Future Opening: Production Team Lead (Assembly or Electrical)

Apscareerportal; Chicago, Northern (IL, KY); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

CRRC SIFANG America Incorporated in Chicago, IL is seeking a Production Team Lead for the assembly or electrical railcar production. The role includes training and directing tier-level workers, maintaining a safe, efficient production flow, and coordinating with Foremen and Managers to meet quality standards.

The ideal candidate has hands-on experience across assembly or electrical work, supervisory skills, and a strong eye for safety and process improvement.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required with strong English literacy.
• Expert in assembly or electrical work with supervisory experience.
• Experience supervising manufacturing teams in railcar environments is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead and supervise Team Leads and foremen to ensure safe, efficient production.
• Train staff, troubleshoot issues, and maintain production records.
• Coordinate work across assembly and electrical disciplines.
• Ensure proper PPE use, tool calibration, and compliance with safety standards.
• Collaborate with production management to meet deadlines and quality targets.

Skills

Team leadership

Supervisory experience

Safety compliance

Reading drawings/schematics

Quality focus

Electrical/assembly work

Problem solving

Training team members

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Tools

Manual tools

Power tools

Job description

Production Team Lead (Assembly or Electrical)

Location

Chicago - Production

Type

Full Time

CRRC SIFANG AMERICA INCORPORATED ("CRRC") is a passenger railcar manufacturer in Chicago, Illinois. The passenger railcar manufacturing process includes 2 bargained-for work disciplines: assembly and electrical.

The instant job description relates specifically to Team Lead and Foreman work during the production of passenger railcars .

Summary

Electrical Team Leads will be capable of and responsible for performing all tier levels (Entry Level – Tier 3) of electrical work, as necessary. Team Leads will also be responsible for training, troubleshooting/correcting technical problems, and taking other actions or measures (including directing tier-level workers) to ensure an efficient and streamlined production process.

Assembly Team Leads will be capable of and responsible for performing all tier levels (Entry Level – Tier 3) of assembly work, as necessary. Team Leads will also be responsible for training, troubleshooting/correcting technical problems, and taking other actions or measures (including directing tier-level workers) to ensure an efficient and streamlined production process.

Foremen will be capable of and responsible for performing all tasks required of Team Leads and must meet the requirements listed below in this job description. Foremen are higher-level Team Leads with demonstrated ability to not only do hands‑on work but to successfully supervise, lead, mentor, and train all levels of workers, including Team Leads. Foremen will have the knowledge and ability to perform all tasks while overseeing others’ work with minimal instruction and directives from Supervisors and Management. Ideally, Foremen will spend very little of their workdays doing hands‑on work and will, instead, concentrate on the remainder of their responsibilities.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Maintaining a clean and safe work environment;
• Ensuring that Production bargained-for staff wears necessary and appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE);
• Doing hands‑on work (in the relevant work discipline --- electrical or assembly) (on all levels), as warranted;
• Coordinating the work of tier-level employees (and Team Lead level for Foremen);
• Collaborating and coordinating with Foremen, Production Supervisor(s), and Manager;
• Assisting in the development and maintenance of production-related documents in compliance with the Car History Book requirements as well as CRRC quality standards;
• Preparing and maintaining daily work and quality records;
• Verifying that properly calibrated tools are being used and documenting such use to maintain proper tool inventory while tools are being used by Production staff;
• Providing guidance, constructive feedback, and training to tier-level workers (and Team Leads for Foremen), as necessary;
• Working independently and with others to improve operational efficiency;
• Working independently and with others to address and resolve issues incurred in the production process;
• Supervising workers under the direction and oversight of Foremen, Supervisor(s), and Production Management (or Supervisor(s) and Management for Foremen); and
• Performing other work, as assigned

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.

Competencies and Characteristics

To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies and have the following characteristics:

• Have the ability to work in a safe fashion
• Have the ability to produce a quality product
• Have great hand‑eye coordination
• Have an extraordinary technical aptitude – i.e. the ability to do quality work at all tier levels (and at Team Lead level for Foremen)
• Have the ability to direct the work of tier-level employees (and Team Leads for Foremen)
• Have the ability to lead tier-level employees (and Team Leads for Foremen)
• Have the knowledge and competence to train tier-level employees (and Team Leads for Foremen)
• Have the knowledge and ability to correct others’ work, as appropriate
• Have the ability to bring value to the assigned project and to CRRC, as a whole
• Have the ability to troubleshoot, as necessary
• Have the ability to collaborate and coordinate with co‑workers, supervisors, managers, and executive personnel in the Production Department and in other CRRC Departments
• Have the ability to work independently to conclusion of a task or resolution of an issue
• Have the ability to communicate well with others
• Have the ability to draft documents of varying types
• Have the ability to meet work, task, and project deadlines
• Have the ability to multitask
• Have the ability to follow instructions properly and accurately
• Have flexibility with respect to the work schedule as warranted by operational/production needs and as permitted by the applicable Collective Bargaining Agreement
• Have credibility and be trustworthy

Work Environment

Passenger railcar production facility with mobile equipment, heavy machinery, and high voltages

Physical Demands

• Ability to lift 30 lbs.
• Ability to stand, walk climb, bend, stoop, kneel
• Ability to stand for an 8-hour shift
• Ability to step up and bend down inside or under a railcar
• Ability to remain in one position for a long period of time
• Ability to perform work in tight spaces with difficult access
• Ability to take occasional business trips, as directed (domestic and/or international)

Required Education and Experience

• High School Diploma or GED
• Ability to read, write, understand, and communicate effectively in English
• Expert at assembly/electrical work processes or training in similar field(s)
• Extensive technical skills and highly proficient
• Very skilled at using manual and power tools
• Above-average competence in reading technical drawings, schematics, and measurement instruments
• Experience with hydraulic and pneumatic equipment and connections or commercial/industrial electrical systems (depending on discipline)
• Good understanding of industrial safety standards and best practices
• Supervisory/leadership experience – preferably in a manufacturing environment
• Ability to assist Team Lead(s), Supervisor(s), and Management with a variety of hands‑on and record‑keeping tasks, as requested (or Supervisor(s) and Management for Team Leads)
• Ability to substitute as a temporary “Team Lead,” as necessary (not applicable to Team Leads)
• Personable, enthusiastic, ambitious, team‑oriented, and able to lead by example
• Ability to adjust and refocus in a dynamic and ever‑changing environment
• Ability to make good decisions in a timely manner based on analysis, experience, and judgment
• OR
• Having the foregoing education and assembly or electrical work experience with proven and consistent high-quality railcar production work at CRRC

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

CRRC Sifang America is an Illinois-based subsidiary of CRRC Corporation Limited. CRRC Corporation Limited, the parent company, is a world leader in the designing, engineering and manufacturing of advanced passenger rail vehicles and high-speed trains. Headquartered in Beijing, China, CRRC Corporation Limited has 46 wholly‑owned & majority‑owned subsidiaries. They are a global innovator in rail car and locomotive construction and maintenance.

In 2016, CRRC Sifang America was awarded a contract by the Chicago Transit Authority to supply 846 new railcars.

CRRC Sifang America recently constructed a state‑of‑the‑art production facility on the city’s southeast side, returning railcar manufacturing to Chicago after a 50‑year absence.

I was referred to this position by a current employee