Career Paths

The Amtrak Office of Inspector General employs about 100 people. The majority of those employees work in the offices of audits or investigations with remaining employees serving in leadership or support positions. Additionally, we maintain an excellent paid internship program.

Office of Audits

As an auditor, you will challenge your imagination and grow your skills through exciting work in a variety of subject areas to include corporate governance, asset management, safety and security, acquisition and procurement, train operations, human capital management, and information technology.

Auditors are generally responsible for researching, analyzing, and reporting on programs; finances; and functional areas like IT, operations, or management systems to assess whether Amtrak is efficiently and effectively executing the program or operation, or effectively using available resources. Critical skills include collecting and synthesizing information that is objective, fact-based, and relevant, and that lends to substantive findings and actionable recommendations. Auditors are also expected to have excellent oral communications and writing skills. To learn more about the type of work we do, and to see examples of our completed work, visit our audits page.

Office of Investigations

Our Office of Investigations has been granted statutory law enforcement authority as authorized by the United States Attorney General in accordance with the Inspector General Act of 1978, as amended. This empowers our agents to carry firearms, make arrests, seek and execute search warrants, serve subpoenas, administer oaths, and have access to all Amtrak records. Special agents are primarily responsible for preventing and detecting fraud, waste, and abuse, including suspected crimes committed by Amtrak employees. Additionally, we often support cross-agency law enforcement task forces and investigations where Amtrak funds or employees are involved, and we work regularly with other OIGs, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and state and local law enforcement agencies. Our criminal cases are referred to the Department of Justice and/or state and local prosecutors for criminal prosecution or civil litigation.

Our team is held to the rigorous training and operation standards established by the Department of Justice, which include regular firearms training and qualification, criminal investigator training, and advanced training at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center. To learn more about the ongoing work of our investigative team, visit our investigations page.

Supporting Functions

Our team relies on critical support from our Office of Counsel, Quality Assurance, Human Capital, and Mission Support. These offices provide our leadership with expertise on a broad range of functions including legal counsel, adherence to training requirements and other standards, human resources, public affairs, budgeting and purchasing, information technology, and general office support.