Homeoffice Rail Technical Trainer na King County, WA

About the Department

* This position is open to all King County employees and the general public. *

• Operations

• Vehicle Maintenance

• Track & ROW Maintenance

• Power

• Signals

• SCADA

• Facilities Maintenance 

• Business and Administration

• Onboarding and General Training

We are currently seeking two (2) Technical Trainers:

• One (1) Technical Trainer who will focus on Operations Training, and who may be cross trained to provide a variety of training at Rail. This Technical Trainer will be expected to facilitate Light Rail Operator training courses, retraining's, and refreshers, along with other training responsibilities.  

• One (1) Technical Trainer who will focus on Onboarding and General Training, and who may be cross-trained to provide a variety of training at Rail. This Technical Trainer will be expected to facilitate general onboarding topics and courses, including De-Escalation and Right of Way training, essential training for new employees, and other training responsibilities.  
  
  

About Metro Transit's Expanding Rail Division

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. 

Interviews are anticipated to occur during the week of October 27 through October 31, 2025, but are subject to change. 

Who May Apply

This position is open to King County employees and the general public. 

To Apply:

Those interested must submit: 

• An online King County application, updated with accurate contact information, and relevant work history going back at least 10 years (or more, if necessary), with all job duties. 
• Completed supplemental questions.
• A current resume, detailing experience, and education. 
• A cover letter/letter of interest, detailing the following: 
  • How your experience and background meet or exceed the qualifications for this position, and
  • What is your experience training diverse groups of adult learners?

Want to make sure your application materials are as competitive as possible?

We highly recommend visiting the Career Support Services website for tips and examples on how to make your application materials most effective:

Career Support Services - King County.

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. 

As the Rail Technical Trainer, you will:

• Participate in all aspects of rail training, including but not limited to rail operations, maintenance, and facilities training programs.
• Support Rail’s strategic priorities of Culture of Care and Operational Excellence by delivering high-quality technical training to new and current employees.
• Onboard, support, and train diverse employees with a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences.
• Develop, implement, and conduct training (including curriculum, lesson plans, hands-on training and demonstration, training materials, and assessment) for rail employees and others as assigned, ensuring that training aligns with all standards and requirements and supports safe operations, including:
  • Maintain up-to-date training content.
  • Prepare and maintain training aids, charts, visual aids, equipment simulators, mock-ups, and other material.
  • Ensure availability of classroom space and equipment for training programs.
  • Conduct initial, refresher, and retraining sessions as needed.
  • Deliver technical and compliance training as required.
• Assess learners, monitor progress, and conduct formal evaluations of trainees, including:
  • Provide progress evaluations and performance counseling.
  • Ensure that trainees are compliant with Link Light Rail governing documents and policies including but not limited to rules, procedures, and time accountability.
  • Recommend and implement support strategies for trainees who are struggling to meet standards.
  • Evaluate and recommend to management the termination of trainees who do not meet standards.
  • Act as a designated examiner in the testing and certification of rail vehicle operators and other rail positions.
• Maintain complete and accurate training documentation, including:
  • Accurately record attendance, quiz/exam/evaluation scores, completions, and other trainee information.
  • Adhere to King County record retention requirements.
  • Maintain a variety of reports, perform data input and retrieval, review forms and documents for accuracy and file/forward as appropriate.
• Support emerging training needs of the division as required, including:
  • Provide customized training as needed.
  • Assist in training other areas on a project basis.
  • Evaluate new equipment and changes in existing equipment and incorporate changes into training curriculum.
  • Participate in the testing, certification, and opening of new rail extensions.
  • Participate in the testing and certification of new rail cars.
  • Participate in rail audits, emergency drills, and simulations.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of training processes, safety principles, Metro rules, policies, procedures, and all applicable federal, state, and local laws.
• Research and prepare technical and administrative reports to support division needs.
• Operate rail vehicles and perform other related duties as assigned.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

Experience as a trainer and/or educator of adults AND two years of work experience in a transportation, transit, or industrial environment OR any equivalent combination of experience and education which provides the applicant with the desired skills, knowledge, and ability to perform the work. 

• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience developing, evaluating, and revising training materials.
• Experience developing policies, procedures, rules, and reports.
• Demonstrated ability to organize work, set priorities, and meet deadlines.
• Knowledge of trainee assessment and performance evaluation, including providing feedback and performance counseling.
• Skill in problem solving, analyzing, and evaluating efficiency and quality, and making recommendations for improvements.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with a diverse population in varying occupations and situations and apply equitable practices to training.
• Holds a Link Light Rail Mainline Rail Card and has been a qualified Link Light Rail operator for at least one year (for Operations training). 
• Knowledge of or the ability to learn state and federal rules and regulations related to rail operations, maintenance, and industrial and transit-related safety.
• Ability to learn and become proficient with database systems used for rail rules, policies, procedures, training materials and training records.
• Knowledge of or the ability to learn transportation operation and maintenance rules, policies and procedures, forms, records, and documentation requirements.
• Skill in the use of MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.

• Applicants must possess a valid Washington state driver’s license (or ability to obtain Washington state driver’s license upon 30 days of hire into this position). 
• Ability to obtain and maintain a Link Rail Operator card (for Operations training). 

• Ability to climb stairs and board rail on elevated guide way.
• Ability to sit for extended periods.
• Ability to Lift or pull up to thirty (30) pounds.
• Perform repetitive body movements to operate equipment.
• Work independently with a minimum of breaks.

Other Qualifications

Application & Selection Process 
Applications will be screened to determine whether candidates meet minimum qualifications, and for clarity, completeness, and responsiveness to the application instructions above. Highly competitive applicants may be asked to interview. Formal offers will be finalized after candidates have successfully completed any necessary pre-employment processes, such as reference checks or internal record reviews.

These positions are considered safety-sensitive. Applicants for positions defined as safety-sensitive are required to undergo drug testing prior to employment and, subsequent to the 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.

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. 

TO APPLY:

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 your recruiter listed on this job announcement.