Track Welder - Horicon, WI

Start a Watco Career and Discover the Difference

Keep the world’s supply chain moving. That’s what the Watco team does every day at our short line railroads, switching sites, terminals, ports, and logistics hubs.

Whether you’re at one of these locations or in a support-services role, there’s one thread that ties everyone together. We’re all on the same team. One Watco.

Here’s what you can expect from Watco:

• Award-winning culture recognized by Forbes and Newsweek
• Competitive compensation and benefits
• Paid on-the-job training with peer trainers
• Operations training at the Safe Performance Center in Birmingham, Alabama
• Leadership and development programs offered through Watco University
• Career advancement opportunities

The track welder position will be required to safely and efficiently connect rail joints by welding, rebuild various track components, weld and rebuild frogs, weld rail ends and perform other maintenance of way tasks. This is a manual labor position, which requires that the individual becomes proficient in the following skills, duties, and requirements within a prescribed training and introductory period.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Raises rail, using track jack, to facilitate removal of old tie and installation of new tie.
• Drills holes through rails for insertion of bolts using power drill
• Operates track-wrench machine to tighten or loosen bolts at joints that hold ends of rails together.
• Operates rail saw to cut rails to specified lengths.
• Operates portable grinder to grind worn ends of rails.
• Paints railroad signs, such as speed limits and gate-crossing warnings.
• Drives company vehicles
• Use cutting torch, wire, and stick welders
• Use Thermite Welding material to fuse rails together
• Use profile and hand grinders to create smooth surface
• Performs other duties as requested or required.
• Performs other duties that may be assigned.

Education and Experience

• High school education or general education (GED) or 3 to 6 months job-related experience; or equivalent of education and experience.
• Must be 18 years or older.
• Supervisory Responsibilities: None

Certificates and Licenses

• None initially required. However, the team member in this job must be able to pass Track Ground School, GCOR Written Test, Roadway Worker Protection Written Test, Fall Protection Written Test, Maintenance of Way Safety Written Test, MSHA/OSHA Training and Certification (if required on site).

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of and skills in using hand tools, including wrenches, sockets, screwdrivers, measuring tapes, etc.
• Knowledge of and skills in using power tools and hydraulic equipment, including portable grinders, rail saws, spike pullers, track wrench machines, power drills.
• Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out detailed, but uninvolved written or oral instructions.
• Ability to talk and hear well enough to communicate with co-workers, supervisors, yard workers, section leaders.
• Ability to see well enough to read operating and maintenance instructions, gauges and dials on precision measuring tools.
• Ability to read and comprehend safety manuals, operating and maintenance instructions, test materials, drawings, schematics, and procedure manuals.
• Ability to apply concepts of basic shop math, calculate figures and amounts such as area, circumference, length, distance, and volume.
• Ability to write legibly to complete routine reports, and complete required testing.
• Ability to acquire and maintain a valid drivers’ license to operate company vehicles.
• Familiar with track standards and how to apply.
• Able to read and apply FRA track standards.
• Pass written examinations on the safe operations of trains and maintenance of way standards.
• Familiar with roadway workers protections.
• Knowledge of the operation of small power tools and hand tools to make repairs to the track structure.

Work Environment

• The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those a team member encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.
• The team member is regularly exposed to outside weather conditions and elements, noise, and fumes from gas, oil, and grease.