Rail Laborer

King County Metro Transit's Rail Division is looking for dependable, detail-oriented Rail Laborers to be a contributing member of the Track, ROW and Structures Maintenance team. The selected candidate will perform a wide variety of maintenance and equipment operation duties not associated with journey-level work.

Our ideal candidate has experience working in a dynamic environment using all manner of powered tools and small/large equipment as well as assisting trades related to the construction and maintenance of railroad track and structures, or the construction or maintenance of any and all types of infrastructure.
 
This position is 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.

About King County Metro Transit 
King County Metro Transit is a regional leader in helping people move quickly throughout the region, reducing commuter stress, greening the environment and radically improving urban air quality, by providing comfortable, effective transit services for the thousands of commuters and other residents of King County, Washington. Working for Metro means working for a leader in this public transportation industry. Metro was named Outstanding Public Transportation System of 2018 by APTA, the American Public Transportation Association.

About Metro Transit's Expanding Rail Division
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.
 
Who May Apply: 
This position is open to all qualified applicants, internal and external. This recruitment will fill multiple vacancies and will be used to establish an eligibility list to fill future career service vacancies, Term-Limited Temporary (TLT), or Special Duty Assignments (SDA) that may occur over the next twelve months, to be used at the discretion of the hiring authority.

Work Schedule: This position is non-exempt from the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act and is overtime eligible. The work week is normally 40 hours.  You may work a schedule of 5/8s or 4/10s on day, swing or graveyard shift.  Schedules are determined on a seniority-based pick system. Per the union contract shift differential is 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.


Work Location
Employees may work at the Operations and Maintenance Facility (OMF) Central facility at 3407 Airport Way S, Seattle WA 98134, the OMF East facility at 1925 120th Ave NE Bellevue WA 98005, or at other locations as required by business needs.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 a Rail Laborer you will:

• Assist in the performance of a wide range of maintenance activities associated with operating and maintaining a Transit Light Rail System.
• Assist journey-level workers who perform journey level track maintenance, inspections and repairs.
• Perform minor maintenance and repair to equipment and facilities.
• Flag track-way and roadway to provide safe work zones; set-up work-zone traffic control areas on mainline track as well as in motor vehicle roadway.
• Maintain work records and complete work requests.
• Respond to emergency calls as necessary.
• Perform snow and ice removal.
• Assist in the performance of a wide range of maintenance activities including Track inspections, Welding and grinding repairs, tie tamping, Rail replacements/relays, painting and cleaning graffiti, signage replacements, contractor safety briefings and monitoring (Employee in Charge-EIC), general rail and structure maintenance.
• Operate a variety of handheld power tools, utilizing 2 cycle gas/oil mix, gasoline, diesel, electric and hydraulics. Chain saws, string trimmers, hedge trimmers, blowers, pressure washers, tampers, generators, rail drills, rail saws, roto-hammers, grinders, vertical bolt machines, automatic clipper/de-clipper.
• Operate company assigned vehicles including Hi-rail and aerial lift equipment, rental equipment, forklifts, bucket trucks, service trucks, mobile cranes and specialized rail equipment.

We are looking for candidates who have:

• Knowledge/skill in the use and care of tools and equipment.
• Knowledge of basic safety rules and applicable OSHA laws.
• Knowledge of basic mechanical skills.
• Skill in basic oral and written communication, including the ability to understand and follow directions as well as document completed tasks and hours in a computer-based work order system.
• Being able to work proactively and sensitively with customers.
• Skill in operating various types of powered equipment, especially 2 cycle mix gas and diesel engines.
• Working with a variety of individuals from diverse backgrounds.
• Skill in learning new methods and ways of doing work.

 The most competitive candidates will possess the following desired qualifications:

• Knowledge of basics in track maintenance and/or repair or construction.
• Experience with American Public Transportation Association (APTA), Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), American Railway Engineering and Maintenance of Way Association (AREMA) or Federal Transit Administration (FTA) standards of track repair and/or maintenance.
• Experience in a transit or freight railroad environment.

Necessary Special Requirements:

• A valid Washington State driver's license is required 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.
• Ability to obtain and maintain Hi-Rail, Aerial Lift, First-Aid/CPR, Flagger certification, forklift and confined space certifications, EIC (employee in charge) are required. Training will be provided by Rail.
• Obtain and maintain other certifications or requirements determined to be necessary to meet the business needs of the employing unit may be required.
• Working from high places on aerial structures, in mechanical lift devices, indoors and outdoors and in inclement weather.

Physical requirements
This position requires the ability to be mobile, perform heavy manual labor, exert physical effort while standing, walking for long distances, bending, crouching or lifting materials, tools and objects weighting up to 100 pounds.Application Process
Applicants should complete the online application at www.kingcounty.gov, which includes the Supplemental Questions. Please answer ALL questions in the online employment application itself, with each of your jobs listed (listing each position for each employer separately), duties explained, reasons for leaving, salary, etc. Your job history in the employment application should go back ten years (if you have ten years of employment). Earlier jobs should be included if they are relevant in some way to this job. Applicants who are unable to apply online should follow the instructions under Application FAQs at www.kingcounty.gov/jobs.

Selection Process
Applications will be screened to determine whether candidates meet minimum qualifications. Candidates presenting evidence that they meet or exceed the qualifications noted above may be invited to participate in a panel interview. Formal offers will be finalized after candidates have successfully completed any necessary pre-employment processes, which may include verifying Drug & Alcohol, Physicals, reference checks, or internal record reviews.

Union Membership: This position is represented by the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU), Local 587.
  
Class Code: 9420200
 
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.

King County's Vision, Mission, and ACTIVATE Values unite us.
King County serves residents with a relentless sense of urgency, delivering on commitments with transparency and accountability. We are action-oriented, creative problem solvers who collaborate across roles, engage directly with communities, and challenge the status quo to achieve meaningful impact. As a unified team, we uphold high ethical and stewardship standards, embrace change, stay curious, and continuously improve. Across all interactions, we listen first, act quickly, and stay aligned as a team to earn and sustain public trust. Learn more about our Vision, Mission, and ACTIVATE Values here and visit our Why work at King County page here.

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 the recruiter listed on this job announcement.

If you have specific question regarding this recruitment, please contact: Talent Advisor, Jacky Lu at [email protected].