Vehicle Maintenance Engineer

Reports to: Manager of Vehicle Maintenance

Salary Range: $100,000 - $110,000

Competitive Benefits Package: Health Insurance, Dental Insurance, Paid Leaves Program, and 401K Plan.

Summary
Purple Line Transit Operators (PLTO) is a member of a private consortium (Purple Line Transit Partners) which holds a Public-Private Partnership (P3) contract with the Maryland Department of Transportation/Maryland Transit Administration (MDOT/MTA) for the design, construction, operation, maintenance, and financing of the Purple Line, a new 16 mile/21 station light rail transit line located in Montgomery County and Prince George’s County, Maryland - https://www.purplelinemd.com. PLTO’s role in the Project is for the Operations and Maintenance (O&M) of the Purple Line for a 30-year O&M Period after the service opens to the public, currently scheduled for winter 2027. Prior to this opening, PLTO is responsible for participating in system design, testing, and service start-up activities; conducting certain facilities and equipment maintenance scopes; and building the organization which will perform the O&M Period activities.

PLTO is a joint venture of two companies: Alternate Concepts, Inc (ACI) and CAF USA, Inc. (CAF). ACI is an industry leader in mass transit operations and maintenance and is the O&M provider for the only two Design-Build-Operate-and-Maintain (DBOM)/Design-Build-Finance-Operate-and-Maintain (DBFOM) transit projects in the U.S: Tren Urbano in San Juan, Puerto Rico and Eagle P3 in Denver, Colorado. CAF USA, Inc. (a division of the international Spanish railway manufacturer Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles) designs, manufactures, maintains, and supplies equipment and components for railway systems and is a certified rail maintenance organization with a presence on five continents.

PLTO is conducting this recruitment for a Vehicle Maintenance Engineer which has been identified as a key position that is needed as PLTO builds the organizational capacity to perform its 30-year O&M scope. The Purple Line fleet includes twenty-eight (28) Light Rail Vehicles (LRVs). The Vehicle Maintenance Engineer will be responsible for coordinating and directing the maintenance, alteration, and cleaning of all Purple Line LRVs including all equipment and machinery in the facilities related to these activities, in accordance with PLTO standards and requirements. The position of Vehicle Maintenance Engineer will continue from the current pre-operational phase of the Purple Line project into the 30-year O&M Period and will be part of the permanent PLTO organization.

Responsibilities:
During the pre-operational phase of the project, the Vehicle Maintenance Engineer, as part of the O&M Team, will work on various issues required to mobilize for the O&M period, as well as establish the overall vehicle maintenance work plan and procedures for the O&M Period.

Likely responsibilities prior to the start of the O&M Period include:

• Support the Manager of Vehicle Maintenance on the development of PLTO contractually required Submittals, including revisions.

• Support the development of the O&M Period LRV maintenance program and procedures.

• Review vehicle-related Design-Build Contractor Submittals, including requests for design changes, modifications, OEM documentation, or non-conformance remediations.

• Support the Manager of Vehicle Maintenance on the LRV and equipment handover from the Design-Build Contractor.

• Operate auxiliary shop vehicles for maneuvers related to unloading the LRVs in the OMF track/shop, as well as moving LRVs through the facilities as needed.

• Participate in training for LRV maintenance activities, operation of rerailing equipment and auxiliary shop vehicles, and use of special tools.

• Participate in training for operation of the LRVs and operate LRVs as needed for moves around the yard/shop and Dynamic Testing of the LRVs.

• Support the Manager of Vehicle Maintenance on the development of the electronic asset register and preventive maintenance/work order system for PLTO vehicle-related assets (Trapeze EAM), including tracking receipt of all asset manuals and materials necessary for the establishment of the LRV maintenance program.

• Other activities as required to establish a high-functioning Vehicle Maintenance Division within the O&M Organization.

During the O&M Period, the Vehicle Maintenance Engineer will:

• Assist in developing and implementing a comprehensive program to ensure that LRVs, equipment, machines, and special tools are well maintained and that all maintenance activities are carried out efficiently and safely.

• In coordination with the Manager of Vehicle Maintenance, issue work assignments to Vehicle Maintenance Supervisors and Technicians and supervise their work, assuring timely and accurate completion of required work. Verify that completed work conforms with specifications and standards.

• Analyze indicators to identify repetitive issues and participate as required in meetings with the Owner and Concessionaire about the nature of work orders. Develop and release engineering improvements and preventive maintenance campaigns.

• Analyze maintenance records, failure tendencies, statistics, and data to optimize, improve, and update the Vehicle Maintenance Plan.

• Develop engineering reports related to particular and emergency events.

• Assist in the development and management of all subcontracted maintenance services, including, but not limited to, technical assistance, vehicle cleaning, significant graffiti removal, preventive/corrective maintenance of equipment, and the installation/commissioning/testing of vehicle maintenance machinery.

• Identify opportunities and lead process improvement projects to drive cost savings.

• Foster a culture of continuous improvement.

• Provide support in response to emergencies and initiate appropriate remedial actions to support safe and efficient operations.

• Participate in preparing, monitoring, and controlling the annual operating budget for vehicles, including prioritizing resource expenditures, overtime allocation, and employee availability.

• Oversee the development and implementation of safety goals designed to support the application of vehicle management-related responsibilities as outlined in the PLTO safety documents.

• Coordinate activities with other departments.

• All other duties as assigned.

Desired Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering (BSCE, BSME, BSEE) required. Five years of progressively responsible experience related to maintenance, engineering, and supervision, including in-depth knowledge of rolling stock management. Extended work experience may be substituted for educational credentials if appropriate.

• Ability to interact constructively and establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with external stakeholders and employees at all levels of the organization.

• Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing. Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, engineering documentation, drawings, schematics, technical procedures, or governmental regulations. Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers and subcontractors.

• Ability to work with mathematical concepts such as probability and statistical inference and fundamentals of geometry and trigonometry. Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations.

• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to read and understand design drawings. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form.

• Experience in the rail after-market field/maintenance/overhaul process.

• Ability to plan, organize, and prioritize work and activities.

• Proficiency in using software applications to analyze data; prepare correspondence, reports, and presentations; and manage projects.

• Familiarity with software packages necessary for maintaining and diagnosing rail vehicle systems, including software uploads and configuration.

• Must possess a valid driver’s license.

• Willingness to work during evening, weekend, and holiday hours as needed.

• Must be available to respond to emergencies and handle trouble calls on a 24/7 basis.

Physical Demands
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to stand, walk, and sit for periods of time varying in length, walk up and down stairs, and lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.

Work Environment
Successful candidates will be expected to work in an environment where an in-office presence and frequent field visits may be required. Some travel may be required to collaborate with partners or attend trainings.

While performing the duties of this job (while in the field), the employee must be aware of his/her surroundings and may be exposed to outside weather conditions, moving mechanical systems, and building components as well as varying noise levels both within the rail maintenance yards and inside the Operations and Maintenance Facility (OMF). Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is always required while in the field and in construction zones.

Pre-Employment Qualifications
Successful candidates must be able to successfully pass a pre-employment background check; pass a pre-employment drug and alcohol screening test; be willing to comply with PLTO’s Drug and Alcohol Policy; and be eligible to work in the U.S.

PLTO reserves the right to revise this job description from time to time. The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed and are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of employees assigned to this job.

PLTO is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer. We recruit, hire, train and promote persons in all job classifications and ensure that all other personnel actions are administered without regard to race, color, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, gender, physical or mental disability, pregnancy, sexual orientation, genetic information, veteran or military status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

How to Apply:
All interested parties should submit a cover letter and resume to [email protected].