Apprentice Diesel Mechanic

Union Pacific Railroad; North Platte (NE); On-site; USD 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Union Pacific Railroad is seeking Apprentice Diesel Mechanics to join a long-trusted team repairing a fleet of locomotives. Apprentices inspect, diagnose, repair, and maintain diesel-electric locomotives in and around locomotive shops, guided by experienced colleagues and safety standards.

Responsibilities include diagnosing mechanical issues, operating precision tools, and documenting procedures. The role emphasizes teamwork, timely task completion, and adherence to federal and company

Qualifications

• Basic keyboarding skills.
• Ability to use low and high precision measuring instruments to obtain accurate measurements.
• Valid driver's license.
• Able to work independently and in group settings.
• Proficient verbal and written communication skills.
• Able to extract relevant information from tables, charts, graphs, and text.
• Able to perform basic arithmetic operations.
• Able to take initiative and be responsible for timely completion of tasks.
• Able to understand and apply basic mechanical principles.
• Experience reading and understanding instructions (rules, bulletins, etc.).

Responsibilities

• Conduct job briefings to coordinate activities and keep work areas and tools clean.
• Repair or rebuild locomotive and diesel engine components as needed.
• Develop and maintain positive working relationships with coworkers, supervisors, contractors and/or customers.
• Prepare equipment and materials and operate equipment (measuring instruments, drills, lathes, hand tools).
• Diagnose diesel engine, air compressor, and locomotive mechanical system malfunctions.
• Communicate technical information through writing, in-person, telephone, radio, and intercom.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
• Read and interpret diagrams, schematics, blueprints, graphs and charts; input information into a computer.
• Inspect and service the locomotive fleet to comply with standards.

Skills

Keyboarding

Measuring instruments

High precision instruments

Ability to work independently

Teamwork / cooperation

Verbal and written communication

Reading and interpreting information

Arithmetic operations

Initiative and responsibility

Understanding mechanical principles

Reading instructions

Tools

Micrometers

Tape measures

Dial calipers

Drill presses

Bench lathe

Wrenches

Grinders

Job description

Overview

Join a team of Apprentice Diesel Mechanics who have been repairing a fleet of locomotives with Union Pacific for over 150 years. Apprentices inspect, diagnose issues, repair, and maintain the engine and mechanical components of diesel-electric locomotives, while working in and around locomotive shops. We are powered by our people, will you join our team?

Accountabilities

• Conduct job briefings to ensure safe and effective coordination of activities and keep assigned work areas, tools, and equipment clean and in proper working order
• Repair, replace, or rebuild locomotive and diesel engine components as needed
• Develop and maintain positive working relationships with coworkers, supervisors, contractors and/or customers and effectively handle controversy
• Prepare equipment and materials as needed, and efficiently operate the equipment including: measuring instruments (micrometers, tape measures, dial calipers); precision machines (drill and punch presses bench lathes); hand tools (drills, wrenches, grinders); and material handling equipment
• Diagnose diesel engine, air compressor, and other locomotive mechanical system malfunctions
• Communicate technical information, job briefing information, job procedure recommendations, and other work-related information through writing, in-person interaction, telephone, radio, and intercom
• Perform other duties as assigned
• Read, interpret, understand, and find written or electronic information from diagrams, schematics, blueprints, graphs, and charts, and input information as needed into a computer
• Inspect and service the diesel locomotive fleet in compliance with company, federal and industry standards

Qualifications – Required

• Basic keyboarding skills
• Ability to use both low precision (tape measure, hand level) and high precision (caliper, electronic scale) instruments to obtain accurate measurements
• Valid driver\'s license
• Able to effectively work independently and in group settings
• Proficient verbal and written communication skills to deliver information to coworkers and supervisors
• Able to extract relevant information from tables, charts, graphs, and text
• Able to perform basic arithmetic operations such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and conversion of fractions into decimals and decimals into fractions to solve practical problems
• Able to take initiative and take responsibility for the timely and quality completion of tasks; open to change
• Able to understand and apply basic mechanical principles to solve mechanical problems
• Experience reading and understanding instructions (examples may include operating and safety rules, bulletins, special instructions, and federal regulatory documents)