Assistant Chief, Railcar Maintenance — Light Rail Leader

Maryland Department of Transportation; Baltimore (MD); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

The Maryland Transit Administration seeks an experienced Assistant Chief, Railcar Maintenance to oversee daily and preventive maintenance for Light Rail vehicles, ensuring safety, reliability, and compliance with CFR 40, FTA, FRA, and MDOT standards.

This senior role leads maintenance staff, manages a multi-million dollar budget, coordinates capital projects, and develops SOPs while collaborating with Finance, Engineering, and Safety teams to keep the system running smoothly.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.
• Five years of experience in railcar, transit vehicle, mechanical, or fleet maintenance, including at least three years of supervisory or managerial responsibility overseeing technical staff, maintenance operations, or related activities.
• Additional substitutions or educational credits may be substituted per policy as described in the posting.

Responsibilities

• Oversee daily and preventative maintenance inspections, repairs, and mechanical operations for Light Rail vehicles and systems.
• Provide leadership and supervision to Superintendent, Assistant Superintendent, Supervisors, consultants, and union personnel.
• Ensure maintenance activities comply with CFR 40, FTA, FRA, COMAR, MDOT MTA, and MDOT Rail Safety Oversight.
• Develop, revise, and implement SOPs, policies, and quality control measures.
• Manage operating and capital budget planning, tracking, and expenditure controls.
• Coordinate maintenance-related projects; review specifications, RFPs, contractor performance, and consultant deliverables.
• Plan staffing levels, evaluate performance, address labor issues, conduct training needs assessments, and manage disciplinary actions per the Collective Bargaining Agreement.
• Monitor maintenance trends, develop preventative and corrective maintenance programs, and implement industry best practices.
• Ensure inventory, equipment, facilities, and materials are properly maintained and stored safely.
• Collaborate with Safety & Risk Management on hazard mitigation and safety compliance.
• Respond to emergencies, service disruptions, and mechanical failures; support investigations and corrective action efforts.

Skills

Leadership

Budget management

Regulatory compliance

Maintenance supervision

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

The Maryland Transit Administration seeks an experienced Assistant Chief, Railcar Maintenance to oversee daily and preventive maintenance for Light Rail vehicles, ensuring safety, reliability, and compliance with CFR 40, FTA, FRA, and MDOT standards.

This senior role leads maintenance staff, manages a multi-million dollar budget, coordinates capital projects, and develops SOPs while collaborating with Finance, Engineering, and Safety teams to keep the system running smoothly.