Rolling Stock Carman – Railcar Mechanical Technician

Picture your shift beginning in the yard: you review work orders, pull up the blueprint for the next freight car, and walk the car with a trained eye and practiced hands. You’ll diagnose issues by sight, sound, and touch—then bring railcars back to service through expert mechanical work, measured fabrication, and precise welding.

A day in the role

• Repair, modify, and upgrade railcars to meet AAR/FMO/FRA/TTX and customer specifications.
• Rebuild key components—bolsters, side frames, hitch heads, boxcar doors—and verify function through operational checks.
• Weld and fabricate (up to 30% of your day); cut and heat using a torch as required.
• Perform hands-on mechanical labor frequently (about 95% of the time) using hand, power, and precision measuring tools.
• Inspect equipment leveraging blueprints, specifications, and your specialized training to find root causes of issues.
• Operate a forklift to move, align, and set components into place safely.
• Measure, cut, and thread pipe; replace air lines using hand tools.
• Assemble subassemblies and major components; test to confirm proper operation.
• Restore broken parts using hand tools and welding equipment.
• Record all repair details using an electronic keyboard/data entry system.

Also part of the job

• Maintain a clean, orderly work area.
• Occasionally set up and operate metalworking tools such as welders or grinders.
• Support other tasks as assigned by your supervisor.

What success looks like

• Meeting established time standards for each job.
• Delivering work to exacting customer and industry requirements (AAR, FMO, FRA, TTX, etc.).
• Following all work rules and procedures.
• Working safely and protecting the health and safety of yourself and your team.

Tools and equipment you’ll handle

• Circular saw.
• Air impacts 1/2", 3/4", 1"; air grinders 4", 7", 9"; air or hydraulic portable power pump and ram used regularly.
• Frequent use of assorted hand tools.
• Cutting torch (frequent cutting), heating torch (regular bending), side grinder (regular grinding), hoist (regular lifting), and winch (regular pulling).

Required PPE

• Steel-toe shoes, hard hat, earplugs, safety glasses, welding shield, burning goggles, grinding shield, and proper clothing (long-sleeved shirts and long pants while welding).

Physical demands

Approximate, varies by location:

• Standing, hearing, and seeing for 8 or 10 hours; handling for 6 hours.
• Walking, stooping, kneeling, crouching, and fingering for 5 hours.
• Reaching below waist, twisting, and feeling for 2 hours.
• Sitting, climbing, balancing, crawling, reaching over head, and talking for 1 hour.
• Frequently: standing, kneeling, stretching, reaching, gripping tools or objects, and bending at the waist.
• Regularly: walking, crouching, and twisting while standing. Occasionally: sitting, crawling, and twisting while sitting for 1 hour or less.
• Lifting car parts from 1–80 lbs throughout the day (10–25 lbs frequently; 25–50 lbs regularly; over 50 lbs occasionally).
• Using wrenches up to 10 lbs to tighten bolts (occasionally – about 4 hours).
• Pulling: 10–25 lbs frequently; 25–50 lbs regularly; over 50 lbs occasionally; carrying 50–75 lbs.

Working environment

• Outdoors 8 or 10 hours/day with heat, cold/humidity; regular work at heights; occasional work around moving machinery.
• Exposure to welding/burning fumes, odors, dust, gases, and noise for up to 10 hours/day; hot temperatures regularly; cold temperatures occasionally; occasional driving of automotive equipment; regular oil/grease and vibration exposure; occasional solitary work.
• Frequent exposure to mechanical hazards (tools), electrical hazards (welders), and radiant energy (torches) up to 10 hours/day.

Schedule

• 8 to 10-hour shifts; work hours and rest days may change regularly.
• Flexible availability for shift work, nights, weekends, and holidays.
• Attendance at a mandatory 4-week training program after hire.

Reporting line

Reports to the line supervisor or work group supervisor.

Compensation

The pay rate for the Railcar Repairman position begins at $28/hour. Pay rate is determined based on Carman/Journeyman status.

Qualifications

• Mechanical aptitude and hands-on problem solving.
• Welding and cutting proficiency.
• Mental demands: intermediate decision-making/reasoning (e.g., determining when parts should be repaired); limited planning/scheduling; intermediate compiling/classifying/gathering information; intermediate short-term memory.

What you’re great at

• Heavy equipment repair; diesel and heavy equipment systems.
• Mechanical troubleshooting; equipment diagnostics.
• Pneumatics troubleshooting; maintenance and repair.
• Lift truck repair & maintenance.
• Mechanical systems and component repair.
• Automotive manufacturing, repair & service systems; aircraft maintenance exposure a plus.

About TTX

TTX Company supports North American railroads with a large pool of flatcars, boxcars, and gondolas serving intermodal, automotive, paper & forest, metals, machinery, wind energy, and more. Our Total Rewards include Paid Time Off, Health, Dental, and Vision coverage, and a 401(k) with company match. This position participates in Railroad Retirement.

How our team operates

• Injury-free workplace is our first priority.
• We develop subject matter experts and leaders at every level.
• We advance product and process innovation in railcar engineering.
• We continuously improve using modern design techniques and data analytics.
• We align daily work with the TTX mission.

Important notice

Management reserves the right to modify or adjust duties and essential functions at any time based on operational needs. The frequency of functions, tool use, physical requirements, and conditions may vary by railcar type, weather, and location-specific restrictions; all Maintenance Specialists perform the same core responsibilities.

Equal Opportunity

TTX Company is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.