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Rail Transportation Intern Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Intern or professional experience in transportation-related civil design (e.g., roadway, railroads ... Strong interest in railroad design * An attitude and commitment to being an active participant of ...

Intern or professional experience in transportation-related civil design (e.g., roadway, railroads ... Strong interest in railroad design * An attitude and commitment to being an active participant of ...

Construction Intern

Greer, SC · On-site

$16 - $21/hr

... large transportation infrastructure. Its track-record to date includes more than 304 miles of ... of railroad lines (including 434 miles of high-speed railroads) and 16,994 miles of road ...

Systems Design Associate-Rail & Transit

Pittsburgh, PA · On-site

$97K - $133K/yr

Burns' full-service capabilities include mechanical, electrical, civil, structural, transportation ... Engineering Intern (EI), or similar, is a plus. Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans ...

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Rail Transportation Intern information

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$9

$17

$23

How much do rail transportation intern jobs pay per hour?

As of Jun 27, 2026, the average hourly pay for rail transportation intern in the United States is $17.31, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $14.42 and $19.23 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Rail Transportation Intern vs Rail Operations Coordinator?

AspectRail Transportation InternRail Operations Coordinator
Required CredentialsTypically pursuing or recent graduate in transportation, logistics, or related fieldRelevant experience in rail operations, logistics, or transportation management
Work EnvironmentInternship setting, often in offices or rail yards, with learning focusFull-time role managing daily operations, coordinating staff, and ensuring safety
Employer & Industry UsageUsed by rail companies for training and development programsUsed by rail companies for ongoing operational management

The Rail Transportation Intern role is primarily an entry-level position focused on learning and supporting rail operations, often as part of an internship program. In contrast, the Rail Operations Coordinator is a full-time role responsible for managing daily rail activities, coordinating teams, and ensuring safety and efficiency. While both roles involve rail industry knowledge, the intern position emphasizes training, whereas the coordinator role involves operational responsibility.

What does a Rail Transportation Intern do?

A Rail Transportation Intern supports the operations, logistics, and planning of rail transport systems. Their responsibilities often include assisting with data collection and analysis, helping coordinate schedules, learning about safety regulations, and shadowing experienced professionals. This role provides hands-on experience in rail operations, project management, and exposure to the technical and regulatory aspects of the rail industry. Interns may also participate in field visits and contribute to ongoing projects. The internship is designed to give students or recent graduates practical skills and industry knowledge.

What types of projects and responsibilities can I expect as a Rail Transportation Intern?

As a Rail Transportation Intern, you can expect to support ongoing projects related to scheduling, logistics, and safety analysis within the rail network. Typical responsibilities include data collection, assisting with operational planning, preparing reports, and collaborating with engineers or operations teams on efficiency improvements. Interns often participate in team meetings, site visits, and may be involved in research to support larger transportation initiatives. This hands-on experience provides valuable insight into the daily operations of rail systems and offers opportunities to network with professionals in the industry.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Rail Transportation Intern, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Rail Transportation Intern, you generally need a background in transportation, engineering, or logistics, often supported by current enrollment in a relevant degree program. Familiarity with rail operations software, CAD tools, and Microsoft Office Suite is typically expected. Strong analytical thinking, attention to detail, and effective communication skills help interns stand out in collaborative and safety-focused environments. These competencies are crucial for contributing to efficient rail operations, ensuring safety compliance, and supporting project goals during the internship.
What cities are hiring for Rail Transportation Intern jobs? Cities with the most Rail Transportation Intern job openings:
What states have the most Rail Transportation Intern jobs? States with the most job openings for Rail Transportation Intern jobs include:
Rail Structures Designer/EIT

Rail Structures Designer/EIT

HDR

Atlanta, GA • On-site

Other

Medical, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 17 days ago


HDR rating

9.1

Company rating: 9.1 out of 10

Based on 55 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

20th of 356 rated engineering


Job description

At HDR, our employee-owners are fully engaged in creating a welcoming environment where each of us is valued and respected, a place where everyone is empowered to bring their authentic selves and novel ideas to work every day. As we foster a culture of inclusion throughout our company and within our communities, we constantly ask ourselves: What is our impact on the world?
Watch Our Story:' https://www.hdrinc.com/our-story' 
Each and every role throughout our organization makes a difference in our ability to change the world for the better. Read further to learn how you could help make great things possible not only in your community, but around the world. 
Are you ready to kickstart your rail bridge engineering career? To give yourself the best chance for future success, you'll want a solid company with collaborative colleagues that do amazing work for clients that trust them to push open the doors to what's possible. And that's what you'll find at HDR.

