Rail Bridge Associate
About The Position
RAIL & TRANSIT PRACTICE Whether moving people or freight, future rail and transit solutions will be determined by energy prices, a shift toward urban living and growing environmental concerns. Michael Baker helps freight, authority and state Department of Transportation clients meet these modern challenges by providing services that address key industry issues such as state of good repair, capacity, safety, community livability, asset management and maintenance, planning and development for new projects, and the promotion of environmental stewardship and sustainability. We provide value by first understanding our clients’ needs, then working with them as a partner to identify innovative and cost-effective solutions that optimize their opportunities for success. DESCRIPTION Michael Baker International is seeking a Rail Bridge Associate to join our team in May 2026 to support our Chicago, IL office . In this position you will work under the direction of a Project Engineer or Project Manager to prepare structural calculations, bridge plans, technical specifications, and cost estimates for various freight and transit clients. The Rail Bridge Associate’s tasks vary from designing superstructure replacements and rehabilitations, designing retaining walls and substructures, assisting with overall preparation of structure plans and development of quantities. Tasks may also include field inspection work for the purposes of structure ratings and plan development. We are seeking May 2026 graduates
Requirements
- Bachelor’s Degree in Civil or Structural Engineering required
- Fundamentals of Engineering exam (Passed prior to starting role)
- 0-2 years of engineering experience; rail or bridge experience/ interest required
- Prior structural coursework required
- Proficiency with CAD (MicroStation & AutoCAD), Microsoft Office
- Strong interest in railroad bridge design
- Availability to occasionally travel to other local offices and job site locations
Nice To Haves
- MathCAD, Structural Analysis Program experience is a plu
Responsibilities
- Prepare construction plans, specifications, and cost estimates for Rail and Bridge Design projects
- Work independently on small projects or assist senior engineers within large multi-disciplinary design team
- Periodically perform rail bridge site inspections
- Work closely with professional engineers to execute bridge design tasks
- Prepare structural designs/ analysis, plans, specifications, cost estimates, and load rating calculations
- Perform structural element design calculations
- Review bridge record plans and develop them within CAD
Benefits
- Medical, dental, vision insurance
- 401k Retirement Plan
- Health Savings Account (HSA)
- Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
- Life, AD&D, short-term, and long-term disability
- Professional and personal development
- Generous paid time off
- Commuter and wellness benefits
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
Number of Employees
5,001-10,000 employees
