Fall 2026/Spring 2027 - IT and Ops Engineering Intern - 90413021 - Philadelphia

As we move America’s workforce toward the future, our goal is to connect businesses and communities across the country. The safety of our passengers, our more than 20,000 colleagues, the public and our operating environment is our priority, and the success of our railroad is due to your efforts 

Our values of ‘Do the Right Thing, Excel Together and Put Customers First are at the heart of what matters most to us, and our Core Capabilities, Building Trust, Accountability, Effective Communication, Customer Focus, and Proactive Safety & Security’ are what every employee needs to know and do to be most impactful at Amtrak.  By living the Amtrak values, focusing on our capabilities, and actively embracing and fostering diverse ideas, backgrounds, and perspectives, together we will honor our past and make Amtrak a company of the future.

Position Summary

The internship provides a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience with train control systems, including dispatching and Positive Train Control (PTC), which are essential to the safe and efficient operation of Amtrak’s intercity rail network. The intern will collaborate with professionals across Information Technology and Operations Engineering on strategic and operational initiatives. 

Working under the guidance of experienced Train Control staff, the intern will participate in technical research projects while gaining valuable insight into Amtrak’s business operations and transportation services. Amtrak delivers passenger rail services and coordinates with partner carriers to provide integrated travel solutions. 

Key areas of focus may include technology enhancements for Train Dispatching, Electric Traction (ET), SCADA, and Positive Train Control (PTC) systems, as well as research initiatives supporting multimodal transportation and potential route expansion opportunities. The internship is designed to provide practical experience while contributing to projects that enhance customer travel experience.

Essential Functions  

• Work under the supervision of assigned IT Manager(s). 

• Create maps and diagrams of train tracks within assigned dispatch territories. 

• Design and develop reporting systems. 

• Compile and analyze data from written sources as well as direct interviews. 

• Write clearly and concisely on technical topics. 

• Create documentation for technical processes and best practices in terms understandable to non-technical users. 

• Assist the QA team with testing activities, record keeping, use case development, and test result documentation. 

• Monitor system status and review logs from various applications and interfaces. 

Minimum Qualifications  

• Must be actively pursuing a degree at an accredited educational institution. 

• Must be actively pursuing a degree in Computer Engineering or Computer Science. 

• Must have at least 1 year of academic undergraduate studies completed or a sophomore status at minimum. 

• Must have a cumulative GPA of 2.8 or higher. 

Preferred Qualifications  

• Experience with computer programming and application design. 

• Knowledge of relational database programming and principles, including MySQL and Microsoft Access. 

• Knowledge of networking concepts, including routers, switches, firewalls, and VLANs. 

• Knowledge of Microsoft server, domain, and workstation architectures, as well as administration. 

• Experience with Linux and/or Windows programming. 

• Knowledge of C++, C, Java, and scripting languages in Linux environments. 

• Experience with Eclipse, Bitbucket, GitHub, Confluence, and Jira development environments.

PAY TRANSPARENCY:

The hourly range is $18.00 per hour - $35.00 per hour. Pay is based on factors including school year, program of study, etc.  In addition, paid internships include Amtrak rail pass privileges as a part of the experience along with one (1) PTO day per academic year.

Requisition ID:167076
Work Arrangement:06-Onsite 4/5 Days Click here for more information about work arrangements at Amtrak.
Relocation Offered:No
Travel Requirements:Up to 25%

You power our progress through your performance.

We want your work at Amtrak to be more than a job. We want your career at Amtrak to be a fulfilling experience where you find challenging work, rewarding opportunities, respect among colleagues, and attractive compensation. Amtrak maintains a culture that values high performance and recognizes individual employee contributions.

Amtrak is committed to a safe workplace free of drugs and alcohol. All Amtrak positions requires a pre-employment background check that includes prior employment verification, a criminal history check and a pre-employment drug screen.

Candidates who test positive for marijuana will be disqualified, regardless of any state or local statute, ordinance, regulation, or other law that legalizes or decriminalizes the use or possession of marijuana, whether for medical, recreational, or other use. Amtrak's pre-employment drug testing program is administered in accordance with DOT regulations and applicable law.

In accordance with DOT regulations (49 CFR § 40.25), Amtrak is required to obtain prior drug and alcohol testing records for applicants/employees intending to perform safety-sensitive duties for covered Department of Transportation positions. If an applicant/employee refuses to provide written consent for Amtrak to obtain these records, the individual will not be permitted to perform safety-sensitive functions.

In accordance with federal law governing security checks of covered individuals for providers of public transportation (Title 6 U.S.C. §1143), Amtrak is required to screen applicants for any permanent or interim disqualifying criminal offenses.

Note that any education requirement listed above may be deemed satisfied if you have an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.

Amtrak is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race/color, to include traits historically associated with race, including but not limited to, hair texture and hairstyles such as braids, locks and twists, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth and related conditions, such as lactation), national origin/ethnicity, disability (intellectual, mental and physical), veteran status, marital status, ancestry, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, genetic information, citizenship or any other personal characteristics protected by law.