HDR is an employee-owned company with more than 100-years of making great things possible, together with our clients. Our pride is in our people - smart, hardworking team members who take their employee ownership seriously and will have your back at every turn. Their expertise will inspire you to be your best and develop new and better solutions.

We invite you to build your transportation career at HDR. Our global team is looking for a success-oriented Rail Bridge EIT/Designer that will be a key player in HDR's freight rail program.

The freight rail network is a vital link in our national and global supply chain markets. Your work at HDR results in critical infrastructure for the sustainable movement of goods and people. Whether it is a traditional railroad structure across a major river, or an engineering marvel that redefines freight mobility at historic bottlenecks, you will have created something that matters.

HDR Rail EIT/Designers thrive in this entrepreneurial environment where team members are encouraged to proactively work with their supervisors to identify project roles that are complementary with their strengths, interests, and career goals. And we have a proven workshare approach, providing diverse staff from across our Transportation program the opportunity to participate in landmark projects around the globe. Our culture of innovation and collaboration places strong emphasis on team-spirit, diversity thoughtfulness, growth and learning, discipline expertise, and personal accountability offering you a rewarding career in our dynamic, high-performance environment. If that sounds good to you, please apply!

Primary Responsibilities

As an employee-owner in this Rail Structures Designer/EIT role, we'll count on you to:

  • Apply structural engineering techniques and procedures related to the design of bridges, structures, retaining walls and supporting facilities for our various freight railroad clients

  • Work under the guidance and direct supervision of a Professional Engineer to serve in a technical capacity to assist in checking drawings and calculations, developing material lists and calculating quantities, and reviewing construction submittals, using structural design software programs.

  • Participate and assist in rail bridges and structures assessments.

  • Assist with development of project deliverables, including calculations, design plans, cost estimates, specifications, and feasibility reports.

  • Have a desire to work in and learn about the railroad industry and may regularly interact with clients and other rail industry professionals.

  • Work closely with Project Engineers and Managers to gain the engineering experience to obtain professional engineering license.

Preferred Qualifications 
 
  • Engineer in Training (EIT) certificate
  • Candidates without their EIT will be placed into a Design Coordinator job code and will be expected to obtain their EIT for career progression
  • Intern or professional experience in transportation-related civil design (e.g., roadway, railroads or transit, or other linear corridor design).
  • Strong understanding and experience with engineering software packages.
  • Experience in bridges or structures design.
  • Successfully passed Fundamentals of Engineering Exam (i.e.., EI or EIT credentials), with desire to obtain PE license preferred.

We've already earned National ACEC awards for: the West Colton Flyover Structures which eliminated one of the largest bottlenecks in US history with an innovative first-of-its-kind flyover, the HDR-patented Infinity Loop Design, and the West Vancouver Freight Access Program Management project where we worked with the port to right-size and more efficiently adapt to evolving industry demands.  You could help us bring home the next one.

We understand your career is a big part of your life, but it's not your whole life. We offer benefits that look out for your health and wellness from a "whole you" perspective. Whether you are continuing your education, mapping your financial future, balancing work and family, or planning for retirement, we want to support your personal and professional goals. Benefits include an excellent medical plan, paid time off, tuition assistance, 401(k) and employee stock ownership plans - and more! At HDR, you can own your future, own your company, and own who you are.

Join us to collaborate with a global team, grow your career and work on amazing projects!

Required Qualifications
  • Bachelor's degree
  • Hands-on experience with MicroStation, InRoads and GEOPAK-route design
  • MS Office Applications experience
  • Strong interest in railroad design
  • An attitude and commitment to being an active participant of our employee-owned culture is a must

What We Believe
HDR is our company. Together, we build on each other's life experiences and perspectives to make great things possible every day. This shapes our collaborative culture, encourages organizational trust and connects us closer to the clients and communities we serve.
Our Commitment
As employee owners, we all have a role in creating an inclusive environment where each of us is welcomed, valued, respected and empowered to bring our authentic selves to work every day.
Our eight Employee Network Groups (Asian Pacific, Black, Hispanic/Latino(a), LGBTQ+, People with Disabilities, Veterans, Women, Young Professionals) help create a sense of belonging and foster a supportive environment where everyone is empowered to engage and contribute. Each group has an executive sponsor and is open to all employees.


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About HDR

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

At HDR, we specialize in engineering, architecture, environmental and construction services. While we are most well-known for adding beauty and structure to communities through high-performance buildings and smart infrastructure, we provide much more than that. We create an unshakable foundation for progress because our multidisciplinary teams also include scientists, economists, builders, analysts and artists.

Industry

Specialized design services

Company size

5,001 - 10,000 Employees

Headquarters location

Omaha, NE, US

Year founded

1917