Rail MOW Maintainer Lead, Traction Power/OCS

Date Opened: Monday, January 05, 2026 12:00 AM

Close Date: Thursday, February 05, 2026 12:00 AM

Department: Charlotte Area Transit System Department

Transit & Rail Maintenance

Salary: $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

SUMMARY

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) St