Field Service Technician III

L.B. Foster Company; Dublin (OH); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical/Dental/Vision

401(k) Match

Paid Holidays & PTO

Career Development

Job summary

LB Foster Company is seeking a Field Service Technician III to lead installation, calibration, maintenance, and repair of LB Foster wayside equipment on customer sites across the US and Canada. The role requires traveling up to 75% and working safely in diverse environments, including outdoors and on rail sites.

This position reports to Operations and collaborates with Engineering and Project Management. The FST3 will mentor junior technicians, develop work instructions, and ensure ISO quality

Job description

Field Service Technician III (FST3) is a safety critical position and is responsible for leading the manufacture, installation, troubleshooting, and repair of all LB Foster wayside equipment (WILD, Rockfall, Flood Monitoring), ensuring uninterrupted system performance and The Association of American Railroads (AAR) WABL compliance. The FST3 will interact directly with our customers on site, and LB Foster teams: Engineering, Project Management and Operations. The FST3 will be required to travel extensively to support our customers’ equipment primarily in the US and Canada, but occasionally overseas.

Essential Functions:

• Perform and authorize the completion, installation, commissioning, maintenance, calibration and upkeep of our customers’ WILDs and other LB Foster wayside equipment on our customer railroads domestically and internationally. Adhering to all safety, installation standards, and/or best practices.
  • Preparing the rail by drilling through the neutral axis of the rail
  • Grinding and polishing the rail to ensure a flat surface void of raised and/or indented lettering
  • Precision welding to place gages using Salient’s proprietary welder
  • Applying sealant to gages to prevent water ingress
  • Soldering wires on PCBs and tag readers
  • Utilizing specialized and proprietary tools to calibrate systems
  • Operating mega-ohm meter and multimeter for quality checks
  • Utilizing a wide range of power and hand tools to install and repair sites
  • Using Linux interface for commissioning, calibration and diagnosis
• Assemble and test complex electronic assemblies as per documented work instructions
• Follow all company ISO Quality processes, procedures, and best practices.
• Report all travel expenses and supply timely expense reports as per company policy.
• Travel extensively throughout North America and occasionally overseas.
• Weekend and/or holiday work as necessary.
• Overtime work as necessary.
• Must be able and willing to understand and apply safety rules, practice safe work habits, identify safety risks, and avoid potentially risky behaviors and situations.
• Working safely outdoors in all weather conditions, on uneven ground, and live tracks.
• Safe operation, maintenance, and upkeep of company issued tools.
• Promote and uphold a strong safety culture in compliance with company and railroad standards
• Operate company vehicles in the performance of duties.
• Plan and coordinate travel logistics (air, rental, lodging, and site scheduling) to meet assigned timelines
• Assist Operations Manager with customer communications, scheduling, and coordination of field service itineraries
• Lead and mentor fellow field technicians to improve performance and technical skill development
• Develop work instructions to support future operations and knowledge transfer
• Act as a primary liaison between field technicians, management, and customers to support operational efficiency.
• Identify operational issues, recommend improvements, and execute solutions across departments to drive efficiency and performance
• Assign and delegate tasks to personnel based on workload, skill set, and operational priorities.
• Serve as the primary point of contact with customers, addressing inquiries and coordinating on-site service needs
• Document field activities, system performance, and service outcomes to support continuous improvement
• Maintain accurate trip reports and site records.
• Create and review calibration documentation for customers and internal records
• Other tasks and projects as assigned.

Experience, Education & License Requirements:

• 3+ years prior field service experience required
• Mechanical, electrical, or electronic experience required
• 1-3 years Railroad or trade experience in communications & signals
• High School Diploma/GED required, Associates or Bachelor’s preferred
• US Passport or ability to be granted a US Passport
• Valid Driver’s license and clean driving record
• Traveling up to 75%
• Safety Critical Position – able to pass pre-employment and random drug screenings
• Previous exposure to work environments that necessitate the use of PPE

Skills & Abilities:

• On-Track ability:
  • Obtain and maintain E-Rail Safe and Railroad specific RWP certificates
  • Obtain and maintain CPR/First Aid certificate
  • Work one-on-one with customers
  • Work in a small team
• Electrical Ability:
  • Knowledge of Electricity/Electronics
  • Read and understand electronic drawings
  • Solder electronics as per best practice and/or standard
  • Electronic Static Discharge (ESD) safe practices
  • Troubleshoot electronic systems
• Computer Literacy Knowledge:
  • Microsoft Office Suite: Outlook, Word, Excel, Power Point, Teams.
  • Linux operating system
  • Internet Protocol (IP) Communications, knowledge of Secure Shell (SSH), Secure File Transport Protocol (SFTP), Domain Name Service (DNS), Network Time Protocol (NTP)
  • Serial communications using Hyperterm, Zoc, or Putty, etc.
• Travel Ability:
  • Drive a minimum of 7hrs per day
  • Renting a vehicle
  • Travel by air
• Physical Ability:
  • Pass physical exam
  • Lift 60lb regularly, on occasion up to 100lb
  • Shoveling, digging, sledgehammering as required
  • Use an assortment of power and hand tools, grinders, reciprocating saw, hammers, chisels, wrenches, impact drivers, drills, etc.
  • Sit or stand for long periods of time while working
• Collaboration and Communication
• Work Ethic and Self Starting
• Productivity and Continuous Improvement
• Customer Focus
• Advanced Problem-Solving Skills, Adaptability, and Attention to Detail
• Accountability

The Benefits:

• Medical, dental, vision benefits the first day of the month after hire
• Market-leading 401(k) program with company match
• 10 paid holidays per year and PTO accrual plan
• Career development and advancement opportunities

Travel Required

Yes . Travel extensively throughout North America and occasionally overseas (75%)

Qualifications

Education

Required

GED or better.

High School Diploma or better.

Experience

Required

Mechanical, electrical, or electronic experience required.

3-5 years:

Field Service Experience

Preferred

Railroad or trade experience a plus in communication & signals.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.