience with distributed training tools (e.g., PyTorch DDP, Horovod, Ray). 
  • Background in real-time ML systems and batch inference, including CPU/GPU-aware orchestration. 
  • Previous work in autonomous vehicles, robotics, or other real-time ML-driven systems. 

We are committed to providing fair and transparent compensation in accordance with applicable laws. Salary ranges are listed below and reflect the expected range for new hires in this role, based on factors such as skills, experience, qualifications, and location. Final compensation may vary and will be determined during the interview process. The target hiring range for this position is listed below.

Target Salary Range:
$150,000—$250,000 USD

Parallel Systems is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity in the workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any discriminatory factor protected by applicable federal, state or local laws. We work to build an inclusive environment in which all people can come to do their best work.

Parallel Systems is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, Parallel Systems will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact your recruiter.