Ready to design the backbone of America's industrial transportation network from anywhere in the country?
Our client is an established specialized railroad infrastructure design firm serving the agricultural, chemical, aggregate, building materials, and energy industries across North America. This 100% employee-owned company (ESOP since 2018) combines cutting-edge rail engineering with a collaborative, innovation-driven culture that values every team member's contributions.
Why This Role Matters
As Civil Designer, you'll manage your own workstream of 12-15 live rail projects at various stages, designing critical infrastructure that moves America's economy. From base mapping and concept drawings to full plan production and drainage design, you'll own the complete design lifecycle for industrial freight rail projects. This isn't just drafting—you'll provide project management, client coordination, and technical leadership on projects that directly impact our nation's supply chain.
What You'll Accomplish in Your First 90 Days
Within three months, you'll be independently handling base mapping and rail concept drawings over aerial imagery, producing complete plan sets from alignments and grading surfaces, and jumping straight into rail alignment design in OpenRoads Designer using raw survey data imports.
Your Day-to-Day Impact
Design rail alignments, grading surfaces, and drainage systems using OpenRoads Designer for industrial freight rail projects serving railroads' customers (not the railroads themselves). Produce comprehensive plan/profile sheets with specifications for design, design/bid/build, and design/build projects. Manage your portfolio of 12-15 active projects through client coordination, schedule management, and cross-functional collaboration with engineers, senior designers, business development leaders, and construction teams. Perform quality control peer reviews as part of the firm's rigorous QA/QC process, with final responsibility resting with assigned Professional Engineers. Import and manipulate survey data to create digital maps and base drawings. Prepare quantity takeoffs (QTOs) and opinion of probable construction costs (OPCCs) to support project estimation and proposals.
What You Bring
5+ years of civil design experience (highway/transportation background considered for strong candidates, though freight rail experience is preferred). Proficiency in OpenRoads Designer for alignment design, typical section application, grading surface creation, and basic hydrology and hydraulics for drainage design. Proven ability to import survey data, design alignments, create grading surfaces, and design drainage systems independently. Strong project management skills with the ability to juggle 12-15 concurrent projects. Self-motivated work style with excellent quality control discipline—you'll catch your own errors before they become problems.
Compensation & Benefits That Show We Value You
Base salary up to $105,000 (top of range for candidates with 10+ years freight rail experience and PE license, or 15+ years freight rail experience). Profit sharing distributions and merit-based compensation opportunities tied to performance. 100% ESOP participation—you're not just an employee, you're an owner with real equity stake since the 2018 conversion. Comprehensive health benefits from Day 1 with 80/20 cost split (company pays 80%). Generous paid time off to maintain work-life balance. 401(k) retirement plan. Fully remote work arrangement with flexible daytime hours typical of salaried ESOP employees. Occasional travel opportunities based on your interests (can throttle up or down).
Our Client's Culture
Join a highly skilled team of industry veterans with 11-25 years of freight rail and civil experience. This eight-person engineering team values collaboration, continuous improvement, and innovative problem-solving. As a 100% employee-owned company, everyone has skin in the game and a voice in the firm's direction. The team bonds over monthly gatherings and celebrates the contributions of every member.
About the Opportunity
This specialized firm focuses exclusively on "behind the derail" industrial freight rail design and permitting—working for the railroads' customers, not the railroads themselves. With sister companies handling construction (RailEx) and inspection, you'll have visibility into the full project lifecycle. The three-company structure offers unique career growth opportunities as you develop and excel in your role, with potential paths into leadership and mentorship as the firm continues expanding.
The Interview Process
First interview with the Director of Engineering. Second interview with one or more Professional Engineers. Final interview with the three-person leadership team. Interviews typically begin within 5 business days of resume review for qualified candidates.
Ready to Own Your Future?
Apply via LinkedIn and Pave Talent will contact qualified candidates within 5 business days. Confidential search—your application is fully private.
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