How to hire a train engineer

How to hire a train engineer, step by step

Here's a step-by-step train engineer hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a train engineer job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new train engineer
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a train engineer do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your train engineer job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a train engineer for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a train engineer to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a train engineer that fits the bill.

   This list presents train engineer salaries for various positions.

   Type of Train Engineer	Description	Hourly rate
   Train Engineer	Workers in railroad occupations ensure that passenger and freight trains run on time and travel safely. Some workers drive trains, some coordinate the activities of the trains, and others operate signals and switches in the rail yard.	$24-63
   Project Engineer	A Project Engineer develops the plan that the entire team or company will undertake. The project engineer develops the plans, strategies, and goals of a project and then gives it to the management for approval and allocation... Show more	$26-48
   Product Engineer	A product engineer specializes in designing and developing commercial materials and services. They are primarily responsible for conducting thorough research and analysis of the latest trends and marketing conditions to come up with new ideas and products for the public... Show more	$32-56

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Pi Planning
   • Release Train
   • Scrum
   • RTE
   • PI
   • Continuous Improvement
   • Project Management
   • EIT
   • Civil Engineering
   • Autocad
   • Civil 3D
   • Lifecycle Management
   • CAD
   • PowerPoint

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage general facilities including commissioning, building management systems, and calibrations for GMP area for tablets production operation.
   • Used VRML and Java for interfacing (EAI).
   • Gain experience as an EIT.
   • Support the scrum development team by resolving impediments.
   • Perform asphalt, concrete, and soil testing.
   • Optimize department SharePoint site by arranging new folder structure and project tracking numbers.

   More train engineer duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your train engineer job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A train engineer salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

   For example, the average salary for a train engineer in Kentucky may be lower than in Washington, and an entry-level train engineer usually earns less than a senior-level train engineer. Additionally, a train engineer with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

   Average train engineer salary

   $82,531yearly

   $39.68 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level train engineer salary

   $50,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 21, 2025

   Average train engineer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Washington	$109,442	$53
   2	California	$100,982	$49
   3	Utah	$97,963	$47
   4	New York	$90,732	$44
   5	Minnesota	$90,001	$43
   6	District of Columbia	$88,287	$42
   7	Colorado	$86,632	$42
   8	Michigan	$85,395	$41
   9	Illinois	$85,374	$41
   10	Virginia	$83,909	$40
   11	Maryland	$83,021	$40
   12	Missouri	$82,526	$40
   13	Massachusetts	$82,326	$40
   14	Florida	$81,887	$39
   15	Texas	$78,124	$38
   16	Louisiana	$77,378	$37
   17	North Carolina	$77,024	$37
   18	Georgia	$72,069	$35
   19	Arizona	$71,388	$34
   20	Ohio	$69,051	$33

   Average train engineer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Chevron	$131,917	$63.42
   2	VMware	$126,325	$60.73
   3	Benjamin Moore	$123,502	$59.38
   4	Adobe	$121,013	$58.18	3
   5	Janus Henderson U.S.	$119,730	$57.56
   6	F5	$116,827	$56.17
   7	American Express	$116,044	$55.79
   8	Levi Strauss & Co.	$115,700	$55.63
   9	Visa	$109,469	$52.63
   10	M&T Bank	$109,371	$52.58	1
   11	AT&T	$107,776	$51.82
   12	RAND	$105,550	$50.75	1
   13	Rancher Labs	$105,484	$50.71
   14	Ciena	$104,850	$50.41
   15	MetLife	$103,785	$49.90
   16	USAA	$103,741	$49.88
   17	American Family Insurance	$103,147	$49.59
   18	Zebra Technologies	$102,110	$49.09
   19	Boeing	$101,559	$48.83	6
   20	TD Bank	$100,215	$48.18

4. Writing a train engineer job description

   A train engineer job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a train engineer job description:

   Train engineer job description example

   Every day, Global Payments makes it possible for millions of people to move money between buyers and sellers using our payments solutions for credit, debit, prepaid and merchant services. Our worldwide team helps over 3 million companies, more than 1,300 financial institutions and over 600 million cardholders grow with confidence and achieve amazing results. We are driven by our passion for success and we are proud to deliver best-in-class payment technology and software solutions. Join our dynamic team and make your mark on the payments technology landscape of tomorrow.
   
