Trainer, Rail Maintenance

RTD•Rock Hill, SC

1d•$77,437 - $109,380

About The Position

This position delivers technical, safety, and compliance-based training programs for rail maintenance employees. The Trainer ensures employees acquire the knowledge, skills, and competencies needed to safely and effectively inspect, maintain, troubleshoot, repair, test, and overhaul rail vehicles, infrastructure systems, and related transit assets through classroom, field, shop, and hands-on instruction. The role emphasizes maintenance best practices, technical proficiency, safety compliance, asset reliability, regulatory adherence, and workforce readiness. The Trainer provides new-hire instruction, technical skills development, recertification programs, and training in safety procedures, equipment operation, preventive maintenance, troubleshooting, inspections, testing, repair activities, and regulatory compliance. Training supports both rolling stock and infrastructure maintenance, including rail vehicles, track, traction power, signaling, communications equipment, facilities, and other rail assets. The position evaluates performance and skills, and provides individual coaching to verify employee competency and readiness. Work includes coordinating and conducting classroom instruction, hands-on workshops, practical exercises, and field-based training at rail maintenance facilities, shops, yards, guideway environments, and other maintenance locations. The Trainer monitors trainee progress, provides feedback and counseling, and documents outcomes for qualifications, certifications, workforce development, and regulatory compliance. The position manages instructional materials and maintains attendance, certification, assessment, and completion records in the Learning Management System (LMS). The Trainer sets up and operates instructional tools, rail vehicles, maintenance equipment, testing devices, specialized tools, and classroom technology, including audiovisual systems and computers. The Trainer ensures training spaces, equipment, vehicles, infrastructure assets, and tools are safe, functional, and properly configured. The role also supports continuous improvement by standardizing maintenance training practices, documenting procedures, and promoting consistent instruction. The position collaborates with rail maintenance leaders, supervisors, technical specialists, safety personnel, and administrative partners to align training with maintenance requirements, workforce needs, safety standards, and regulatory obligations. This is a safety-sensitive position subject to RTD’s Drug and Alcohol Policy. The work is performed indoors and outdoors, is subject to weather and varying temperatures, and involves frequent local travel.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Two years of experience delivering or supporting rail maintenance training programs, including classroom instruction, simulator training, field exercises, and hands-on technical workshops.
Demonstrated experience providing operational and technical training to rail personnel on maintenance rules, signal compliance, passenger safety, emergency response, vehicle familiarization, and maintenance practices.
Experience evaluating trainee performance, conducting maintenance skill assessments and practical evaluations, and providing one-on-one coaching.
Ability to develop, prepare, and deliver training materials, course guides, and instructional content.
Knowledge of rail maintenance environments, including rail yards, maintenance facilities, tracks, stations, and supporting infrastructure.
Knowledge of adult learning principles, instructional strategies, and practices for teaching maintenance procedures, technical systems, and compliance standards in safety-sensitive transit environments.
Familiarity with local, state, and federal regulations affecting rail maintenance, training, and workforce compliance, such as FRA, FTA, DOT, OSHA, and ADA requirements.
Valid Colorado driver’s license with no more than four moving violations in the past three years and no driving-under-the-influence violation within the past five years.
Valid Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) with appropriate endorsements, typically Class B with Passenger Endorsement.
Regular and predictable attendance is required.
Equivalent combinations of education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities may be considered.

Nice To Haves

Additional coursework or training in transportation, rolling stock maintenance, infrastructure maintenance, rail technology, electrical or mechanical systems, education, or a related field.

Responsibilities

Deliver classroom, field, shop, and hands-on training for rail maintenance personnel, including new-hire instruction, technical skills development, recertifications, preventive maintenance, inspections, troubleshooting, repair procedures, and safety requirements.
Train employees on rail vehicle systems, infrastructure, equipment, tools, diagnostic technologies, and applicable regulatory requirements and standards.
Monitor trainee progress; provide coaching and counseling; and conduct performance evaluations, skill assessments, qualification reviews, and final evaluations.
Develop, prepare, and deliver course materials, instructional aids, assessments, and practical learning activities for rolling stock and infrastructure maintenance training.
Maintain accurate records of attendance, course completions, evaluations, certifications, qualifications, and regulatory compliance in the LMS and other designated systems.
Set up, test, and operate rail vehicles, maintenance equipment, diagnostic and testing devices, audiovisual systems, computers, and classroom technology.
Ensure training spaces, facilities, vehicles, infrastructure assets, equipment, and tools are safe, functional, properly configured, and ready for instruction.
Facilitate hands-on exercises, equipment demonstrations, troubleshooting, inspections, maintenance procedures, testing, and technical skills development.
Deliver instruction on safety-sensitive topics, including lockout/tagout, electrical safety, roadway worker protection, hazard recognition, PPE, equipment safety, environmental compliance, and safe maintenance practices.
Evaluate training effectiveness using feedback, performance metrics, and maintenance outcomes, and recommend improvements to learning, workforce readiness, technical proficiency, asset reliability, and compliance.
Collaborate with maintenance leaders, supervisors, technical specialists, safety personnel, and administrative partners to align training with operational needs, standards, and agency objectives.
Support process improvements that standardize training delivery and improve technical consistency and instructional effectiveness.
Coordinate logistics for training events, orientations, field exercises, equipment demonstrations, certification and qualification activities, and workshops.
Maintain a professional and supportive learning environment that promotes engagement, safety awareness, quality workmanship, continuous learning, and maintenance readiness.
Build and maintain working relationships with maintenance employees, supervisors, technical specialists, instructors, safety personnel, and administrative partners.
Stay current on rail systems, infrastructure maintenance, technologies, diagnostic practices, safety requirements, regulations, and industry best practices.
Support the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of maintenance qualification, certification, and technical skills programs.
Perform other job-related duties as assigned.