Railroad Repairer

Summary

About the Position: Serves as Railroad Repairer, performing a variety of routine and recurring track repairs and preventive maintenance services. This position is located at Southport, North Carolina.

Duties

• Repair worn rails, angle bars, frogs, tongue and mate switches, cross and switch ties.
• Operate, lubricate and adjust railroad switch stands and points.
• Install, remove, space and taper railroad ties.
• Load materials (rails, ties, ballasts, and tools) on motor maintenance cars.
• Determine techniques for tie insertions, removals, tie spacing and tapering.
• Determine the tools needed and find the defects described based on the detailed instructions given which spell out area to work.
• Determine normal joint location, bolting requirements and use of rail anchors.
• Identify defects, broken rails, broken base, rotted ties, loose spikes and unlevel ballast to determine which repairs are needed.
• Use tools such as: claw bar, tamping bar, wrenching bar, crow bar and/or lining bar; track chisel; hand file; hand operated rail drill, wrench; rail tongs; tie tongs; and track punch.
• Use gasoline operated drill to drill holes in rails at prescribed points.
• Use portable power saw to cut rails to lengths.
• Use portable power grinder to smooth welded rail joints and high spots on rails.
• Maintain and repair rails/equipment to comply with safety rules and regulations.
• Maintain road beds by cutting brush, filling ballast, removing debris, resurfacing and seeding slopes.
• Wear protective gloves, hard-toe shoes, safety glasses and protective devices.
• Identify possible failures and defects in railroad ties and equipment.

Qualifications

Who May Apply: Only applicants who meet one of the employment authority categories below are eligible to apply for this job. You will be asked to identify which category or categories you meet, and to provide documents which prove you meet the category or categories you selected. See Proof of Eligibility for an extensive list of document requirements for all employment authorities. Current Department of Army Civilian Employees Domestic Defense Industrial Base/Major Range and Test Facilities Base Civilian Personnel Workforce Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act Military Spouses, under Executive Order (E.O.) 13473 People with Disabilities, Schedule A Priority Placement Program, DoD Military Reserve (MR) and National Guard (NG) Technician Eligible Priority Placement Program, DoD Military Spouse Preference (MSP) Eligible Priority Placement Program, DoD MR and NG Preference Eligible Tech Receiving Disability Retirement Priority Placement Program, DoD Retained Grade Preference Eligible Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA) of 1998 Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student; social). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. There is no specific length of training or experience required. However, you must be able to demonstrate, through experience shown in your written application materials that you possess the sufficient knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the work of this position without more than normal supervision. Minimum Qualifications (Screen Out Element): Ability to do the work of an Railroad Repairer without more than normal supervision. I have the ability to perform the most difficult and complex tasks which include performing maintenance, repair, and preventive-maintenance services on standard-gauge railroad track and related railroad equipment; replacing worn rails, angle bars, switch stands, points, frogs, tongue and mate switches, cross ties, and switch ties; and maintaining, repairing, cleaning, lubricating, and adjusting switch points. I am considered an expert in installing and adjusting mechanical flanges, oilers, spring switches, and related switch equipment; using railroad hand and power tools, including tongs, bell hammers, spike hammers, wrenches, power drills, power saws, grinders, air hammers, and pneumatic jacks; repairing rail, ties, ballast, roadbeds, trestles, bridges, and highway-crossing signal components; responding to derailments; and operating and performing driver maintenance on trucks and motor maintenance cars. I work with a high degree of independence. - Failure to meet this Screen Out Element will result in an ineligible rating. Ability to Do the Work of the Position without More Than Normal Supervision Ability to Interpret Instructions, Specifications, etc. (Other Than Blueprint Reading) Ability to Use and Maintain Tools and Equipment Dexterity and Safety Work Practices (Including Keeping Things Neat, Clean, and in Order) Physical Effort: Grade 5 railroad repairers perform extremely strenuous work for long periods. For example, they frequently lift and carry tools and equipment weighing over 36 kilograms (80 pounds) or exert comparable effort in moving and positioning railroad track components. Their work involves frequent or continuous bending, reaching, pushing, kneeling, lifting, and similar body and limb movement. Working Conditions: Grade 5 railroad repairers typically work outside, often in seasonal temperature and weather extremes and are subject to the following conditions: loud machinery noises; possible burns from hot equipment; fumes from creosote, insect sprays, and smoke; falls from hazardous footing; dirt, cuts, and grease or oil; insect bites; and possible injuries from handling equipment. They may wear protective gloves, hard-toe shoes, safety glasses, and similar protective devices, some of which may be uncomfortable and worn for long periods.

How to apply

To apply for this position, you must complete the online questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section above. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 09/28/2026 to receive consideration. To begin, click Apply to access the online application. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account to apply. If you do not have a USAJOBS account, you will need to create one before beginning the application (https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13058250). Follow the prompts to select your resume and/or other supporting documents to be included with your application package. As a reminder, your resume must be two pages or less and must support the specialized experience described in this announcement. Resumes exceeding two pages will be removed from consideration. For additional information, refer to the 'Required Documents' section. You will have the opportunity to upload additional documents to include in your application before it is submitted. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process. After acknowledging you have reviewed your application package, complete the Include Personal Information section as you deem appropriate and click to continue with the application process. You will be taken to the online application which you must complete in order to apply for the position. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation is included with your application package, and submit the application. Your resume selected in USAJOBS will be included, but you must re-select other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application may be incomplete. It is your responsibility to verify that your application package (resume, supporting documents, and responses to the questionnaire) is complete, accurate, and submitted by the closing date. Uploaded documents may take up to one hour to clear the virus scan. Additional information on how to complete the online application process and submit your online application may be found on the USA Staffing Applicant Resource Center. To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account (https://www.usajobs.gov/applicant/profile/dashboard/), all of your applications will appear on the Welcome screen. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://help.usajobs.gov/how-to/application/status.