   Global Payments is looking for a new team member to help lead our data delivery organization that serves our internal and external customers' data product needs. In the role of Data Delivery Manager you will be a trainer, mentor and leader across the multiple scrum teams.
   
   As an integral part of the Global Payments team you will be part of enabling millions of people to move money between buyers and sellers using our payments solutions for credit, debit, prepaid and merchant services. Our worldwide team helps over 3 million companies, more than 1,300 financial institutions and over 600 million cardholders grow with confidence and achieve amazing results. We look for individuals who are driven by passion for success and are proud to deliver best-in-class payment technology and software solutions. Join our dynamic team and make your mark on the payments technology landscape of tomorrow.
   
   This Role will be responsible for delivery management across cross-functional, agile development teams assisting with facilitation, funding and planning and coordination with the larger company Project Management Organization. This leader will facilitate an environment of collaboration and communication while reinforcing our culture of transparency, integrity, and accountability.
   Responsibilities
   
   Ensure the features and work efforts across a release period are reported in a timely fashion by the Release Train Engineers and Scrum MastersFacilitate communication in collaboration with the Release Train Engineers and Scrum Masters with multiple teams Help lead the project intake and prioritization discussion process across GlobalPayments balancing resources, strategic must-dos, quick wins, and a broad portfolio of projects at GlobalPaymentsStrong execution, organized, on-time and delivery focused with high quality for all projects within the portfolio Become a trusted advisor and partner for key business unit stakeholders across Globalpayments business units and functional groups including PMO, Product,Sales, HR, and FinanceUnderstands and supports the Company's goals and objectives, and makes certain that his/her actions and decisions, as well as those of his/her subordinates, are consistent with them Plans, organizes, directs, and controls the activities of his/her area of responsibility to facilitate the attainment of Company objectives, including equal employment opportunity, affirmative action and safety Assist team to ensure that resources are available.Reports out on the status of the Release on a monthly basis Builds necessary dashboards & reports to facilitate status and metrics Develops easier ways of reporting Build solutions to streamline processes across the delivery teams.Subject Matter Expert in Rally or other agile tool like Jira.Facilitate and/or host release planning sessions Manages the Scope Changes raised by either the teams, stakeholders and/or leadership.Capable of leading distributed and remote teams Is able to coach and train Team members on the Scrum framework and related artifacts (user stories, story point estimation, etc.) as well as other agile methodologies to help guide teams to more successful outcomes Demonstrates a well rounded understanding of Lean, Agile and Systems ThinkingDisplays a "continuous learning" mindset; always seeking to expand lean/agile knowledge and experience Has an in depth understanding of multiple Team Building techniques Embody Scrum values and principles Reinforce a culture of Lean thinking, Continuous Improvement (Kaizen) and Minimum Viable Product as the Team develops solutions Occasional travel to other locations Self-starter with strong organizational and analytical skills Excellent verbal and written communication skills including group facilitation and training. Is comfortable communicating with key project stakeholders.Servant leader mindset that puts others before self.Inspire and develop mastery of skill and discipline, quality, lean thinking and continuous improvement.Competency with Google Suite applications and other collaborative tools like Rally.Team player
   Qualifications
   Education/CertificationBachelor's degree or comparable training and experience.Scrum Master Certification (CEC, CTC, PSM2 or SPC or equivalent) preferred.Experience5+ years in a delivery team as senior Business Analyst, Scrum Master and/or Release Train Engineer..5+ years of experience in a software development environment Payments industry experience is a plus.Workplace experience Flexible work arrangements with both office and work from home opportunities Strong communication skills, written and verbal Demonstrated ability to communicate and interact effectively with a variety of people. Present a professional, competent, and confident image in dealing with people Proven ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously and understand complex issues Ability to work in a highly matrixed organization structure, interact with and influence multiple stakeholders Works well under pressure and tight deadlines Ability to learn new concepts, systems, and software independently and quickly
   Global Payments Inc. is an equal opportunity employer.
   Global Payments provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, veteran status, genetic information or any other basis protected by law. Those applicants requiring reasonable accommodation to the application and/or interview process should notify a representative of the Human Resources Department.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right train engineer for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your train engineer job on Zippia to find and recruit train engineer candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting train engineers requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new train engineer

   Once you've found the train engineer candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new train engineer. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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