Rail Operations Senior Engineer #2404-254000-01

The City of Charlotte is the largest municipality in North Carolina and the 15th largest city in the United States, with a total population of more than 897,000 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.

As a CATS Rail Operations and Maintenance team member, they embody the Agency's Core Values, Team Player, and Positive Customer Care/Service in their daily duties.

The Rail Senior Engineer will support all operational, maintenance, configuration, and technical aspects of CATS Rail Operations. The incumbent will ensure Rail Rolling Stock and support equipment comply with CATS Rail Operations quality standards, specifications, FTA and NCDOT requirements, and all safety-related aspects. The main objective of the role is to provide comprehensive support for rail maintenance and project management activities by providing an in-depth understanding of the technical aspects of CATS Rail Rolling Stock and providing guidance and recommendations on best practices for managing and maintaining this equipment.

• Recommends improvements to projects based on industry standards and best practices.
• Create detailed plans and requirements for new systems and components that need to be replaced in existing systems.
• Assist with managing maintenance programs and projects; work closely with the project managers, including procuring new equipment.
• Assure designs comply with design criteria, specifications, Federal, State, and applicable industry-recognized standards (AAR, APTA, FRA, FTA, NFPA, ISO, IEEE, ASME, NEC, EN, DIN, IEC, etc.).
• Developing specifications for the products to be procured.
• Creating prototypes to test and ensure their functionality.
• Reviewing designs to ensure they meet the required standards.
• Collaborating with safety assurance to ensure rail operations related construction conformance and certifiable elements are satisfied.
• Testing the product thoroughly to identify any issues, ensuring it meets the required standards.
• Maintain industry knowledge of new and emerging technologies.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
• Responsible for facilitating resolution of technical and procedural issues.
• Communicates understanding and support of organizational goals through actions and spoken and written records.
• Reviews Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) to ensure the effective maintenance and management of the rail vehicle fleet.
• Ensures compliance with all applicable policies, rules, regulations, and laws; stays abreast of legal, regulatory, and policy developments affecting the area of responsibility; enforces contractual and regulatory requirements impartially.
• Interacts effectively with individuals and groups within and outside the organization; keeps all interested and involved stakeholders informed of matters requiring their attention.
• Meets with management, staff, and contractors to obtain and provide information on rail vehicle design and maintenance.
• This position performs various administrative and technical tasks to support procuring equipment, vehicles, or parts.
• Other duties as assigned.

Positions in this class typically require climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, reaching, standing, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting, grasping, feeling, talking, hearing, seeing, and repetitive motions.

Work Environment:

Work is performed in a shop environment and outside in various weather conditions, including extreme heat and cold exposure. Incumbent work is performed around equipment and machinery with moving parts under wet and slippery conditions. Incumbents are exposed daily to electrical hazards, vibrations, chemicals, inadequate lighting, workspace restrictions, grease, oil, dust, fumes, smoke, and gases, and intermittently to intense noise.

• Bachelor of Science in Electrical or Mechanical engineering (w/Project experience)
• Five years of increasingly responsible experience within the Signal/TMOW or Rail rolling stock industry
• Strong communication and leadership skills, both written and oral
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suites 

Highly desired experience  in projects related to:

• Rail Operations/ Maintenance department in public transportation.
• Seven years’ experience in any of following department: Signal/ Substations/Rolling stock.
• Experience in developing specifications for rail-associated equipment.

High School Graduation or Equivalent and nine years of relevant work experience

OR

Associate's Degree and seven years of relevant work experience

OR

Bachelor's degree and five years of relevant work experience

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.

Apply online.

Federal law requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. Please tell us if you require a reasonable accommodation to apply for a job.

You are welcome to visit the City of Charlotte Human Resources Department lobby where we have workstations available. Our office is located at 700 East 4th Street, Suite 200, Charlotte, NC 28202. Our hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (EST), excluding official City holidays.

Anyone seeking an accommodation to apply for a job may call (704) 336-2285 for assistance or you may email questions to CityHrJobPostingsNotify@ci.charlotte.nc.us.

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

Click here to learn more about the City of Charlotte’s benefits.

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