Job Description

Date Opened: Monday, April 06, 2026 12:00 AMClose Date: Tuesday, May 05, 2026 12:00 AMDepartment: Charlotte Area Transit System DepartmentTransit & Rail MaintenanceSalary: $31.96 - $39.95 Commensurate with Experience

Welcome to the City of Charlotte

Charlotte is America’s Queen City, opening her arms to a diverse and inclusive community of residents, businesses and visitors alike. Here you will find a safe, family-oriented city where people work together to help everyone thrive. The mission of the City of Charlotte is to deliver quality public services and promote the safety, health, and quality of life for all residents.

Our guiding principles include:

• Attracting and retaining a skilled and diverse workforce

• Valuing teamwork, openness, accountability, productivity, and employee development

• Providing all customers with courteous, responsive, accessible, and seamless quality services

• Taking initiative to identify, analyze, and solve problems

• Collaborating with stakeholders to make informed decisions

The Traction Power Technician Lead will be responsible for leading a group of technicians in the absence of other supervision and leading the group to perform complex and specialized troubleshooting, preventive and corrective maintenance, and repairs of traction power substations and overhead contact system and their associated sub-systems. The traction power equipment includes, but is not limited to, high voltage AC/DC switch gear, rectifiers, transformers, breakers, and active disconnect devices and interlocks. The overhead contact system includes, but is not limited to aerial 500mcm wires tensioned at 3000lbs and associated hardware such as poles, fasteners, hangers, arms, insulators, disconnect switches, feeder cables, trolley frogs, and gliders. The Traction Power Technician Lead will provide emergency response and will be called upon to provide support for other areas in regards to light rail service, special events, trolley, and public safety and service. This position will require working on a rotating on call basis in addition to being subject to being called in at any time 24/7. The Traction Power Technician Lead must comply with all safety regulations set forth by CATS, OSHA, FTA, FRA, and NCDOT as they apply to CATS Light Rail System.

Must be available to work various shifts; holidays, nights and weekends.

Special Pay:

This position is eligible for a shift differential. Employees regularly assigned to 2nd or 3rd shifts will be eligible to receive a 2.5% premium added to their base weekly pay.

This position is a CDL eligible position. Employees working in a CDL eligible position with a valid Commercial Driver's License are eligible to receive a 2.5% premium added to their base weekly pay.

Major Duties and Responsibilities:

• Works with and leads other members of the Maintenance of Way workforce and all related vocations to provide safe and reliable equipment for daily revenue service.

• Responds to rail system emergencies that involve major service delays and/or serious equipment failures. Renders whatever remedial actions are needed to restore revenue services.

• Ensures that technicians follow and adhere to all Maintenance of Way standards, policies and procedures applicable to the day-to-day operations of revenue service, complies with and enforces all safety recommendations/regulations set forth by CATS, FRA, OSHA, IEEE, FTA, and NCDOT.

• Leads efforts in generating comprehensive operational and maintenance procedures that ensure accurate, complete technical guidance and safety to employees and equipment.

• Utilizes computer based maintenance and material management system. Assists in training and mentoring of other MOW personnel.

• Exhibits professional conduct while working cohesively with other CATS and other City departments, as well as contractors and utility companies. Will respond to accidents, train control related issues along the alignment, rail system emergencies and provide any needed support for maintenance of way needs.

• Direct shifts on an as-needed basis, working any shift as needed, and performing other duties as required.

• Completes other duties as assigned.

• As part of your responsibility to support the CATS Safety Culture, report safety concerns and issues through the various methods established by CATS as outlined in the ASP.

• Directly support continuous implementation and compliance of the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) State Safety Oversight Program Standards (SSOPS) and Federal Transit Administration (FTA) regulations 49 CFR Part 673 and 672 related to the Safety Management System (SMS) and the CATS Agency Safety Plan (ASP). Support Safety performance goals of CATS.

• Encourage employees to proactively support and report safety concerns following the CATS Safety Reporting options as described in your training and in the ASP.

• Advocate and promote a strong safety culture within CATS with regard to transportation services, capital programs, facility operations and maintenance, worksite procedures, employees, and customers following SMS and ASP.

• Participate in internal and external ASP audits.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• This position requires decision-making, leadership, accountability, problem solving, and monitoring of processes, work assignments and material usage. Individual will give input that contributes to performance evaluations of employees to supervisor.

• Requires knowledge of FRA and APTA regulations and standards

• Successful completion of CATS MOW inspection, testing and maintenance training and qualification program

• Ability to formulate ideas and communicate them clearly, in an oral, written and concise manner to various levels of management, staff and customers.

• Proficient using Microsoft Office Word and Outlook.

• Must be detail oriented, efficient and able to work independently, taking the lead on certain assigned projects.

• Must have a pleasant manner and the ability to work well with all staff members and the general public.

• Excellent organizational skills with the ability to multitask in a diverse environment and work with minimal supervision are essential.

• Capability to learn new tasks and to provide support to other staff members.

• Good interpersonal skills

• Capable of working extra hours whenever necessary

• Ability to lift and carry up to 100 pounds

• Ability to walk, stand, stoop, bend, kneel, and crouch for extended periods of time

Minimum Qualifications:

• High school diploma/GED with five (5) years of experience or an associate degree with three (3) years of experience

• Certificate in electrical engineering or electrical technology from an accredited technical school or proof of completion of electrical / high voltage / lineman training schools.

• Required experience to include repairing and maintaining high voltage electrical systems including overhead power lines under tension.

• A valid North Carolina Commercial Driver's License Class B is required

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

The City’s Background Check Policy requires background checks to be conducted on final internal or external candidate(s) applying for any position with the City of Charlotte. The type of information that will be collected as part of a background check includes, but is not limited to: reference checks, social security verification, education verification, criminal conviction record check, and, if applicable, a credit history check, sex offender registry and motor vehicle records check.

Background checks must be in compliance with all federal and state statutes, such as the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). The checks must be consistent with the guidelines set forth by these laws requiring organizations to obtain a candidate’s written authorization before obtaining a criminal background report, motor vehicle records check or credit report; and to properly store and dispose of information derived from such reports.

Final candidates must pass a pre-employment drug-screening test and physical examination. During the selection process, candidates may be asked to take a skills test, and/or participate in other assessments.

The City of Charlotte is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, national origin, marital status, age, disability, sexual orientation, political affiliation or on the basis of actual or perceived gender as expressed through dress, appearance, or behavior.

Our culture is to serve the community honorably.

HOW TO APPLY

Apply online.

Federal law requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. Please tell us if you require a reasonable accommodation to apply for a job.

You are welcome to visit the City of Charlotte Human Resources Department lobby, where self-service application kiosks are available. They are located in our office at 700 East 4th Street, Suite 200, Charlotte, NC 28202. We are open Monday through Friday, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (EST), excluding official City holidays.

For questions about your application or the hiring process, please email Careers@ci.charlotte.nc.us

The City of Charlotte is committed to making our services and programs accessible to all. Upon request, auxiliary aids, written materials in alternate formats, language access, and other reasonable accommodations or modifications will be provided. To make a request, please fill out the Innovation & Technology ADA request form or call 704.336.4120.

BENEFITS

The City of Charlotte provides a comprehensive benefits package to eligible employees.

Click hereto learn more about the City of Charlotte’s benefits.

The City of Charlotte is a drug and alcohol-free workplace.