Rail Electro-Mechanic Lead (SDA)

Full Job Description

**This opportunity is open only to current King County Metro, Rail Electro-Mechanic employees who have successfully passed their probationary period in their current Career Service position**

King County Metro Transit's Rail Division is looking for a dependable, detail-oriented Rail Electro-Mechanic Lead (SDA) to be a contributing member of the Rail Vehicle Maintenance team!

Lead Rail Electro-Mechanics are responsible for identifying, scheduling, coordinating, planning, assigning, overseeing and evaluating the work of other Rail Electro-Mechanics, vendors, and contractors.

This is a working lead position, and all normal duties of a skilled journey-level Rail Electro-Mechanic will also be performed.

About Link Light RailKing County Metro Transit's Rail Division manages and maintains Sound Transit's Link light rail service and City of Seattle’s streetcar system.

Link light rail currently spans a 41-mile route from SeaTac to Federal Way and a 6.6-mile route from Redmond to South Bellevue.

By the end of 2026, light rail is projected to expand to nearly 60 route miles, adding two new stations. Additional expansions to the Link system will be coming online for years to come.

Seattle Streetcar includes the 1.3 mile South Lake Union line and the 2.5 mile First Hill line, proudly serving the diverse and vibrant communities around Seattle’s downtown core.

These rail services complement Metro's extensive fixed-route bus system and mobility services.

Puget Sound transit agencies are collaborating to create an integrated transit network that enables people to travel farther, faster, and more easily.

This position is considered safety sensitive.

Applicants for positions defined as safety sensitive are required to undergo drug testing prior to employment and, subsequent to commencement of employment, 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 substances testing program protocols.

Who May Apply

We are hiring to fill one (1) Special Duty Assignment.

We are accepting applications from King County Rail Electro-Mechanic employees who have successfully passed their probationary period in their current Career Service position.

The SDA is anticipated to last up to 3 months with the possibility of extension.

This temporary position is established to provide coverage during the leave of a current employee; therefore, this position has no guarantee of a fixed end date.

This recruitment’s selection process may be used to establish an eligibility list to fill future Special Duty Assignment (SDA) openings in this classification and within this division over the next year (12 months) and will be utilized at the discretion of the hiring authority.

Application Process

Please complete the following:

• An online King County application, updated with all relevant work history going back 10 years (or more, if necessary), with all duties and reasons for leaving explained clearly
• Letter of Interest (1-2 pages) addressing the following:
  • Your ability to manage multiple tasks and responsibilities simultaneously in a fast-paced environment
  • Your experience in supporting, assisting, and providing guidance to other Electro-Mechanics as a leader
  • Your ability to perform the administrative duties required for a lead role, including documentation, reporting, and coordination tasks
  • Why you believe you would be an effective leader, and how you would motivate, inspire, and support the team to achieve shared goals
• Answer the supplemental questions in their entirety.

Applications that are not complete, or do not include the required materials, may be rejected as incomplete and not advance in the process.

If you are interested in pursuing this position, please follow the application instructions carefully.

If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process, or if you have questions, please contact the recruiter listed on this job announcement.

If you have questions about this recruitment, please contact: Jacky Lu, HR Talent Advisor at jacky.lu@kingcounty.gov

Requirements

Applying equity and social justice principles is a daily responsibility and a foundational expectation for all King County employees. You will apply equity and social justice principles that exemplify shared values, behaviors, and practices to all aspects of the work.

In addition to performing the full range of responsibilities of the Rail Electro-Mechanic classification, incumbents in this classification will also perform the following duties:

• Coordinate and provide technical assistance to Electro-Mechanics in the inspection, diagnosis, and repair of LRVs and other related equipment; ensure assigned Electro-Mechanics correctly identify and repair equipment defects; and ensure all defects are documented and repaired in a timely fashion.
• Conduct crew and safety meetings, taking minutes and tracking, and acting as the conduit of communication between front-line employees and management; immediately report any safety violations or alarm activities; ensure shop safety and safe work practices among assigned staff; and ensure safe handling, use, and disposal of environmentally controlled materials and substances.
• Determine work priorities, ensure sufficient staff, and assign tasks to the appropriate Rail Electro-Mechanic best suited for LRV specific tasks. Assign work in accordance with work orders, preventive maintenance schedules, and operating requirements; control and monitor workflow.

• Train new and current personnel in required aspects of maintenance, repair, and base safety procedures.

• Advise mechanics when their work is deficient or in violation of established regulations and procedures; recommend corrective actions to the Rail Vehicle Maintenance Transit Chief.
• Conduct evaluations on work being performed and provide counsel and/or corrections. Ensure equipment and tools are in proper working order.

• Monitor LRV pull-out and pull-in and respond to LCC or LRV failures.
• Report yard, signals, switches, and facility equipment problems.
• Lead, mentor, and train assigned employees.
• Drive between Rail Operations and Maintenance Facility locations as needed, based on operational need.
• Perform other duties, as assigned.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

• One year of responsible full-time work experience as a Rail Electro-Mechanic successfully performing electrical, electronic, and mechanical work on light rail vehicles and associated equipment.
• Knowledge of regulatory and statutory requirements that apply to light rail vehicle operations.

• Knowledge of rail operations and the principals, practices and methodologies involved in the delivery of rail services.

• Knowledge of current principles and practices of electrical, electronic and mechanical work on light rail vehicles and associated equipment; skill in AC/DC systems, operating principles of analog and digital electronics, electronic control circuitry and associated mechanical systems, heating, lighting, air conditioning, motors, brakes, and related systems.
• Skill in applying industrial safety procedures and standards including cleaning and maintaining shop area.
• Skill in effective communication; in both oral and written communications.

• A valid Washington State driver's license and an acceptable driving record. If you possess an out-of-state driver's license, you must obtain a WA state license within 30 days of hire.

Desired Qualifications

• Ability to plan, assign, balance, and check the work of others.
• Skill in leading, training, and providing technical assistance.

• Skill in preparing written reports, documenting defects and repairs on inspection forms, work orders, and designated computer programs.
• Skill in effective team building.
• Skill in handling multiple competing priorities.
• Skill in problem solving, analyzing, and diagnosing equipment problems.

• Skill in the operation of current Windows based computer software; skill in learning new operating system languages and staying current on all new technologies introduced into transit industries as they relate to rail vehicle maintenance.
• Skill in working directly with frontline staff to determine areas of training necessary.
• Skill in establishing and maintaining cooperative working relationships with a diverse group of individuals.

• Ability to effectively engage in and sustain relationships with people from diverse cultures and socio-economic backgrounds

• Ability to work independently and as a team member.

• Demonstrated proficiency with business applications, such as Microsoft Office Suite.

Additional Information

Selection Process

Applications will be screened for clarity, completeness, and qualifications.

The most competitive applications will be expertly reviewed, and a formal offer will be finalized after candidates have successfully completed any necessary pre-employment processes, such as Safety-Sensitive Drug & Alcohol verifications, physical/DOT Card verifications, internal records reviews, and driving record reviews.

Work Schedule

This position is non-exempt from the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act and is overtime eligible. Employees will work a 40-hour per week schedule with two consecutive days off.

The work schedule may include non-standard work hours including evenings, weekends, and holidays, as needed. Schedules are based on a seniority "pick" system, which occurs one time per year.

Per the union contract, shift differentials are paid to those working second and third shifts. Shift pay is 5% for second shift and 7.5% for third shift, on top of hourly pay.

Current Hourly Rates:

Day Shift Wage: $61.01 I Second Shift Wage: $64.06 I Third Shift Wage: $65.59

Work Location

Employees may report to any of the following locations:

• Rail Operations and Maintenance Facility (OMF) Central- 3407 Airport Way S, Seattle WA 98134
• OMF East- 1925 120th Ave NE, Bellevue WA 98005, or any additional locations that may open in the future.
  

Physical Requirements

This position requires the ability to be mobile, perform manual labor, exert physical effort while standing, walking, or lifting materials, tools and objects weighting up to 70 pounds, such as re-railing jacks and large parts.

Working Environment

Work is performed both indoors and outdoors and in inclement weather. Must be able to work from high places.

Union Membership

This position is represented by Amalgamated Transit Union, Local 587

Base Classification/Pay Grade

836201 (Rail Electro-Mechanic-Lead), Grade 236

Forbes recently named King County as one of Washington State's best employers.

Together, with leadership and our employees, we're changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence. Are you ready to make a difference? Come join the team dedicated to serving one of the nation's best places to live, work and play.

Guided by our "True North", we are making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. We value diversity, inclusion and belonging in our workplace and workforce.

To reach this goal we are committed to workforce equity.

Equitable recruiting, support, and retention is how we will obtain the highest quality workforce in our region; a workforce that shares and will help advance our guiding principles--we are one team; we solve problems; we focus on the customer; we drive for results; we are racially just; we respect all people; we lead the way; and we are responsible stewards.

We encourage people of all backgrounds and identities to apply, including Native American and people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+, people living with disabilities, and veterans.

King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer

No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class.

Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.

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