Rail Car Technician (Maintenance Machinist 1) #2012-289200-01

The City of Charlotte is the largest municipality in North Carolina and the 17th largest city in the United States, with a total population of more than 872,498 citizens. A major commerce center, Charlotte hosts several of the nation’s largest banks and technology companies.

Also known as the Queen City, Charlotte is home to the Carolina Panthers, the Charlotte Hornets and the NASCAR Hall of Fame. We work hard to ensure that the community will be a winning city for everyone – a truly remarkable place to live, work, learn and play. Join us in helping to keep our City thriving, ensuring upward mobility and advancement in the workplace.

The Rail Car Technician Maintenance Machinist 1 will be required to complete initial RCM Technician training and satisfactorily pass prescribed courses. At completion of training, personnel will be required to perform prescribed maintenance under minimal supervision, perform troubleshooting, preventative and corrective maintenance and overhauls to rail transit vehicles, their systems and sub-systems as well as ancillary support and emergency response equipment.

The Rail Car Technician Maintenance Machinist 1 will respond to accidents, derailments, and disabled trains on the mainline and provide any needed support to retrieve rail vehicles and return vehicles back to the maintenance facility.

The Rail Car Technician Maintenance Machinist 1 may be called upon to provide support for other areas regarding light rail service, Street car, wayside and public safety and service.

• Performs planned maintenance as outlined by the OEM and CATS management.
• Must provide and maintain the standard tools of the trade. CATS will provide all specialty tools.
• Follows and adheres to all Rail Car Maintenance standards, policies and procedures applicable to the day-to-day operations of the rail cars and revenue service.
• Work with all members of the Rail Car Maintenance workforce and all related vocations and departments to provide safe, reliable, and clean rail vehicles ready for daily revenue service.
• Maintains, troubleshoots and repairs all systems related to rail vehicle systems such as; propulsion, braking, HVAC, automatic train protection, doors, auxiliary power, power collection, pneumatics and hydraulics, trucks, car body, and all maintenance and emergency support equipment using all the necessary tools and equipment to accomplish tasks.
• Inspects and machines rail vehicle wheels in accordance with AAR, Siemens and CATS standards.
• Design and machine a variety of tools, test fixtures or replacement parts as needed for the department.
• Responds to rail system emergencies that involve major service delays and/or serious vehicle accidents. Renders whatever remedial action needed to retrieve rail vehicles back to yard and restore service.
• Performs acceptance testing and pre-service testing of newly acquired rail vehicles as well as needed multi-system tests as required.
• Complies with all safety regulations set forth by CATS, OSHA, FTA, FRA, and NCDOT.
• All other job-related duties as assigned.

 NOTE: Essential Skills are skills and abilities that candidates must be able to perform or have the ability to perform in the performance of their required duties. Not meeting the requirements or not having the ability to perform essential skills may be grounds for disqualification.

• Candidate may be required to work irregular hours and shifts depending upon the needs of CATS.
• Candidates may be required to respond to emergencies on a 24 hour, 7 days a week basis.
• Must complete 9-month [CE1] probationary period.
• Ability to communicate effectively and clearly in English both orally and in writing.
• Must be able to accurately document work on logs, spreadsheets, documents and forms as well as utilize computerized maintenance terminals, personal, laptop and handheld computers.
• Must be computer literate and can adapt to the use and understanding of existing software and future upgrades.
• Must have the ability to use all tools of the trade as well as standard shop and heavy equipment.
• Must be able to operate all rail related heavy equipment and vehicles.
• Must successfully complete all training assignments and maintain qualifications where required.
• Must be able to safely couple, uncouple and operate railcars in the yard and shops.
• Must be able to work in the safety critical environments associated with operation of a rail system.
• Must successfully complete all required training and maintain needed qualifications and employee requirements.
• Must meet Physical and Sensory Requirements and the Special Provisions listed below.
• Must have and must maintain a valid driver's license.

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to lift and carry at least 60 lbs.
• Must be able to manipulate 100 lbs.
• Must be able to stand and walk on uneven surfaces while working.
• Must be able to work while in the following positions or conditions: sitting, bending, twisting, kneeling, reaching, crouching, lying down prone or supine, at shoulder level or above, or any combination listed above.
• Must be able to work at heights on platforms and man lifts.
• Must be able to work in pits and under lifted heavy equipment.
• Must be able to work in all required Personal Protective Equipment and Safety gear.
• Must be able to work in the assigned uniform approved by CATS.

Sensory Requirements: NOTE: Employees must have the following sensory requirements:

• Speech
• Touch
• Hearing
• Vision-20/20 or correctable to 20/20 (near, distance and peripheral) Special Provisions:

This position is considered “Safety Sensitive” under FTA guidelines. 

• Candidates/ Employees must pass pre-employment drug test and will be subject to random drug and alcohol testing under FTA guidelines.
• Candidates must pass a 9-month probationary period.
• Candidates may be required to acquire and maintain a Commercial Driver’s License depending upon the needs of CATS.

