Civil Highway Engineer​/Railroad Specialist

GFT is seeking a Civil Highway Engineer/Railroad Specialist to join our Practice or CBG Team in Schaumburg, IL
. This role follows a hybrid work model, requiring regular attendance at the Schaumburg, IL office.

GFT's Transportation team offers the opportunity to engage in transformative projects that enhance transportation infrastructure and improve community connectivity. Whether working on highways and bridges or traffic engineering, our team excels in resilient, sustainable design and construction, delivering innovative solutions that address the complexities of modern, multimodal roadway systems and ensure safe, efficient, and reliable travel for all.

GFT’s Schaumburg, IL office seeks a Civil/Transportation Engineer/Railroad Specialist to join our growing office of roadway, highway, structural, transit, rail, and intermodal designers and construction inspectors as a roadway/highway Railroad Specialist on Phase I and Phase II projects. The person will be a member of our highway division and will be part of a Program Management role.

The position is a full‑time role (40 hours a week) working in the IDOT District One office in the Bureau of Design, Project Support Section, Railroad Unit. The successful candidate will perform various tasks including project coordination with the IDOT Project Manager, design consultants and railroad staff. This position will assist with the IDOT at‑grade crossing program and implementing public improvements on the State highway system.

This individual will use engineering skills to understand and interpret roadway plan drawings and specifications to facilitate improvements to the State highway system. The candidate will work with the IDOT Project Manager and the design consultant in coordinating public improvements with railroads, ranging from preliminary concept design and geometry layout to detailed contract plans and specifications for reconstruction, widening, and bridge replacements that impact railroad facilities.

The candidate will attend design meetings, facilitate solutions to design and scheduling issues, prepare responses to public inquiries, inspect railroad crossing conditions, and manage construction of field improvements by the railroad forces on the State highway system.

The candidate will coordinate with local governments on detour routes for proposed grade crossing replacement, review force account bills, process work for payment by railroads on safety crossing improvements, and coordinate with IDOT’s Central Office and Chief Counsel in the coordination of Railroad Agreements. This individual may be asked to testify at ICC hearings regarding public improvements.

A candidate with a background working with IDOT in preliminary engineering, development of plans, or construction is recommended. A base level knowledge of CADD would be beneficial for preparing sketches and plan diagrams for at-grade crossing. The individual will collaborate closely with other teams on multi-disciplinary projects.

• Analyzing information and data to perform routine design tasks.
• Making independent decisions on engineering problems and methods.
• Ensuring accuracy of engineering design and plans, quality presentation, thoroughness and follow‑through, and efficient conformance to budgets, schedules, and company standards.
• Reviewing design options and documenting findings from the design team.
• Possessing an understanding of Open Roads (preferred).
• Managing workload and any changes in project schedule, scope, or additional services.

• Minimum 5 years of related, in‑field experience, including work directly or as a consultant for the Illinois Tollway, Illinois DOT, Chicago DOT, Cook County Department of Transportation & Highways, or local counties and municipalities, and with Federally funded projects.
• Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering or a similar field from an ABET accredited university.
• E.I.T. Certification.
• Strong technical skills, excellent verbal and written communication skills, and the ability to work well in a team environment on…