Sr. Rail Bridge Engineer

Job Locations US-IL-Chicago | US-TX-Fort Worth
Job ID
2025-12966
Job Category
Bridge
Employment Status
Full-Time

GFT is seeking a Sr. Rail Bridge Engineer to join our Transportation Team in either our Chicago, IL or Fort Worth, TX offices! This role follows a hybrid work model, requiring regular attendance at our Chicago or Fort Worth office.

 

Working on the Transportation team at GFT offers the opportunity to engage in transformative projects that enhance transportation infrastructure and improve community connectivity. Bridge design has been a core strength of ours for over a century, ranging from concrete or steel freight and passenger rail bridges to complex highway and pedestrian bridges. Our staff's diversity enables us to deliver highly effective solutions across a broad spectrum of projects. You will have the opportunity to work on complex rail projects for Class I railroads, short lines and transit agencies such as Merchant Bridge Replacement and Retrofit and Create P1 Englewood Flyover.

 

What you’ll be challenged to do:

You’ll join the 2023 AREMA Hay Award winning team! At GFT, we have established and continue to nurture a culture that is committed to providing quality services for our clients. In this capacity you will be focused on structural design, rehabilitation, and inspection of bridges and other structures along with the preparation of load ratings, construction documents, specifications, and estimates. In addition, duties may include construction inspection services.

 

In this capacity, the successful candidate will be responsible for the following: 

  • Perform structural bridge designs utilizing current AREMA design standards.
  • Document and organize design calculations following GFT’s Quality Management Plan.
  • Perform detailed checking of calculations and design drawings produced by others.
  • Responsible for accuracy of engineering design, reports, load ratings, and plans, quality presentation, thoroughness and follow-through, and efficient conformance to budgets, schedules, and company standards.
  • Perform bridge inspections for railway bridges.
  • Participate in non-design engineering activities such as construction inspection and field data collection.
  • Lead design and project management efforts.
  • Plan and lead project meetings.
  • Update Senior Project Manager on changes in workload, project schedule, or scope.
  • Ensure projects adhere to budgets and schedules.
  • Perform QC or QA reviews.
  • Mentor junior engineers and collaborate with other team members across varied disciplines to meet project deliverables.
  • Develop and present proposals to clients in association with the Client Managers.
  • Lead client relationship meetings as well as contribute to marketing and business development efforts.
  • Maintain professional and technical knowledge by attending educational workshops; reviewing professional publications; developing professional networks; participating in professional societies.
  • Willingness to travel the continental United States.

What you will bring to our firm: 
  • Bachelor’s degree in civil/structural engineering with an emphasis in structures from an ABET-accredited university or college.
  • A minimum of 10 years’ experience in design and/or management of rail or railroad focused projects.
  • Registration as a licensed Professional Engineer.
  • Structures design experience utilizing AREMA Manual for Railroad Engineering.
  • Familiarity with Class I railroad bridge standards.
  • Knowledge of Microstation and experience with structural engineering design drawings, specifications and cost estimates.
  • Team oriented engineer with strong communication skills.
  • Working knowledge of MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, etc.), and experience with engineering design packages such as MicroStation and other structural analysis software systems such as Bluebeam Revu, LEAP Bridge Concrete, LPILE, GROUP, RISA or CSiBridge.
  • Able and willing to travel within the continental United States.
What we prefer you bring: 
  • Experience working directly with Class I railroads.
  • Master’s degree in civil/structural engineering with an emphasis in structures from an ABET-accredited university or college.
  • AREMA membership and active participation on Committees 7, 8, 9, 10 or 15.
Compensation:
The salary range for this role is $135,000 - $170,000. Salary is dependent upon experience and geographic location.
 
Featured Benefits: 
• Hybrid (in-person and remote) work environment.
• Comprehensive benefits package including wellness programs, parental leave, and pet insurance, in addition to medical, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance.
• Tax-deferred 401(k) savings plan.
• Competitive paid-time-off (PTO) accrual.
• Tuition reimbursement for continued education.
• Commitment to professional development, access to internal and external training programs, and support of active participation in professional organizations
• Incentive compensation for eligible positions.

At GFT, a privately held AEC firm, we innovate where transportation, water, power, and buildings converge. We call this the Infrastructure of Life. We measure our success by the strength of our relationships – that’s why we’re the employer of choice for 5,000+ of the industry’s brightest engineers, planners, architects, inspectors, designers, and more.

 

Our clients choose us for our expertise and prefer us for our nimble approach, creativity, and personal touch. Backed by over a century’s experience, together we’re building a lasting legacy for future generations: stronger communities, a healthier planet, and better lives.

GFT: Ingenuity That Shapes Lives™ is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veterans’ status or other characteristics protected by law.


Unsolicited resumes from third party agencies will be considered the property GFT.


Location: Chicago, IL or Fort Worth, TX
Core Business Hours: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Employment Status: Full-Time
Salary Range: $135,000 - $170,000

Salary dependent upon experience and geographic location


GFT does require the successful completion of a criminal background check for all advertised positions.

 

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