Rail Signal & Communications Technician chez King County, WA

About the Department

You May be Eligible for a New Hire Recruitment/Retention Bonus up to $3,000!

King County Metro Transit's Rail Division has exciting opportunities for Signal and Communications Technicians! These positions will perform maintenance on railway signal and communications equipment such as motorized switch machines, vital relays, microprocessor controlled interlockings, programmable logic controllers, fiber optic links, failsafe railroad crossing equipment, stand-alone computers and power supplies.

About Metro Transit's Link Light Rail Expansion

King 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 33-mile route from SeaTac to Lynnwood 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 seven 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.

Who May Apply

This recruitment is open to all qualified applicants internal and external and will be used to fill current Career Service vacancies and may be used to establish an eligibility list to fill future career service vacancies that may occur over the next twelve months.

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, 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.

Work Schedule

These positions are non-exempt from the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act and are overtime eligible. Employees will work a 40-hourper week schedule. The work schedules include non- standard work hours including evenings, weekends and holidays. Schedules are based on a seniority "pick" system and includes a mix of shift types, including 5x8 and 4x10 shifts. Per the union contract shift differentials are paid to those working second and third shifts. Shift pay is 7.5% for third shift, on top of hourly pay. Per the union contract the current hourly rates are:

• Day Shift: $41.94-$59.91

• Swing/2nd Shift: $44.04-$62.91

• Graveyard/3^rd Shift: $45.09-$64.40

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 Maintenance of Way (MOW) North: 920 North 137^th ST Seattle WA 98133. Other locations in King County may become available in the future.

Position Duties

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

• Conduct fault diagnosis; inspect, test, modify, maintain and repair ail way signal and communications equipment
• Inspect, repair and maintain electrical, electronic, mechanical, and hydraulic equipment including grade crossing mechanisms, switch machines, multiplexers, microprocessor controlled interlockings, vital relays, power supplies, battery systems, audio systems, and other complex machinery and equipment
• Operate common and specialized tools and equipment such as mechanical lift devices, hand tools, and electronic measurement devices
• Access aerial support structures and poles to perform inspections, maintenance and repair tasks
• Determine work priorities for emergency maintenance tasks in the absence of on-site supervision; respond to emergency calls as necessary
• Operate switch machines by hand and by Local Control Panels under revenue and non-revenue conditions
• Plan, schedule, communicate and coordinate activities and work with other trades and sections; assist other trades as necessary
• Operate assigned vehicles including Hi-Rail and Aerial Lift equipment
• Perform snow and ice removal
• Flag trackway to provide safer ail work zones; set up work zone traffic control areas
• Record and document maintenance and diagnostic data
• Other duties as assigned

Minimum Qualifications

Additional Qualifications include:

• Journey level knowledge of the fundamentals of railway signaling and communications
• Knowledge in analyzing and evaluating malfunctions in electrical and electronic equipment and determining repair requirements; skill in performing electronic fabrication and assembly tasks, such as soldering and wire harnessing; skill in problem solving, analyzing, diagnosing and evaluating equipment problems
• Knowledge of and skill in industrial safety techniques, including safety techniques while working at railway crossings with train and automobile traffic
• Knowledge of and skill in maintaining and troubleshooting mechanical and hydraulic equipment
• Willingness and ability to apply King County's core values around inclusion, equity and social justice as a team member and representative of King County to the public
• Skill in the application of customer service techniques and principles when dealing with customers in a tactful and diplomatic manner
• Skill in oral and written communications, including reading, writing and following instructions
• Skill in preparing written reports, inspection forms for documenting defects and repairs of work orders in designated computer programs; skill in preparing time and material cost estimates; keep accurate records
• Skill in developing and implementing preventive maintenance and safety inspection procedures
• Skill in working under established deadlines and time frames 
• Skill in establishing and maintaining cooperative working relationships with a diverse group of individuals

Necessary Special Requirements

• Ability to obtain boom truck, Hi-Rail, forklift and various other certifications (we train)
• A valid 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
• Class B CDL with air brake endorsement or ability to obtain one (we train)

Other Qualifications

Working Environment

Work indoors and outdoors and in inclement weather. Work in high places from mechanical lifts and structures, and in a high voltage environment to perform inspections. Position requires physical skill and effort to operate tools, equipment, vehicles and supplies and may require stooping or bending motions when inspecting work.

Application Process

To apply for this position, you must meet the minimum requirements and complete the following:

• An online King County application. NOTE: Please include each of your jobs during the last 10 years listed (if you have ten years of employment history), duties explained, reasons for leaving, etc. Earlier jobs should be included here if they are relevant in some way to this job and if they relate to our minimum qualifications and MUST be included in the employment application if cited in an answer to a Supplemental Question. 
• Answer the supplemental questions in their entirety.
• Attach documented completion of a Journey Level Signal Training program (FRA or Transit equivalent).

Want to make sure your application materials are as competitive as possible? We highly recommend visiting the Workforce Development Services website for tips and examples on how to make your application materials most effective: Workforce Development - King County, Washington

Need Assistance?

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 Marwa Alansi, HR Talent Advisor at [email protected]  

Selection Process

Applications will be screened to determine whether candidates meet minimum qualifications, and for clarity, completeness, and responsiveness to the application instructions above. Applications that are not complete may be rejected and not advanced in the process. The most competitive candidates may be invited to participate in a panel interview. Employment offers will be finalized only after candidates have successfully passed a physical examination, drug and alcohol check, reference check, and a driver's abstract review. 

Union Membership: This position is represented by Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU), Local 587

Class Code: 8311200 - Rail Signas and Communication Technician 

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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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