Apprentice Freight Car Repair - Seattle, WA

Union Pacific • Seattle, WA

1d • Onsite

About The Position

Join Union Pacific as an apprentice in a comprehensive three-year training program to become a skilled Freight Car Repairer. The role provides hands-on experience inspecting, repairing, and rebuilding freight cars, including conducting scheduled and on-demand maintenance and repairing or replacing defective rolling-stock components. The position is in Seattle, Washington, and pays $36.36. Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States without company sponsorship and should apply only to locations where they are prepared to live and work. Most communications are electronic, so applicants should check their email, including spam folders, daily. Candidates must successfully complete an English-language assessment before proceeding to interview and pass a separate Physical Ability Test for employment consideration.

Requirements

• Basic mathematics skills.
• Valid driver's license.
• Proficient verbal and written communication skills for communicating with coworkers and supervisors.
• Experience reading and understanding instructions, such as operating and safety rules, bulletins, special instructions, and federal regulatory documents.
• Successfully complete an English-language assessment before proceeding to the interview stage.
• Successfully pass a Physical Ability Test for employment consideration.
• Be legally authorized to work in the United States without requiring company sponsorship.
• Ability to stand for more than half of the workday, with occasional opportunities to change position.
• Ability to walk frequently, maintain balance on varied surfaces, and coordinate hand movements to grasp, place, or move objects.
• Ability to push and pull objects up to 93 pounds and lift items up to 85 pounds; occasional bending, stooping, and kneeling are also required.
• Ability to climb occasionally to access cars and work vehicles.
• Ability to work at elevated heights of 18 feet or above.

Nice To Haves

• Experience operating heavy equipment, including construction machinery or farm equipment; professional, personal, and volunteer experience may qualify.
• Experience working in environments requiring personal protective equipment such as safety glasses, safety boots, hard hats, and hearing protection.
• Experience working outdoors in varying weather conditions, including professional, personal, or volunteer experience.
• Welding proficiency or a welding certificate, supported by professional, personal, or volunteer experience.
• Experience operating tools used to repair freight or passenger cars, such as 100-ton jacks, air tools, compressors, generators, welders, hydraulic equipment, or torches.
• Flexibility to work on-call, overtime, varied shifts, weekends, holidays, and potentially seven days a week.
• Willingness and ability to work in confined or small spaces.
• Ability to work safely around large equipment such as railcars, locomotives, and cranes.

Responsibilities

• Inspect freight cars for defects, wear, and damage resulting from derailments or collisions.
• Perform maintenance, including initial terminal air brake tests and pre-trip inspections.
• Repair rolling-stock structural components by fabricating, cutting, or rough-finishing metal and wood replacement parts, and assemble or fasten car parts by riveting, bolting, or welding.
• Remove and replace faulty components, including trucks, shoes, coupler assemblies, and air brake systems.
• Prepare surfaces for painting, welding, and fabrication by cleaning them and ensuring they are ready.
• Safely operate tools and equipment, including acetylene torches, hand and power tools, electric and gas welding equipment, shop machines, and vehicles.
• Communicate technical information, recommended job procedures, and other work-related information verbally and in writing to colleagues, supervisors, contractors, and customers.
• Build positive working relationships and resolve situations involving coworkers, supervisors, contractors, and customers.
• Comply with railroad safety and operating rules and regulations, including Federal Railroad Administration guidelines.
• Perform other assigned duties.

Benefits

• Ongoing learning and development.
• Educational Assistance, including little to no out-of-pocket cost for online and in-person courses at the University of Nebraska at Omaha and Metropolitan Community College.
• 401(k) retirement plan.
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan with a 20% match up to 5%.
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance, collectively bargained through union membership.
• Wellness and Employee Assistance Programs.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed