Consulting Intern (Rail and Transportation)

Location: Chicago, IL Department: General Consulting - USA

DB E.C.O. North America (with “E.C.O.” representing “Engineering, Consulting and Operations") offers specialized rail and transit consultancy services to public agencies, passenger and freight railroads. DB E.C.O. North America is part of the DB E.C.O. Group and leverages Deutsche Bahn’s global expertise to advance mobility and rail transportation across the U.S. and Canada. Their cross-disciplinary team collaborates closely with clients to innovate their portfolios and elevate business performance. With a focus on sustainability, safety, and operational excellence, they strive to enhance the customer experience, increase rail usage, and “Transform The Future Of Mobility.”

Department: Consulting

Reports to: Manager

Duration: June 2027 to August 2027

Schedule: 40 hours per week (in-person)

Application Deadline: Submit your resume and a short cover letter to the job posting by 5pm PT on November 13th, 2026.

Tasks & Responsibilities

You will work in one of the following portfolios of DB E.C.O. North America. Tell us your preferred portfolio in your cover letter.

Conceptual Rail Service, Operations, and Infrastructure Planning:

DB E.C.O. performs conceptual planning for public agencies, operators, and Class I railroads to design public transportation service plans, operation plans, and to identify effective infrastructure investments. We work across the full range of planning horizons from short-term projects for immediate implementation to long-term visioning projects. DB E.C.O. uses state-of-the-art methods and tools.

You will contribute to ongoing projects under the supervision of an experienced consultant and receive training in our methods and tools. Typical tasks:

Build and check timetable, ridership, and capacity datasets in Excel or Python

Support rail operations simulation and service plan development

Prepare GIS maps and other graphics for reports and client materials

Research peer systems and summarize findings for client deliverables

Governance and Integration Consulting

DB E.C.O. consults public agencies to improve integration of the customer interface for public transportation systems and to facilitate cross-agency coordination. We draw on our expertise as the major operator of Germany’s integrated public transportation system to identify and adapt solutions for use in the U.S.

You will contribute to ongoing projects under the supervision of a manager and receive training in our methods and tools. Typical tasks:

Research German and European practices in fare integration, customer information, and agency coordination

Adapt those practices to U.S. agency and regulatory settings

Draft memos, slides, and graphics for client meetings

Requirements

Working towards a degree in Civil Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Computer Science, or Transportation Planning (MS or equivalent)

Strong ability to think analytically and stay focused on developing solutions to complex technical matters

Demonstrable project or research experience

Organized, flexible, and able to work independently

Proficiency with MS Office suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)

Professional fluency in English

Preferred

Research or work experience in strategic rail planning, operations planning, or route management

Python, R, or GIS (ArcGIS or QGIS)

Exposure to rail simulation or scheduling software

German language skills (helpful for the Governance and Integration portfolio)

Working Conditions and Travel

5 days per week in the office. Minimal overnight travel by land and air.

Physical Requirements, with or without a reasonable accommodation:

Ability to work at a computer workstation for periods up to 4 hours at a time

Ability to speak on the telephone for a total of up to 3 hours per day

Ability to sit for up to 3 hours without breaks at meetings

Ability to walk and stand for up to 4 hours without breaks at program site visits and meetings

Compensation: $25 - $30 per hour, depending on experience and qualifications.

Quick overview of our U.S. Health & Wellness Benefits

Medical Insurance: Multiple options - Low to High Deductible plans

Dental & Vision

Health Savings & Flexible Spending Accounts

Life & AD&D Insurance, Short-term, and Long-term Disability: Company-paid

Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for employees and their household members

Commuter Benefits: Use tax-free money to pay for eligible transit and parking expenses (Train, subway, bus, ferry, parking).

Parental Paid Leave

Supplemental Coverage: Optional accident, critical illness, and hospital indemnity plans with wellness benefits.

Retirement Savings (401k) with company safe harbor contributions

Vacation & Holidays: Competitive time off plus 11 paid company holidays

DB E.C.O North America, Inc. provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, veteran status, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements. DB E.C.O North America, Inc. complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment.

For California applicants: We follow the California Fair Chance Act, San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, and/or Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring. As is the case for applicants in any jurisdiction, you do not need to disclose your criminal history or participate in a background check until a conditional job offer is made to you. After providing a conditional offer and conducting a background check, we will consider hiring any qualified individual with arrest or conviction records in accordance with all relevant laws, and specifically will assess whether any conviction history directly relates to the job duties.  We will take into consideration the individual’s explanation and potential mitigating factors as defin