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Railroad Maintenance Vehicle Operator

Full Time
$27 – $31 Per Hour
Closing on Jan 08, 2026

Location:
North Carolina, Southport
Requires Relocation:
No
Start Date:
30/12/2025
End Date:
08/01/2026
Offering Type:
Permanent
Hiring Paths:
Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL) Federal employees - Competitive service Land & base management Military spouses Veterans
Service Type:
Competitive
Travel Percentage:
Occasional travel

About U.S. Army Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command

Civilian employees serve a vital role in supporting the Army mission. They provide the skills that are not readily available in the military, but crucial to support military operations. The Army integrates the talents and skills of its military and civilian members to form a Total Army. The Army values diversity of perspectives, backgrounds, cultures and skills, which connects employees to organizations that are committed to building an inclusive work environment where they can contribute to their fullest potential. This position is located at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait. The base provides permanent support facilities for American troops in Kuwait, replacing temporary facilities that had been used since the Gulf War. It is a United States Army installation which accommodates elements of the US Air Force, US Navy, US Marine Corps and US Coast Guard. Military personnel from the United Kingdom, Australia, Romania and Poland are also forward deployed there. Camp Arifjan is located south of Kuwait City and Ali AL Salem Airbase, and west of the Shuaiba Port (Military Sea Port of Debarkation/Embarkation, or SPOD) and Kuwait Naval Base (KNB). The weather can be hot and dry with extreme heat in the summer months and mild winters. The base has three base exchanges (AAFES), many fast food restaurants on site, and 3 Military Dining Facilities (DFACs) some of which serve 4 meals daily.

Job summary

About the Position: This position serves as Railroad Maintenance Vehicle Operator, performing a variety of routine and recurring track repairs and preventative maintenance services. The 596th Transportation Surface Brigade provides surface deployment and distribution services from Military Ocean Terminal Sunny Point, Military Ocean Terminal Concord, the West Coast and Alaska, in order to project combat power and lethality and meet our nation's strategic objectives.

Major duties

Perform maintenance and repair work on standard gauge railroad tracks while operating rail maintenance vehicles and equipment. Perform maintenance tasks such as: checking and adding fuel, water, oil, and lubricants; changing belts, loses, or filters; checking for air or fluid leaks, and checking utility systems for proper operation. Spread ballast, resurfaces, and lines track as well as prepares proper elevations and super elevations in curves. Load material such as rails, ties, ballast, and tools on motor maintenance cars and trailers and unloads at work site. Cut and fill roadbed drainage, etc., by resurfacing or ballasting, removing obstructions and debris from drainage ditches, and cut weeds along right of way. Perform maintenance and repair work on angle bars, switch stands, switch points, frogs, tongue and mate switches, cross and switch ties, etc. Maintain, repair, clean, lubricate and adjust switch points. Replace worn rails, install, and adjust mechanical flange, oilers, switch point protectors, heel blocks, guard rails and related equipment on switches. Operate railroad maintenance equipment adhering to safety rules and procedures. Use hand, foot, and eye coordination in close sequence to drive and operate different railroad equipment controls at the same time.

Qualification

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 Current Department of Defense (DOD) Civilian Employee (non-Army) 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 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 Maintenance Vehicle Operator without more than normal supervision. I have the ability to perform some tasks including rail alignment of straight sections of track, tie replacement, and ballast maintenance. I can operate a tie inserter to remove or insert ties. Maintain switch stand operation, lubrication and adjustment. Perform general vehicle maintenance tasks such as: checking and adding fuel, water, oil, and lubricants; changing belts, hoses, or filters; and checking for leaks. - 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 Drive Safely (Motor Vehicles) Ability to Interpret Instructions, Specifications, etc. (Related to Mobile Equipment Operation) Ability to Operate Safely (Non-motor Vehicles) Operation of Motor Vehicles Reliability and Dependability Work Practices (Including Keeping Things Neat, Clean, and in Order) PHYSICAL EFFORT: Operator applies continuous physical effort in manipulating equipment controls with hands and feet and stretching and moving to maintain vision and observe work being accomplished. Subject to machine movement which may include jolting, jarring, lifting, lowering, and vibrating movements. Will be required to typically lift and move heavy items weighing over 50 pounds and exert efforts in moving and positioning rail components. WORKING CONDITIONS: Works in open or closed cabs or operator platforms. However, operator works outside and is exposed to a wide range of weather and temperature conditions; high noise levels; fumes and dust; and vibration from equipment operation. Any unusual environmental working condition that may arise will be compensated for under an appropriate category of the environmental pay regulation.

Evaluations

Once the announcement has closed, a review of your application package (resume, supporting documents, and responses to the questionnaire) will be used to determine whether you meet the qualification requirements listed on this announcement. Please follow all instructions carefully when applying, errors or omissions may affect your eligibility. If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and/or experience, you may lose consideration for this position. You may claim Military Spouse preference. You may claim Priority Placement Program (PPP) preference. Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP). If you are a Federal employee in the competitive service and your agency has notified you in writing that you are a displaced employee eligible for ICTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority for this position. To receive selection priority, you must: (1) meet ICTAP eligibility criteria (2) be rated well-qualified for the position and; (3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your ICTAP eligibility. To be considered well-qualified and receive selection priority applicants must satisfy all qualification requirements for the position and receive a score of 90 or above. Additional information about the program is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website.