• Candidates must pass a practical test to demonstrate knowledge regarding areas listed under responsibilities in order to be considered for oral portion of interview process.
• Candidates must pass an oral test and interview in order to be considered for the final review process.
• Demonstrate knowledge of preventative and corrective maintenance practices. Performs electro- mechanical job functions Calculate dimensions and tolerances using knowledge of mathematics and instruments such as micrometers and Vernier calipers.
• Machine parts to specifications using machine tools such as lathes, milling machines, shapers, or grinders.
• Ability to work from plans, blueprints, sketches, models, and oral or written instructions, and to exercise judgment in determining techniques and methods.
• Set up, adjust, and operate all the basic machine tools and many specialized or advanced variation tools in order to perform precision machining operations.
• Align and secure holding fixtures, cutting tools, attachments, accessories, and materials onto machining equipment Observe and listen to operating machines or equipment in order to diagnose machine malfunctions and to determine need for adjustments or repairs.
• Maintain industrial machines, applying knowledge of mechanics, shop mathematics, metal properties, layout, and machining procedures.
• Knowledge of the tools, equipment, materials, methods, and standard practices of the machinist's trade.
• Knowledge of the maintenance and repair of machine shop tools and equipment. Knowledge of the hazards and safety precautions of the trade.
• Familiar with welding trades. Sets up and operates variety of machine tools and fits and assembles parts to fabricate or repair machine tools maintain industrial machines, applying knowledge of mechanics, shop mathematics, metal properties, layout, and machining procedures.
• Repair or replace faulty wiring, switches, or relays. Assembles, test, operates machine to verify correction of malfunction.
• Maintains and lubricates machine tools equipment Dismantles machine or equipment, using hand tools or power tools, to examine parts for defect or to remove defective part. Must be able to perform minimal lathe and mill function.
• Ability to perform TIG, MIG, and stick welding, May weld parts, using arc or gas welding equipment Replaces defective part with new part or repairs CNC (Computer Numeral Control) Setup and Operate experience is preferable.
• [CE1] Ability to perform testing, troubleshooting, maintenance and repair of complex electronic, electrical, electro-mechanical, and mechanical systems on and as they relate to rail vehicles.
• Read, follow and utilize electrical, electronic, mechanical, and pneumatic schematics and drawings.
• Calculate dimensions and tolerances using knowledge of mathematics and instruments such as micrometers and Vernier calipers.
• Knowledge of the tools, equipment, materials, methods, and standard practices of the machinist's trade. Follow oral and written instructions with minimal supervision.
• Ability to communicate effectively and clearly in English both orally and in writing.
• Safely operate a variety of standard and specialized hand tools and shop power equipment.
• PC skills including all Microsoft Office programs.
• Must have a valid driver’s license and the ability to attain a North Carolina driver's license within the timelines outlined by CATS and the City of Charlotte, NC, USA at the start of employment

Candidate must have 2 years’ experience repairing and maintaining complex electrical, electronic, electro-mechanical, electro-pneumatic, electro-hydraulic systems and their systems down to circuit  board level or  lowest  replaceable unit.  

Experience in the maintenance of Light Rail Vehicles preferred. Welding, cutting, metal fabrication, paint and body experience a plus.

High school diploma or GED; An associate degree I Certificate in mechanical engineering, Associate Degree / Certificate in electrical engineering or electrical technology from an accredited Technical School or proof of completion of electrical / electronics training schools in the US Armed Forces. 

2 years of experience in the trade which may include an apprenticeship and/or applicable vocational training and should include some experience as a journeyman machinist; or an associate degree in Mechanical, Industrial or successful completion of apprenticeship program. 

Minimum 2 years of experience repairing/maintaining complex electrical, electronic, electro-pneumatic, electro-hydraulic systems or any equivalent combination of training and experience. A minimum of 2 years documented work experience in industrial maintenance or completed a millwright apprenticeship, or a trade degree in related work.

The City’s Background Check Policy requires background checks to be conducted on final internal or external candidate(s) applying for any position with the City of Charlotte. The type of information that will be collected as part of a background check includes, but is not limited to: reference checks, social security verification, education verification, criminal conviction record check, and, if applicable, a credit history check, sex offender registry and motor vehicle records check.

Background checks must be in compliance with all federal and state statutes, such as the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). The checks must be consistent with the guidelines set forth by these laws requiring organizations to obtain a candidate’s written authorization before obtaining a criminal background report, motor vehicle records check or credit report; and to properly store and dispose of information derived from such reports.

Final candidates must pass a pre-employment drug-screening test and physical examination. During the selection process, candidates may be asked to take a skills test, and/or participate in other assessments.

The City of Charlotte is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

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The City of Charlotte provides a comprehensive benefits package to all employees.

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The City of Charlotte is a drug and alcohol-free workplace.