Track Welder - External (Pool)

Marketing Statement

Ride BART to a satisfying career that lets you both: 1) make a difference to Bay Area residents, and 2) enjoy excellent pay, benefits, and employment stability. BART is looking for people who like to be challenged, work in a fast-paced environment, and have a passion for connecting riders to work, school and other places they need to go. BART offers a competitive salary, comprehensive health benefits, paid time off, and the CalPERS retirement program.

Job Summary

Pay Rate

Step 76 ($42.72/hourly) - Step 99 ($55.84/hourly) (SEIU Pay Band-301)

Reports To

Section Manager or designee

This job announcement will be used to establish a pool of eligible candidates for vacancies that may occur within the next twelve (12) months.

The San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART) is seeking a highly skilled and safety-focused Track Welder to support the maintenance, renewal, and modernization of the District's rail infrastructure. This position plays a critical role in ensuring the safety, reliability, and longevity of BART's track system, which is fundamental to delivering safe and dependable service to the Bay Area.

Under general supervision, the Track Welder performs specialized welding and fabrication work on rail, track components, and related structures throughout the BART system. The incumbent supports critical maintenance and capital improvement programs, including rail replacement, defect remediation, and infrastructure reinvestment projects. Work is performed in active rail environments and requires strict adherence to safety protocols, technical standards, and operational procedures.

Current priorities for this assignment include supporting systemwide rail replacement and rehabilitation efforts, addressing rail defects through high-quality welds and repairs, and contributing to preventive maintenance strategies that reduce service disruptions. The Track Welder will work closely with Track Maintenance, Engineering, and Operations staff to ensure welding work meets District standards, regulatory requirements, and industry best practices.

Key responsibilities and focus areas include:

• Performing thermite, electric arc, and other specialized welding processes on rail and track components.
• Supporting rail replacement, rail grinding preparation, and defect repair initiatives.
• Ensuring all welding work complies with BART standards, safety rules, and applicable federal and state regulations.
• Inspecting welded joints and track components to verify quality, integrity, and service readiness.
• Operating welding equipment, tools, and vehicles safely in rail right-of-way environments.
• Responding to emergency track conditions and performing time-sensitive repairs to restore service safely.
• Collaborating with supervisors, inspectors, and other skilled trades to meet maintenance and construction schedules.

The most qualified candidates for this position will have highly developed competencies in the following area, which will be reinforced with related work experience and will be clearly articulated during the selection process:

• Rail Welding Expertise: Demonstrated proficiency in thermite welding, electric arc welding, and other rail welding techniques used in transit or heavy industrial environments.
• Safety & Regulatory Compliance: Strong understanding of rail safety practices, lockout/tagout procedures, and applicable federal, state, and local safety regulations.
• Technical Precision & Quality Control: Proven ability to produce high-quality welds, inspect finished work, and identify defects or corrective actions.
• Operational Awareness: Experience working in active rail or right-of-way environments while coordinating effectively with operations and maintenance teams.
• Problem-Solving Skills: Ability to assess track conditions, troubleshoot welding issues, and perform corrective repairs under time-sensitive conditions.
• Equipment & Tool Proficiency: Skilled in the safe operation, maintenance, and setup of welding equipment, tools, and support vehicles.
• Reliability & Teamwork: Demonstrated dependability, adaptability to shift work or emergency callouts, and the ability to work collaboratively in a safety-critical environment.

This is a SEIU Local 1021 Bargaining unit position. However, all SEIU members must follow the "Bid Form Process", failure to comply will invalidate an employee's application.

The Talent Acquisition Division will screen bids/applications/resumes against the minimum qualifications. Those candidates who meet the minimum qualifications will be referred to the hiring department for further consideration. The selection process may involve a skills/performance test, written exam, and/or a panel interview. Outside applicants will not be considered until all employees who have applied have been considered first.

All applicants are asked to complete the application and/or bid form in full, indicating dates of employment, all positions held, hours worked, and a full description of duties. Online applicants are invited to electronically attach a resume to the application form to provide supplemental information, but should not consider the resume a substitute for the Bid or application form.

