Track Welder, SEIU (Pool Posting)

Job Summary

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.

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 position requires flexibility to work off-hours, including night shifts, in accordance with seniority-based scheduling.

Application & Selection Process

This is a SEIU Local 1021 Bargaining unit position. All full-time SEIU District employees must follow the "Bid Form" process and deposit their bids in the bid box. Failure to comply may invalidate the employee's bid. As actual vacancies occur, District employees on the internal eligibility list will be considered before external candidates.

All EXTERNAL and current non-SEIU applicants must apply online at Applications must be completed in full and include all requested information, including dates of employment, positions held, hours worked, and a detailed description of duties performed.

Applicants may attach a resume to their application or bid form to provide supplemental information; however, the resume does not substitute for completing the application or bid form in its entirety. Only information included on the application or bid form and resume at the time of submission will be used to determine whether applicants meet the minimum qualifications for the position. All application and bid form materials must be submitted by the closing date and time listed on the job announcement. Applications and bid forms received after the closing deadline will not be considered.

The selection process for this position may include one or more of the following: a skills or performance demonstration, written examination, and/or panel or individual interview. External applicants will not be considered until all employees who have applied have been considered first.

All applications and bid forms will be reviewed by the Talent Acquisition Division to determine whether applicants meet the established Minimum Qualifications (MQs). Applicants who meet the MQs may be referred to the hiring department for further evaluation as part of the selection process.

The selected candidate must demonstrate a work history reflecting reliability and dependability and may be required to provide copies of certificates, diplomas, or other documentation required by law, including proof of authorization to work in the United States, and pass a pre-employment medical examination which includes a drug screen, which is specific to the essential job functions and requirements. Pre-employment processing will also include a background check. This requirement does not apply to current full-time District employees unless the position requires additional evaluations or clearances.