Brakeman - (Rail Operations)

Akima; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 4,084,000 - 5,816,000; Full time

Job summary

Akima Facilities Operations (AFO) seeks a Brakeman to perform brake and switching operations as part of a rail operations crew under the Rail Operations Supervisor. You will relay signals, mount/move cars, set brakes, and ensure safety per GCOR and ABTH.

The role requires physical tasks, occasional night/weekend work at Fort Sill, OK and other remote sites. Relevant training and credentials, including container inspection and forklift licensing, are required.

Qualifications

• Must pass Pre-Employment Drug Test and Background Screening.
• CAC credential required or obtainable.
• REAL ID-compliant driver's license required.
• Forklift license required for all equipment (4K to 50K).
• Must complete Container Inspection for Commercial and Military Intermodal Containers MIL HDBK 138A.

Responsibilities

• Relay signals for train movement using hand signals, lanterns, flags, and radios.
• Mount railroad cars, set brakes, and place blocks or chocks.
• Stop motor traffic when trains cross roads or highways.
• Couple/uncouple cars with standard couplings.
• Line switch to move rail cars and locomotives onto different tracks.
• Check car numbers to ensure movement of specific cars.
• Operate handbrakes before detaching cars.
• Assist in emergency repairs to brake equipment.
• Ensure safety rules per GCOR and ABTH.

Skills

Pre-Employment Drug Test

Background screening

CAC credential

REAL ID license

Education

High School diploma or equivalent

Tools

Forklift license

Container Inspection MIL HDBK 138A

Job description

Under the supervision and direction of the Rail Operations Supervisor, the Brakeman performs brake and switching operations as a member of a rail operations crew.

Responsibilities

• Relays signals for train movement by use of hand signals, lanterns, flags, and hand-held radios.
• Mounts railroad car and sets brakes and places blocks or chocks against wheels.
• Stops motor traffic when train is crossing roads or highways.
• Couples or uncouples cars by means of standard car couplings such as cables, links and pins, hooks and chains.
• Line switches to move rail cars and locomotives onto different tracks.
• Checks car numbers to ensure movement of specific cars.
• Operates handbrakes before detaching cars from locomotive.
• Assists in making emergency repairs to brake equipment on locomotives and railcars.
• Ensure safety rules are observed as outlined in the General Code of Operating Rules (GCOR) and ABTH.
• Instructs and inspects personnel on SDDC TEA MI 55-19, Tiedown Instructions for Rail Movements.
• Performs organizational maintenance on locomotives as directed.
• Performs preventive maintenance on track switches and grade crossings as required, for example the cleaning of leaves and other debris from switch points, oiling and greasing of switches and removing dirt and gravel from grade crossings.
• Will be required to occasionally work an uncommon tour of duty including nights, weekends, and holidays at Fort Sill, OK and other remote sites such as Arkansas, Colorado, Texas, and Kansas.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• High School graduate or equivalent.
• Must be able to complete online Container Inspection for Commercial and Military Intermodal Containers, MIL HDBK 138A.
• Must be able to obtain Forklift license for all equipment (4K to 50K)
• Ability to pass Pre-Employment Drug Test and Background Screening.
• Ability to receive a favorable TIER-1 investigation result, obtain and maintain a CAC.
• Applicant must possess a REAL ID-compliant, state-issued driver's license.

Desired Qualifications:

• Attendance and award of 88U military occupational specialty preferred.
• Previous Rail Operations Experience preferred.

Physical Demands & Work Environment:

• Lifting and Carrying:Frequently lifting, pushing, pulling, or carrying heavy objects, sometimes up to 83 pounds.
• Mobility and Balance:Extensive walking (up to 10 kilometers a day), climbing up/down, bending, kneeling, crouching, and crawling.
• Strength and Endurance:Using muscles for long periods, including working in cramped or awkward spaces.
• Manual Task Operations:Operating manual switches, tying down handbrakes, and changing air hoses or gaskets.
• Environmental Factors:Working in extreme hot or cold temperatures, in all weather conditions, and with exposure to loud noise or vibration.
• Safety and Sensory Needs:Must possess good, sometimes aided, vision (including color distinction) and hearing, as well as the ability to climb on and off moving or stationary equipment.

Pay & Benefits:

• SCA and KO approved $30.84/HR + $5.09/HR Health and Welfare.

This position is contingent upon contract award and funding. Applicants selected may be hired offered but cannot begin work until funding has been confirmed.

Job ID

2026-25861

Work Type

On-Site

Company Description

Work Where it Matters

Akima Facilities Operations (AFO), an Akima company, is not just another federal facilities contractor. As an Alaska Native Corporation (ANC), our mission and purpose extend beyond our exciting federal projects as we support our shareholder communities in Alaska.

At AFO, the work you do every day makes a difference in the lives of our 15,000 Iñupiat shareholders, a group of Alaska natives from one of the most remote and harshest environments in the United States.

For our shareholders, AFO provides support and employment opportunities and contributes to the survival of a culture that has thrived above the Arctic Circle for more than 10,000 years.

For our government customers, AFO sustains mission readiness and ensures quality of life by maintaining high value assets and operations at peak performance and successfully manages these operations through accurately forecasting, managing, and aggressively controlling costs.

As an AFO employee, you will be surrounded by a challenging, yet supportive work environment that is committed to innovation and diversity, two of our most important values. You will also have access to our comprehensive benefits and competitive pay in addition to growth opportunities and excellent retirement options.