The selection process will include a screening for minimum qualifications as listed in this posting and may additionally involve a skills/performance test, written exam, and/or a panel interview. Outside applicants will not be considered until all employees who have applied have been considered first.

1. Performs precision arc, exothermic and oxyacetylene welding on such track elements as switch points; frogs and rails, including the power-carrying third rail.
   
   
2. Grinds and smoothes finished welds and rough or out-of-alignment rail locations to precision tolerances, using hand and machine grinders.
   
3. Reads diagrams and prints and discusses work to be performed with the supervisor or foreworker.
   
4. Determines necessary approach, tools and equipment and loads them on a vehicle for transportation to the work site.
   
5. Operates both on and off track equipment to reach the job location.
   
6. Prepares surfaces to be welded by cutting, chipping, shaping and sanding.
   
7. Uses precision measuring devices to determine measurements.
   
8. Layouts and fabricates appropriate parts for field placement.
   
9. Sets up rigging to move heavy objects in preparation for welding.
   
10. Uses an overhead or mobile crane, forklift and other equipment and vehicles as required to complete work.
    
11. Completes records of work performed and materials used.
    
12. Reports the need for additional maintenance to the foreworker.
    
13. Maintains a supply of welding gasses, rods, tools and safety equipment and notifies supervisor of the need for replacements as needed.
    
14. Performs the work of a Track Equipment Operator as required.

Education:
Possession of a high school diploma, GED or recognized equivalent.

Experience:
Two (2) years of (full-time equivalent) verifiable experience in welding of track, rails and their appurtenances; or journey level general welding experience which includes experience in welding frogs, exothermic welding of rails .

Other Requirements:
Must possess and maintain a valid California Class A driver's license and have a satisfactory driving record.
Must be able to obtain and maintain District certification for the operation of high-rail vehicles.
Must have the physical ability to lift and carry various materials and equipment weighing up to 50 pounds for 100 yards or more.
Must have physical mobility to walk, climb, stoop, bend, crawl, twist, work in confined spaces, work underground, and heights up to 60 ft. and walk on uneven surfaces.
Must climb and work from ladders.
Must be able to perform strenuous labor both indoors and outdoors in all types of weather.
Must wear a respirator and work in dusty environment subject to various fumes and noise levels in the proximity of live voltage.
Must have physical capability to climb in and out of vehicles with steps up to 25" from the ground in close clearances.
Must be willing to work off-hours shifts.

Knowledge of:

• Methods and techniques of arc and oxyacetylene welding, particularly as applied to field situations.
• Types of welding rods and materials and their applications.
• Types of welding gasses and mixtures.
• Storage and handling requirements of various types of welding rods.
• Safety practices pertaining to the work, including the use of eye, respiratory and hand protection.

• Performing field welding of track, rails and their appurtenances.
• Preparing surfaces to achieve effective welds.
• Grinding, smoothing and finishing welded or other metal surfaces.
• Treating and tempering metals.
• Fabricating parts to effect field welding repairs.
• Using precision measuring devices accurately.
• Reading and interpreting diagrams, blueprints, written instructions and welding symbols.
• Working independently or in a crew situation.
• Keeping basic written records of work performed.
• Operating and maintaining equipment and vehicles as required to perform work.

Equal Employment OpportunityGroupBox1

The San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants shall not be discriminated against because of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age (40 and above), religion, national origin (including language use restrictions), disability (mental and physical, including HIV and AIDS), ancestry, marital status, military status, veteran status, medical condition (cancer/genetic characteristics and information), or any protected category prohibited by local, state or federal laws.

The BART Human Resources Department will make reasonable efforts in the examination process to accommodate persons with disabilities or for religious reasons. Please advise the Human Resources Department of any special needs in advance of the examination by emailing at least 5 days before your examination date at employment@bart.gov.

Qualified veterans may be eligible to obtain additional veteran's credit in the selection process for this recruitment (effective Jan. 1, 2013). To obtain the credit, veterans must attach to the application a DD214 discharge document or proof of disability and complete/submit the Veteran's Preference Application no later than the closing date of the posting. For more information about this credit please go to the Veteran's Preference Policy and Application link at www.bart.gov/jobs.