RAIL SIGNAL SUPERVISOR

LA Metro; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

LA Metro seeks a Supervisor for its rail signal systems to oversee maintenance, repair, and testing activities, ensuring safe and reliable train service. The role requires organizing repairs, planning installations, and developing maintenance schedules across facilities and shared rail lines.

Responsibilities include responding to emergencies, diagnosing issues, and training inspectors with strong emphasis on safety and regulatory compliance.

Qualifications

• Three years of relevant experience performing repair and maintenance of signal systems.
• Must comply with Cal/OSHA regulations and use required safety equipment.
• Must have normal color vision and a valid California Class C Driver License.

Responsibilities

• Plans, organizes, and monitors signal repair activities and tracks progress.
• Ensures compliance with design criteria and plans new system installations.
• Studies and develops equipment maintenance plans and schedules.
• Responds to signal system emergencies and diagnoses problems.
• Trains and certifies inspectors and develops training materials.
• Develops system inspections/testing and preventive maintenance procedures.

Skills

Supervision

Planning

Communication

Read schematics

Education

Associate's Degree in a related field

Job description

Supervises technical personnel in the maintenance, repair, and testing of Metro's rail signal systems in compliance with state and federal regulations in order to assist in delivering safe and reliable train service.

• Plans, organizes, and monitors signal repair activities and tracks progress
• Ensures compliance with design criteria
• Plans and monitors new system installations
• Studies and develops equipment maintenance plans and schedules
• Responds to signal system emergencies
• Investigates, diagnoses, and corrects system problems
• Trains and certifies inspectors
• Develops training materials
• Develops system inspections/testing and preventive maintenance procedures
• Initiates ordering parts
• Provides system information to other departments and outside agencies
• Reviews blueprints and technical data
• Works with other departments to resolve problems or coordinate activities
• Conducts periodic safety meetings to ensure compliance with procedures and regulations
• Interprets government regulations
• Interacts with other rail services, such as Union Pacific, to coordinate inspections, repairs, or improvements on shared rail lines
• Provides flagging assistance during revenue and non-revenue service periods to control local train movement
• Assists staff with repair, maintenance, and testing during revenue and non-revenue service periods in conjunction with train movement
• Deploys, mounts, and operates high-rail equipment during revenue service periods adjacent to train movement
• Utilizes hand-held radios to effectively communicate with staff and direct equipment during revenue and non-revenue service periods
• Oversees and implements repairs, adjustments, and tests of vital signal equipment which are responsible for controlling the operation of trains
• Provides hands-on training to employees utilizing live equipment which supports revenue and non-revenue service periods
• Organizes, supervises, and provides guidance to subordinate staff; responsible for employee performance evaluation

May be required to perform other related job duties

A combination of education and/or experience that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the essential functions of the position. Additional experience, as outlined below, may be substituted for required education on a year-for-year basis. A typical combination includes:

Education

• Associate's Degree in a related field or equivalent training from a recognized trade school

Experience

• Three years of relevant experience performing repair and maintenance of signal systems

Certifications/Licenses/Special Requirements

• Frequent exposure to electrical, weather, mechanical, and physical hazards
• Must comply with all California Occupational Safety & Health Act (Cal/OSHA) regulations and utilize approved safety equipment and protective gear "including but not limited" to respirators and/or hearing protective devices (HPD), if and when required
• Must have normal color vision
• Valid California Class C Driver License
• Positions in this job classification are considered safety-sensitive and subject to drug and alcohol testing, including random testing, under Federal Transit Administration (FTA) regulations

Knowledge of (defined as a learned body of information that is required for and applied in the performance of job tasks)

• Theories, principles, and practices of electronic rail signal systems
• Applicable federal, state, and local laws, rules, and regulations pertaining to the operation, maintenance, and testing of rail transit/ railroad signal systems
• Principles of supervision
• Labor contracts
• Safety policies, procedures, and practices
• Applicable business software applications

Skill in (defined as the proficient manual, verbal, or mental utilization of data, people, or things)

• Planning, organizing, and monitoring the activities of a signal repair and maintenance report work unit
• Analyzing situations, identifying problems, and recommending solutions
• Communicating effectively orally and in writing

Ability to (defined as a present competence to perform an observable behavior or produce an observable result)

• Plan and monitor new systems installations
• Develop equipment maintenance plans and schedules
• Respond to signal systems emergencies
• Read electrical and signal schematics
• Operate various testing equipment
• Prepare comprehensive reports and correspondence
• Compile and analyze complex data
• Understand, interpret, and apply laws, rules, regulations, policies, procedures, contracts, budgets, and labor/management agreements
• Interact professionally with various levels of employees and outside representatives
• Supervise subordinates
• Travel to offsite locations
• Read, write, speak, and understand English

Special Conditions

• This job specification is not to be construed as an exhaustive list of duties, responsibilities, or requirements
• The physical demands described are representative of those that must be met by the employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job
• Metro provides reasonable accommodation to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions
• Contributes to ensuring that the Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) policies and programs of Metro are carried out

Working Conditions

• Typical office situation
• Close exposure to computer monitors and video screen
• Exposure to moving machinery and/or vehicles
• Exposure to radiant or electrical energy (e.g., ionizing radiation, overhead catenary or contact rail power distribution, etc.)
• Exposure to outdoor weather including extreme heat, cold, dampness and/or humidity
• Extensive safety training and/or use of protective devices and personal protective gear

Physical Effort Required

• Sitting at a desk or table
• Type and use a keyboard and mouse to perform necessary computer-based functions
• Standing
• Walking (distance 5' to 100')
• Light lifting or carrying 25 lbs. or less
• Operating foot pedals
• Communicating through speech in the English language required
• Good distance vision and/or depth perception to judge distances
• Color recognition (e.g., distinguishing wires, resistors, containers, light signals, etc.)

(CA)