Trainer, Rail Maintenance

RTD; Rock Hill (SC); On-site; USD 55,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

RTD benefits

Job summary

RTD is seeking a Trainer for rail maintenance training to deliver classroom, field, and hands-on instruction. You will develop materials, evaluate trainee performance, and ensure safety compliance across rolling stock and infrastructure maintenance.

The role requires experience delivering rail training, knowledge of safety standards, and strong coaching skills. This is a full-time on-site position in the RTD network with LMS documentation responsibilities.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED required; coursework in transportation or rail fields preferred.
• Two years of experience delivering or supporting rail maintenance training.
• Experience evaluating trainee performance and providing coaching.
• Ability to develop and deliver training materials for rail maintenance.
• Knowledge of rail maintenance environments and safety regulations.
• Familiarity with applicable regulations (FRA, OSHA, DOT].
• Valid driver’s license (Colorado driver’s license restrictions noted in ad) and CDL endorsements are required.
• Regular and predictable attendance is mandatory.

Responsibilities

• Deliver classroom, field, shop, and hands-on training for rail maintenance personnel.
• Conduct training on rail vehicle systems, components, and regulatory compliance.
• Monitor trainee progress and conduct performance evaluations and coaching.
• Develop, prepare, and deliver course materials and practical learning activities.
• Maintain training documentation in RTD’s LMS and other systems.
• Set up and operate instructional tools and classroom technology.
• Ensure training spaces and equipment are safe and ready for instruction.
• Provide guidance and conduct hands-on exercises and demonstrations.

Skills

Instructional delivery

Rail maintenance knowledge

Safety training

Regulatory compliance

Coaching / mentoring

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Rail-related coursework preferred

Job description

At Regional Transportation District (RTD), We make lives better through connections!

When you join RTD, you will be among dedicated employees exhibiting RTD’s values of passion, respect, diversity, trustworthiness, collaboration, and ownership. RTD is committed to an inclusive and diverse workplace. As part of our diversity value statement, we encourage our employees to honor diversity in thought, people, and experience. Come join RTD on this great journey to be the trusted leader in mobility, delivering excellence and value to our customers and community.

RTD Employee Benefits: https://www.rtd-denver.com/careers/benefits

(RTD Represented Employee Benefits: Please refer to the Labor Agreement included in the above link for details.)

This position delivers technical, safety, and compliance-based training programs for rail maintenance employees. This position ensures employees acquire the knowledge, skills, and competencies necessary to safely and effectively inspect, maintain, troubleshoot, repair, test, and overhaul rail vehicles, infrastructure systems, and related transit assets by conducting classroom, field, shop, and hands-on instruction. The role emphasizes maintenance best practices, technical proficiency, safety compliance, asset reliability, regulatory adherence, and workforce readiness.

This position is responsible for delivering training for rail maintenance personnel, including new hire instruction, technical skills development, recertification programs, safety procedures, equipment operation, preventive maintenance practices, troubleshooting techniques, inspections, testing procedures, repair activities, and regulatory compliance requirements. Training responsibilities support both rolling stock maintenance and infrastructure maintenance functions, including rail vehicles, track, traction power systems, signaling systems, communications equipment, facilities, and other rail assets. The Trainer conducts performance evaluations, skills assessments, and provides one-on-one coaching to ensure employee competency and readiness to perform maintenance activities safely and effectively.

Work includes coordinating and conducting classroom instruction, hands-on workshops, practical exercises, and field-based training within rail maintenance facilities, shops, yards, guideway environments, and other maintenance locations. The Trainer monitors trainee progress, provides feedback and counseling, and documents outcomes to support qualifications, certifications, workforce development, and regulatory compliance. Responsibilities include managing instructional materials and maintaining accurate records of attendance, certifications, assessments, and training completions within the Learning Management System (LMS).

The position sets up and operates instructional tools, rail vehicles, maintenance equipment, testing devices, specialized tools, and classroom technology, including audiovisual systems and computers, to support effective learning environments. The Trainer ensures training spaces, maintenance equipment, vehicles, infrastructure assets, and tools are functional, safe, and properly configured to support instructional activities. The role also contributes to continuous improvement initiatives by supporting standardized maintenance training practices, documenting procedures, and reinforcing consistent instructional delivery.

This role collaborates closely with rail maintenance leaders, supervisors, technical specialists, safety personnel, and administrative partners to ensure training programs align with maintenance requirements, workforce needs, safety standards, and regulatory obligations. Success in this role requires strong instructional, technical, analytical, and communication skills, along with the ability to manage multiple training sessions, evaluate performance, and maintain accurate documentation. The position directly contributes to RTD’s mission by developing a knowledgeable, safety-focused, technically proficient, and maintenance-ready rail workforce capable of supporting the reliability, safety, and performance of rail vehicles and infrastructure systems.

This is a safety sensitive position subject to the rules and regulations of the RTD Drug and Alcohol Policy.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

ESSENTIAL:

• Deliver classroom, field, shop, and hands‑on training for rail maintenance personnel, including new hire instruction, technical skills development, recertifications, preventive maintenance practices, inspections, troubleshooting techniques, repair procedures, and safety requirements.

• Conduct training on rail vehicle systems, components, equipment, tools, diagnostics, maintenance technologies, and regulatory compliance requirements, ensuring adherence to applicable federal, state, local, and agency standards.

• Monitor trainee progress, provide individualized coaching and counseling, and conduct performance evaluations, technical skill assessments, and final evaluations to verify competency in rail maintenance practices.

• Develop, prepare, and deliver course materials, instructional aids, assessments, and practical learning activities that support rail maintenance training programs and workforce development objectives.

