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Intern Engineer: Rail Operations Modeling and Planning - Summer 2027

HNTB · Chicago, IL · $25.28–$37.92 an hour · Full time

Posted Sep 14, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

What draws you to rail and transit operations specifically?

What they are checking: Whether their interest in rail is genuine, which the posting says the ideal candidate has.

Tell me about a time you worked with a large dataset or model and found an error in it.

What they are checking: Whether they are careful with data, since operations results inform capital decisions.

Tell me about a team project where you had to learn from people with far more experience.

What they are checking: Whether they can learn well inside a highly specialized expert team.

What would you do

Your simulation shows trains running faster than the real schedule. What would you check?

What they are checking: Whether they validate models against reality and look for wrong inputs before trusting the output.

How would you explain a model's results to someone deciding whether to fund a new line?

What they are checking: Whether they can translate technical output into a clear message for decision makers.

About the work

What is headway, and how does it relate to the capacity of a rail line?

What they are checking: Whether they grasp the basic operating concepts that rail modeling is built on.

How would you figure out how many trainsets a line needs to run a given schedule?

What they are checking: Whether they can reason about cycle time, layover and fleet size from first principles.

What software or data tools have you used, and how comfortable are you learning a new simulation program?

What they are checking: Whether they can pick up the specialized tools the ROMP team uses.

Commuter rail, light rail and heavy rail all run differently. What is one difference that would matter in a model?

What they are checking: Whether they understand that mode affects acceleration, signaling and station spacing in operations analysis.

If a single track section limits a whole corridor, what options might an operations planner look at?

What they are checking: Whether they can think about bottlenecks, passing sidings and schedule changes as planning tools.

Practice this interview out loud.

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The full job description

As published by HNTB.

What We're Looking For At HNTB, you can create a career that is meaningful to you while building communities that matter to all of us. For more than a century, we have been delivering solutions for some of the largest, most complex infrastructure projects across the country. With our historic growth, it is an exciting time to join our team of employee-owners. This opportunity entails being responsible for assisting assigned department(s) and/or project(s) by performing basic engineering related tasks which may reflect elements of standard post-secondary engineering curriculum. The ideal candidate for this position is someone deeply interested in rail transit and wants to explore software and data tools to help plan, expand and enhance rail transportation with an incredible team of experts. This opportunity will allow the candidate to learn and contribute to some of the most large-scale rail and transit planning and design projects underway in the United States. The rail and transit operations analyses performed by the candidate will help inform national and metro rail networks operating and capital decision making. This internship position is part of HNTB’s highly specialized ROMP (Rail Operations Modeling and Planning) team which provides a full range of operations planning and analysis services for light rail transit, heavy rail, commuter rail, intercity passenger rail, high-speed rail and freight railroads. ROMP team is one of the strongest teams of rail professionals in the country that understands the complexity of analyzing rail operations. ROMP’s specialized personnel have extensive experience in analyzing rail and transit operations and simulating freight, passenger and transit operations. Primary focus will include passenger, freight, and light rail transit operations. You will assist with the development of planning and construction studies from an operations and data-based perspective. The position is based out of our Chicago, IL or Boston, MA office. Relocation and housing are NOT provided for this position. What You’ll Do: • Assists engineer teams in various tasks and duties. • Assists Engineer with research, development and design of projects. • Assists Engineer with the preparation of engineering drawings and documents as assigned. • Performs other duties as assigned. What You’ll Need: • High School Diploma/GED or equivalent plus current enrollment in an accredited post-secondary engineering program What You’ll Bring: • Understands engineering, geometric, and algebraic principles at a basic level. • Shows proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite. • Accepts and applies direction from peers and supervisors. • Obtains an understanding of introductory shop drawing and submittal procedures and requirements. • Ability to perform basic engineering calculations • Ability to organize information for use in drawings or other documents • Relevant coursework experience with railway engineering What We Prefer: • Completion of 2 years of post-secondary engineering program • AutoCAD and/or MicroStation experience • Strong interest in transportation and infrastructure • Knowledgeable in programing languages and work with large data sets • Experience with transportation agencies including rail and transit Additional Information Click here for benefits information: HNTB Total Rewards Click here to learn more about Equal Opportunity Employer/Disability/Veteran Visa sponsorship is not available for this position. #MD #TransitAndRail . Locations: Boston, MA, Chicago, IL . . . . . . . . . The approximate pay range for Massachusetts is $25.28 - $37.92. Please note that the pay range provided is a good faith estimate for the position based on all selected locations within the state at the time of posting. Actual compensation will be dependent on factors, including but not limited to, the individual’s qualifications, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities as well as physical work location within the state. . . . The approximate pay range for Illinois is $23.18 - $34.76. Please note that the pay range provided is a good faith estimate for the position based on all selected locations within the state at the time of posting. Actual compensation will be dependent on factors, including but not limited to, the individual’s qualifications, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities as well as physical work location within the state. . . . . . . . . . NOTICE TO THIRD-PARTY AGENCIES: HNTB does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters or agencies. Any staffing/employment agency, person or entity that submits an unsolicited resume to this site does so with the understanding that the applicant's resume will become the property of HNTB. HNTB will have the right to hire that applicant at its discretion and without any fee owed to the submitting staffing/employment agency, person or entity. Staffing/employment agencies who have fee agreements with HNTB must submit applicants to the designated HNTB recruiter to be eligible for placement fees.

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