Rail Track and ROW Maintainer Apprentice

King County Metro Transit; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 53,000 - 82,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid on-the-job training

Career path to Rail Maintainer

Job summary

King County Metro Transit seeks individuals for a Rail Track and ROW Maintainer Apprentice program in Seattle. The role blends on-the-job training with RSI classroom hours, with a path to a full-time Rail Track and ROW Maintainer position upon completion.

The program runs about two years, with about 40 hours per week plus on-site classes. Attendance at information sessions is encouraged to learn the process and opportunities.

Qualifications

• Experience or ability to troubleshoot and repair rail track components.
• Willingness to learn through on-the-job training and RSI classroom hours.
• Ability to work outdoors in varying weather and at heights.

Responsibilities

• Support tasks including troubleshooting, maintaining, repairing, upgrading and performing comprehensive preventive maintenance on Continuous Welded Rail (CWR).
• Participate in on-the-job training and related RSI instruction.
• Upon program completion, pursue a Rail Track and ROW Maintainer position.

Skills

Troubleshooting

Maintenance

Repairing

Upgrading

Preventive maintenance

Job description

An apprenticeship program prepares individuals to master a trade or profession through a blend of classroom education and practical experience, offered by community colleges, technical training schools, and employers alike. Participants benefit from paid on-the-job training, structured classroom instruction, mentorship from experienced professionals, and may acquire valuable credentials upon successful program completion.

Rail Track and ROW Maintainer Apprentice

As a Rail Track and ROW Maintainer Apprentice, you’ll support tasks such as troubleshooting, maintaining, repairing, upgrading, and performing comprehensive preventive maintenance on Continuous Welded Rail (CWR). This apprenticeship program includes on-the-job training as well as additional related supplemental instruction (RSI) hours spent in school. Successful completion of the program will result in being offered a career service position as a Rail Track and ROW Maintainer at the time of program completion.

About the Apprenticeship Program

• Approximately two-year (3,000 hours) on-the-job training and education program using a planned, closely supervised combination of classroom and real-world educational curriculum.
• Work approximately 40 hours per week and attend on-site classes provided by Rail Pros and Railroad Tough.
• Work both indoors and outdoors, in enclosed spaces and at heights
• Progressive pay steps as the apprentice learns more demanding skills
• Successful completion will result in a career service Rail Track and ROW Maintainer position.

Information Sessions

Join us for an upcoming information session (60 minutes) to learn more about the apprenticeship program, the application process, and the work of Rail Track and ROW Maintainers. We have attached links to the virtual event, below for two separate information sessions. Both information sessions are identical - please attend the time that works best for your schedule. Attendance is optional.

Teams Meeting

Join: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/215180180060899?p=QmDt3NUONE3PbnLz2w

Meeting ID: 215 180 180 060 899

Passcode: gz7J3qb9

OR

Teams Meeting

Join: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/246857687697208?p=Faq6fLkCWY2xrcN7cs

Meeting ID: 246 857 687 697 208

Passcode: cR7CR7LW

This recruitment will be used to fill current (2) full-time, Rail Track and ROW Maintainer Apprentice vacancies and may also be used to establish a list of qualified candidates for any future openings in the same classification. Placement onto an eligibility list is not a guarantee of placement into a future position. The list may be used for up to twelve (12) months at the discretion of the hiring authority.

About Link Light Rail

King County Metro's Rail Division manages and maintains Sound Transit's Link Light Rail, a growing network spanning 60 miles and serving 38 stations across the Puget Sound region. Together with Metro's extensive fixed-route bus system and mobility services, the Link Light Rail system is the backbone of an integrated regional transit network that gives people real freedom of movement. As Puget Sound transit agencies work together to build a seamless, connected system, our light rail system plays a central role in expanding access, reducing barriers, and ensuring that everyone across our region can get where they need to go.

Joining Metro's Rail Division means joining an organization that is shaping the future of public transportation in the Pacific Northwest and setting the standard for modern rail operations nationwide. This is a division that values strategic thinking, collaborative leadership, and a deep commitment to the people we serve, both our riders and our teams. Whatever your role, your work here contributes to something that matters, a light rail system that thousands of people count on every day.

Who May Apply

This recruitment is open to all qualified applicants.

These positions are considered safety-sensitive. Applicants for these positions are required to undergo drug testing prior to employment and subsequent to commencement of employment and will be subject to random, post-accident, reasonable suspicion, return to duty, and follow-up drug and alcohol testing in compliance with Federal DOT alcohol and controlled substance testing program protocols.

Current Hourly Rates:

1st Shift: $38.82 - $55.46|2nd Shift: $40.76 - $58.23|3rd Shift: $41.73 - $59.62