Careers at Norfolk Southern

Management Trainee: Maintenance of Way

This year-long program encourages trainees to develop skills and learn about NS engineering operations. Most importantly, the program enables the new employee to move from academic theory to Norfolk Southern's real world application and eventually become a part of the NS operation, usually as a track supervisor.

• What We Look For in a Candidate
• Training Program
• Compensation and Benefits
• Locations
• After Training

What We Look For in a Candidate

A bachelor of science in civil engineering or construction engineering is preferred but other engineering degrees will be considered. Interested applicants must have a desire to work outdoors in a hands-on, predominately field-oriented and highly responsible position. Successful candidates possess strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work under pressure. A willingness to relocate and travel is a must, as the NS track supervisor's "office" is the track structure that covers over 21,000 miles of main-line railroad.

The Training Program

Trainees undergo a 12-month hands-on training program that exposes them to all aspects of railway construction and maintenance. Training will be conducted both in the office and in the field. In addition, the trainee will spend some time in classroom sessions at our training center in McDonough, Ga. This training prepares the engineer for placement as a manager with responsibility over various aspects of line maintenance or operations. Management trainees report initially to a division headquarters, learning many of the maintenance functions as well as the physical characteristics of that territory.

Management trainees will gain experience in safety compliance, construction and maintenance operations, track inspection, track and train dynamics, crew management, work scheduling, labor relations and emergency operations handling. 

Also during this period, trainees usually participate in a corporate training event along with other newly hired or promoted management employees. This program, known as CareerLaunch, occurs in the corporate headquarters in Norfolk. In a four-day period, they will participate in presentations by representatives of many different functional areas of the corporation. In addition to this exposure, participants are encouraged to network with their peers from many different departments.

Compensation and Benefits

The salary while in the training program is $51,000 plus bonus potential. NS also offers a benefits package that includes group medical, dental and life insurance, retirement and savings plans, and relocation and tuition assistance.

Locations

Trainees will be assigned to one of 11 field division headquarters locations for their initial assignment. After completion of the program, trainees are generally relocated for their first supervisory position. Candidates must be willing to relocate several times throughout their career to be successful in this type of work.

After Training

Your job as a track supervisor puts you on the ground level with project work from planning to completion. You and your maintenance team are responsible for providing a track structure for safe and efficient movement of traffic over Norfolk Southern territories. You get hands-on experience with NS maintenance employees: rail gangs that replace rail and spikes, tie gangs that perform scheduled tie replacement, bridge and building gangs that maintain and repair the bridges and trestles of the railroad.

The track supervisor is a manager of both people and assets and has the freedom and responsibility to make decisions for their territories. Aside from managing and developing the workforce, Track Supervisors spend their time performing safety audits, conducting safety meetings, inspecting track, checking the geometry of the track and handling repairs for derailments and natural disasters that affect the track structure, and the monitoring of the natural adjustment of steel in heat and cold. Track supervisors also have responsibility of dealing with local county and state government officials as well as the general public along the company’s right of way.