Design and Construction Management Trainee
Norfolk Southern is selecting top-notch undergraduates for its Engineering Department Management Trainee program.
This yearlong program encourages the Management Trainee to develop skills, make new contacts and learn about NS engineering operations. Most importantly, the program bridges the new employee's move from academic theory to corporate real world application - a safety net of learning, rich in diverse experiences, growth and excitement.
Compensation and Benefits
The salary while in the training program is $45,000 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. (Click Benefits for more information)
What We Look for in a Candidate
A Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering is required, with a desire to obtain a Professional Engineer's license. You must have a desire to work in a highly responsible position. Our successful candidates possess strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work under pressure.
Location
The Engineering Department is headquartered in Atlanta, and most of the training will take place there, but relocation may be required as promotional opportunities present themselves.
Training
Preparation for careers in the Engineering Department will begin with twelve months of practical, hands-on training conducted at several locations including our training center in McDonough, GA and throughout our system, both in the office and in the field. Trainees will gain experience in safety compliance, rail design and inspection, terminal operations, road trains, train crew management and scheduling, labor relations, and emergency operations handling. Trainees will also become familiar with the compliance standards of Norfolk Southern, the U.S. Department of Transportation, the Federal Railroad Administration, and the Association of American Railroads.
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 CareerStart, 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.
Norfolk Southern undertakes the vast responsibility of the installation, upkeep and inspection of over 21,000 miles of railroad track. Our engineers work in several areas but trainees start in two primary functional roles: Maintenance of Way and Design and Construction.
Civil engineers have opportunities to work in areas involving the structural design and construction of buildings, intermodal facilities, bridges, tunnels, coal piers and track. Other special project work includes pipeline, wire crossings and pollution control. Our engineers also handle specialized needs connected with the construction, reconstruction, expansion and general structural integrity of a facility to ensure that all corporate, industry and government standards are met.
After Training
Promoted trainees normally are assigned as Design Engineers. They spend a good deal of time in the field surveying and a good deal of time in the office doing the engineering work. Office time consists of drawing surveys, completing the designs in the computer with Intergraph hardware and INROADS 3-D design software while working on a TD40 dual Pentium processor machine.
Most recently, our Design Engineers have put together the designs for the Ford Mixing Centers and the new BMW and Mercedes plants. They also have produced the designs for the Chicago Intermodal terminal.
The Design and Construction department is made up of about 80 engineers, all reporting to the Chief Engineer for Design and Construction. Around 60 engineers are in the Design group, including architects, utility engineers and design engineers.