Mechanical (Shop Environment) Management Trainee 2026

BNSF Railway • Chicago, KS

5d • Onsite

About The Position

A Mechanical Management Trainee position at BNSF Railway offers a unique entry point for emerging mechanical professionals into the railway industry. This program equips trainees with in-depth knowledge and hands-on experience in locomotive and freight car maintenance and repair. Participants will hone their leadership skills and project management capabilities through mentorship and technical training. It's an ideal steppingstone for those looking to significantly impact the operational efficiency and safety of BNSF Railway's mechanical endeavors. This is a full-time (minimum 40hrs/wk) position in a 24x7 operations environment, subject to on-call, overtime, nights, alternating shifts, weekends, and holidays. Travel and Relocation is required after the 6-month program, must be flexible with their location, as they could be moved depending on business needs. Must have reliable transportation to and from work. Accelerate your career over approximately 6 months of training. Begin with an invigorating one-week orientation at our Fort Worth headquarters, immersing yourself in BNSF culture and forging connections with industry leaders. Sharpen your skills at our Technical Training Center for two to three weeks in Overland Park, delving into technical intricacies and personnel management. The remainder of your journey entails immersive on-the-job field training, offering leadership experience within the Mechanical department.

Requirements

• Legally authorized to work in the United States and will be at least eighteen (18) years old upon hire.
• Capable of working in a 24/7 environment, including nights, weekends, and holidays, and can safely perform duties outdoors in all weather conditions or in a shop, terminal, or field environment.
• Role includes climbing ladders and navigating uneven surfaces, with the ability to travel up to 25% of the time based on business needs.
• Able and willing to relocate anywhere on the BNSF Railway operating system (western 28 states) upon hire, for the summer, and travel to other locations as required.
• Pursuing a Bachelors or Graduate degree in Industrial Distribution, Automotive, Business, Technical, Engineering (Industrial, Mechanical, etc.) OR a similar degree program from an accredited university.
• Have and will maintain at least a 2.75 cumulative GPA.
• Have LESS THAN three (3) years of professional work experience/military service, EXCLUDING internships, part-time jobs, or positions held while pursuing my undergraduate and/or graduate degree.
• Have access to reliable transportation for the duration of employment to and from assigned BNSF location.

Nice To Haves

• Prior internship experience or less than 3 years of work experience in Engineering, Business, Automotive, or a related field.
• Have or have held a leadership position in a campus, community, or extracurricular organization.

Responsibilities

• Manage mechanical shop and field operations, work on projects, and prepare for a field operations supervisory position.
• Responsible for the safety of their teams and conduct job safety briefings with employees.
• Provide periodic updates to the General Foreman to ensure daily plan requirements are met.
• Supervise shop craft employees to safely execute terminal or shop operating plan.
• Ensure labor and equipment is positioned to inspect, test and repair equipment to meet the needs of the daily plan.
• Safeguard compliance with BNSF’s employment policies, safety rules, union agreements, and Association of American Railroads (AAR)/Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) regulations.
• Possess leadership, teamwork, clear communication, adaptability, and resilience to overcome obstacles and meet deadlines in a dynamic work environment.

Benefits

• An industry-leading 401(k) and renowned Railroad Retirement program.
• A range of robust health care options for you and your dependents (including domestic partners), including medical, dental, vision, telemedicine, mental health, cancer support, and high-quality care network options.
• Health care spending accounts (HSA) with employer contributions, as well as life and disability insurance, provided at no cost.
• Family benefits including parental, pediatric and family building support, adoption and surrogacy reimbursement, and dependent care spending account (with employer match).
• Access to discounts on travel, gym memberships, counseling services and wellness support.
• Annual bonus (Incentive Compensation Program)
• Generous leave / time off policies.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level