• Maintain accurate training documentation, including attendance, course completions, skill evaluations, certifications, qualifications, and regulatory compliance records within RTD’s Learning Management System (LMS) and other designated systems.

• Set up, test, and operate instructional tools, rail vehicles, maintenance equipment, diagnostic devices, audiovisual systems, computers, and classroom technology to ensure learning environments are fully functional and supportive of instructional objectives.

• Ensure all training spaces, classrooms, maintenance facilities, rail vehicles, equipment, and tools are properly configured, safe, and ready for instruction, addressing operational or technical issues as needed.

• Provide guidance and support to trainees and instructors by facilitating hands‑on exercises, equipment demonstrations, troubleshooting activities, inspections, maintenance procedures, and technical skill development.

• Conduct specialized instruction on safety‑sensitive topics, including lockout/tagout procedures, hazard recognition, personal protective equipment (PPE), equipment safety, environmental compliance requirements, and safe maintenance practices.

• Evaluate training effectiveness by gathering feedback, analyzing performance metrics, reviewing maintenance outcomes, and recommending adjustments to improve learning outcomes, workforce readiness, technical proficiency, and regulatory compliance.

• Collaborate with rail maintenance leaders, supervisors, technical specialists, safety personnel, and administrative partners to ensure training content and delivery align with maintenance requirements, workforce needs, safety standards, and agency objectives.

• Support process improvements to standardize maintenance training delivery, enhance technical consistency, improve instructional effectiveness, and maintain high‑quality learning experiences across rail maintenance programs.

• Coordinate logistics for training events, orientations, field exercises, equipment demonstrations, certification activities, and technical workshops, including preparation of instructional materials, equipment readiness, and participant support.

• Foster a professional, organized, and supportive learning environment that promotes employee engagement, technical proficiency, safety awareness, quality workmanship, and maintenance readiness.

• Build and maintain strong working relationships with rail maintenance employees, supervisors, technical specialists, instructors, safety personnel, and administrative partners to support workforce development and organizational goals.

• Remain current on rail vehicle systems, maintenance technologies, diagnostic practices, safety requirements, regulatory standards, and industry best practices to ensure training content remains accurate, relevant, and compliant.

OTHER:

All job-related duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• High School Diploma or GED required. Additional coursework or training in Transportation, Rolling Stock Maintenance, Infrastructure Maintenance, Rail Technology, Electrical or Mechanical Systems, Education, or a related field is preferred.

• Two (2) years of experience delivering or supporting training programs in rail maintenance, including classroom instruction, simulator training, field exercises, and hands‑on technical workshops.

• Demonstrated experience providing operational and technical training to rail personnel, including maintenance rules, signal compliance, passenger safety procedures, emergency response protocols, vehicle familiarization, and maintenance practices.

• Experience evaluating trainee performance, conducting maintenance skill assessments, practical evaluations, and providing one‑on‑one coaching to ensure competency and operational readiness.

• Ability to develop, prepare, and deliver training materials, course guides, and instructional content for rail maintenance training programs.

• Knowledge of rail maintenance environments, including rail yards, maintenance facilities, tracks, stations, and supporting rail infrastructure.

• Knowledge of adult learning principles, instructional strategies, and best practices for teaching maintenance procedures, technical systems, and compliance standards in safety‑sensitive transit environments.

• Familiarity with applicable local, state, and federal regulations affecting rail maintenance, training, and workforce compliance (e.g., FRA, FTA, DOT, OSHA, ADA).

• Must have a valid Colorado driver’s license with no more than 4 moving violations in the past three 3 years; cannot have a violation of driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs within the last 5 years.

• Valid Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) with appropriate endorsements (typically Class B with Passenger Endorsement).

• This job requires regular and predictable attendance.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS and ABILITIES:

• Deliver classroom, field, shop, and hands‑on training for rail maintenance personnel, including new hire instruction, technical skills development, recertifications, preventive maintenance practices, inspections, troubleshooting techniques, repair procedures, testing activities, and safety requirements.

• Conduct training on rail vehicle systems, track infrastructure, traction power systems, signaling systems, communications systems, facilities, maintenance equipment, tools, diagnostic technologies, and regulatory compliance requirements, ensuring adherence to applicable federal, state, local, and agency standards.

• Monitor trainee progress, provide individualized coaching and counseling, and conduct performance evaluations, technical skill assessments, qualification reviews, and final evaluations to verify competency in rail maintenance practices.

• Develop, prepare, and deliver course materials, instructional aids, assessments, and practical learning activities that support rolling stock and infrastructure maintenance training programs and workforce development objectives.

• Maintain accurate training documentation, including attendance, course completions, skill evaluations, certifications, qualifications, and regulatory compliance records within RTD’s Learning Management System (LMS) and other designated systems.

• Set up, test, and operate instructional tools, rail vehicles, maintenance equipment, testing devices, diagnostic tools, audiovisual systems, computers, and classroom technology to ensure learning environments are fully functional and supportive of instructional objectives.

• Ensure all training spaces, classrooms, maintenance facilities, rail vehicles, infrastructure assets, equipment, and tools are properly configured, safe, and ready for instruction, addressing operational or technical issues as needed.

• Provide guidance and support to trainees and instructors by facilitating hands‑on exercises, equipment demonstrations, troubleshooting activities, inspections, maintenance procedures, testing activities, and technical skill development.

• Conduct specialized instruction on safety‑sensitive topics, including lockout/tagout procedures, electrical safety, roadway worker protection, hazard recognition, personal protective equipment (P