Locomotive Electrician- Chicago, IL 2026

At Norfolk Southern, we believe that our people power progress. Our culture is built on our SPIRIT values—Safety, Performance, Integrity, Respect, Innovation, and Teamwork—which guides how we work, lead, and grow together. If you're ready to launch a career in electrical maintenance and contribute to the reliability of our locomotive fleet, we invite you to explore the Locomotive Electrician Trainee role.

This hands-on, field-based position prepares individuals for a career in locomotive electrical maintenance through structured classroom instruction and on-the-job training. Trainees learn to inspect, repair, and install electrical systems and components on diesel-electric locomotives to ensure safe and efficient operations across our network.

What Should You Know

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• This is a seniority-based union position.
• You must be available to work shifts, including nights, weekends, and holidays.
• Extensive travel for training may be required.
• Union membership is required within 60 days of establishing seniority.

Training

Training includes both classroom and field instruction

• Classroom Training: Mechanical Safety Orientation and craft-specific training in locomotive electrical systems.
• Field Training: Hands-on experience in locomotive shops and yards.
• Duration: Approximately 7 weeks (1 week safety orientation + 6 weeks craft training).
• Norfolk Southern provides lodging and reimburses travel per union agreement.

Job Responsibilities

• Ensure compliance with all railroad rules, safety regulations, and federal standards.
• Wire, maintain, repair, rebuild, inspect, and install electrical equipment such as rheostats, control systems, transformers, motors, generators, welding machines, lighting fixtures, battery charging systems, magnet coils, switchboards, meters, compensators, and rotors.
• Measure, cut, thread, bend, and assemble connections to control panels and junction boxes.
• Read electrical prints, test circuits, and connections using multimeters, amp clamps, and other diagnostic tools.
• Diagnose and repair electrical malfunctions including charging issues, transition problems, wheel slip, sander circuits, and high/low voltage grounds.
• Perform work activities utilizing voltages up to 1200 and amperages up to 2400.
• Examine parts for wear and defects such as brushes, contact tips, slip rings, armatures, diodes, bearings, and fuses.
• Interpret test instrument indicators and computer-generated data.
• Interpret information from computer monitors or printouts.
• Perform miscellaneous activities and responsibilities as assigned by supervisor.
• Work safely to prevent on-the-job accidents and injuries.
• Wear required protective equipment such as hard hat, hearing protection, and safety-toe boots.
• Complete annual safety training and pass safety rules examinations.
• May operate and move locomotives within shop limits (some movements may fall under Hours-of-Service Act).

Qualifications – Required

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• High school diploma or GED.
• 18 years of age or older.
• Valid driver’s license.
• Ability to pass pre-employment drug and alcohol screening and physical standards.
• Ability to work outdoors in all weather conditions and perform heavy physical labor.
• Must pass a post-offer medical examination, including a drug test.

Qualifications – Preferred

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• Two years of electrician experience.
• Completion of an electrical vocational or trade school program.
• Journeyman Electrician certification.
• One year experience reading blueprints or electrical schematics.
• Veterans and transitioning service members encouraged to apply (roles such as 65F, 88S, 1345, AMT, AE, 3E0X1).

Skills and Abilities

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• Verbal comprehension and communication skills.
• Problem-solving and troubleshooting ability.
• Basic math and ability to multitask.
• Memory skills for tracking locomotive placement and components.

Physical and Mental Job Requirements

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• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs.
• Ability to stoop, bend, kneel, crouch, crawl, balance, and climb.
• Walk long distances over uneven terrain.
• Must maintain alertness and concentration while working around heavy, moving equipment.
• Ability to meet FRA medical requirements:
• Visual acuity (at least 20/40 in each eye separately and both together with or without corrective lenses).
• Hearing—no hearing loss greater than 40B average, at 500, 1000, and 2000 in better ear (can be met with hearing aid).

Work Conditions

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• Shop and outdoor environments.
• Shift work across all three shifts, including nights, weekends, and holidays.
• Union membership required.
• This is a safety-sensitive position requiring constant alertness while working around heavy, moving, potentially hazardous locomotive engines.

Compensation and Benefits

Pay Progression

• First 40 working days: $21.31/hr. (50% of full rate)
• Next 204 working days: $31.96/hr. (75%)
• Next 244 working days: $34.09/hr. (80%)
• After 2 years/488 working days: $42.62/hr. (100% Journeyman rate)

Benefits include

• Medical coverage begins the first day of the second month after hire.
• Health insurance (80/20 or 85/15 plan), $20,000 life insurance, and 401(k) eligibility from day one.
• Dental and vision coverage after one year of service.

Company Overview

Since 1827, Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC) and its predecessor companies have safely moved the goods and materials that drive the U.S. economy. Today, it operates a customer-centric and operations-driven freight transportation network. Committed to furthering sustainability, Norfolk Southern helps its customers avoid 15 million tons of yearly carbon emissions by shipping via rail.

Its dedicated team members deliver more than 7 million carloads annually, from agriculture to consumer goods, and is the largest rail shipper of auto products and metals in North America.

Norfolk Southern also has the most extensive intermodal network in the eastern U.S., serving a majority of the country’s population and manufacturing base, with connections to every major container port on the Atlantic coast as well as the Gulf of Mexico and Great Lakes. Learn more by visiting www.NorfolkSouthern.com.

At Norfolk Southern, we believe in celebrating our individuality. By leveraging the unique backgrounds and viewpoints of our employees, we can create a culture of innovation, respect, and inclusion. We know that employees thrive in a workplace where differing viewpoints, ideas, and experiences are freely shared and valued.

As such, we encourage all employees to contribute their distinctive skills and capabilities to our organization.

Equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants regardless of race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation, and gender identity. Together, we power progress.