Railroad Engineer job description

This post includes 3 parts: duties list, job qualification and job description writing tips for Railroad Engineer in details. A complete job description concludes Railroad Engineer key duties/responsibilities, Railroad Engineer job qualifications (knowledge, education, skills, abilities, experience…KSA model) and other ones such as daily tasks, key activities, key/core competencies, job functions/purpose…

I. List of Railroad Engineer duties:

1.      Analyze requirements for railroad signal operating changes and improvements to wayside and/or highway grade crossing systems for assigned projects.

2.      Accurately and efficiently complete railroad signal plan design changes.

3.      Assist project leader with project organization, insuring that all work has been completed for a project within the allotted schedule.

4.      Assist project leaders by verifying that all appropriate calculations have been completed for signal plan design within the project scope.

5.      Review and verify that work completed meets criteria for design and CAD requirements as identified in the client''s design standards and Quality process.

6.      Assist in coordination of project submittals

II. List of Railroad Engineer qualifications

1. Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering or equivalent rail experience
2. 10+ years’ experience in railroad engineering/projects
3. PE
4. Intermodal Facilities Experience required
5. Experience using rail design and CADD software
6. Must be able to work both independently and in a team setting
7. MS Office software experience
8. Excellent oral and written communication skills
9. Knowledge of AREMA design criteria, FRA regulations and AAR best practices
10. Experience with freight railroad design standards, methods and practices desired

III. Tips to write job description

1. Too-long job description:

Looking at a too-long job description can frighten the candidates off and drive the away. A job description, no matter how important the job is, should not be included in more than 3 pages. If one focuses on too many things at a time, he shall definitely lose focus on the main items and get overwhelmed by the remaining; So, keep it concisely.

2. Too-short job description:

While too-long can be a problem, too-short is more a problem. It will ruin the meaning of the job description. A too-short one means it lacks necessary details and therefore, the candidate will not be able to understand while reading it.

3. Listing unnecessary functions or job duties:

Just classifying these into the “others” category will save you a lot of effort and space. On the other hand, the job description will become more dilute and easy to be neglected.

4. Key functions

Not listing key functions as required for the job can be a fatal mistake to a job description.

5. Grammar and spelling

Poor grammar and having spelling errors can ruin the job description, too. Never think that as you are the employer, you may have the right to make grammar or spelling errors while requires other not to. A job description with such errors is easily to be mistaken as a fake or ghost ads; as a result, the candidate will turn away from it.

6. Not specific enough:

Be specific and concise; if you don’t address the specific, then what the job description is for. It is for the candidate to understand just exactly what he needs to do or needs to have. Lacking details can confuse the candidates very well.

7. Not having the job description reviewed by others:

This is also a common mistake. One may be subject to bias, but more than one, especially with the help of those external advisor, the job description can be more perfect.

8. Using buzzwords or abbreviations:

In fact, it is not necessary at all to use such in a job description.

9. Using slang or legal words:

Just use common wording to communicate with others and don’t do anything extraordinarily.

10. Not updating the job description:

The same job may require different duties and responsibilities in different times, so, you cannot use the same job description for 2 different times.