Signal Trainee

Responsibilities

The Signal Trainee is an employee in training to qualify for the position of Signal Repairman I. Each Trainee will participate in a program for a two (2) year duration consisting of formal classroom training and on-the-job training, including quarterly rotating tours on each shift and at various locations throughout PATH. Under the direct supervision of the Signal Supervisor and Signal Repairmen, the Signal Trainee performs semi-skilled duties assisting in the installation, construction, test, maintenance, and repair of signal system apparatus and facilities. Signal Trainees are subject to FRA Hours of Service regulations.

This position is a regulated Maintenance-of-Way position as defined in Part 219 of Title 49 of the CFR and is subject to that regulation’s Drug & Alcohol testing requirements, which may include pre-employment, random, post-accident/incident, and reasonable suspicion testing. DOT Regulations do not allow for the use of medical or recreational marijuana.

NOTE: The foregoing is not exclusive and is not meant to describe all those duties that may be assigned to a Signal Trainee pursuant to the agreement between PATH and the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen (BRS).

NOTE: While successfully participating in the Signal Training Program, the incumbent will not be considered for transfer to any other position, craft, or Division within PATH.

Location for Training and Work:

Training Location: Classroom training will take place at PATH McMillan Signal Training Center – Jersey City NJ,

On-the-Job Training and work tours can be at any of the places: PATH Signal Shop – Jersey City NJ , Newark Penn Station – Newark NJ , Dock Bridge – Newark NJ, Journal Square Transportation Center - Jersey City NJ, Journal Square Station - Jersey City NJ, Harrison Station – Harrison NJ, Harrison Yard – Harrison NJ, Hack Bridge – Jersey City NJ, Newport Station – Jersey City NJ, Grove Street Station – Jersey City NJ, Exchange Place Station - Jersey City NJ, Hoboken Station – Hoboken NJ, 33rd Street Station NYC, 23rd Street Station – NYC, 14th Street Station – NY, Christopher Street Station – NYC, World Trade Center Station – NYC, You can also be working in the track area in any of these locations and in the tunnels.

Qualifications

Candidates must present the following qualifications to be considered eligible for this position:

• Education: Associate degree or higher, or successful completion of vocational/technical program, in the electrical, electronics, computer, or communications resulting in a high school or equivalency diploma/ certification is required.

• Experience: Minimum one (1) year full-time paid work experience* performing semi-skilled duties in the installation, testing, maintenance, servicing, and/or repair of electrical/mechanical equipment or comparable maintenance or construction experience. Substantial relevant work experience may be considered in lieu of an associate’s degree or higher.

• Physical Requirements: Candidates must have the physical ability to lift and carry heavy tools and material, climb and work at heights, and have unrestricted sense of sight, smell, and hearing. Color acuity is necessary to correctly identify signal aspects, especially an ability to distinguish basic colors such as red, yellow and green.

• License: Valid driver’s license required.

How This Position Will Be Filled:

Written Examination: The written exam is designed to measure knowledge of such factors as reading comprehension, mechanical reasoning, basic math skills, and electrical aptitude.

Interview: The interview will consist of technical questions designed to measure such factors as job-related knowledge, skills, and abilities; interest and personal qualifications for the position.

Training Course & Practical Examination: Candidates who are selected will be enrolled in and must successfully complete the Signal Training Program, including a practical examination in the field.

This course is designed to instruct and measure the candidate’s practical knowledge of, and ability to perform, both the skilled and physical components of the Signal Repairman I duties.

Note: Candidates who successfully pass all phases of this evaluation will be eligible for promotion to a permanent Signal Repairman I position as a vacancy becomes available and is to be filled at PATH’s discretion. Successful candidates are not permitted to move out of the Signals Department for a period of 2 years following the completion of the Signal Trainee Program.

Test Date & Location: The Interview is to be determined for those candidates who qualify on the Written Test. Accepted candidates will be notified of the time, date and location of the test.

Compensation & Benefits

The Signal Trainee title will be covered by the provisions of the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen (BRS) Memorandum of Agreement.

Starting Salary: $37.78 hourly rate. This salary is non-negotiable, subjected to union negotiations.

About PATH:

The Port Authority Trans Hudson Corporation (PATH), an FRA-regulated commuter railroad, is the primary transit link between Manhattan and New Jersey communities and suburban commuter railroads. Carrying over 75 million passengers per year, PATH trains run 24 hours a day, seven days a week, one of the few 24-hour systems in the world. Since the early 20th Century, PATH and its predecessor, the Hudson & Manhattan Railroad, have carried passengers between New Jersey and points in Midtown and Lower Manhattan, serving as a key link in the region's transportation network and as a catalyst for continued residential, commercial and employment growth.

PATH operates 24 hours per day/7 days per week/365 days per year. Employees are required to work weekends, holidays, atypical hours (evening and midnight shifts) and during inclement weather conditions. Incumbents may be subjected to mandatory overtime at the beginning or end of their scheduled tour, or on their days off. A union seniority system dictates work schedules for jobs represented by one of PATH’s unions, and time off may not be immediately available during the usual summer and holiday periods. Working conditions will be challenging, including but not limited to inclement weather, direct contact with the public, in tunnel and outside areas during active train service, and an industrial environment. Commitment to attendance is expected and require

PATH operates under a strict and enforced drug and alcohol-free environment. Employees are subject to drug and alcohol testing, including but not limited to pre-employment testing, reasonable suspicion testing and federally mandated random testing for certain titles. A violation of PATH’s rules prohibiting use, possession or influence of drugs and alcohol while on the job is a terminable offense.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The Port Authority of New York & New Jersey/Port Authority Trans-Hudson (PATH) is an Equal Opportunity Employer.