Electronic Specialist - 90411083 - Chicago
Chicago, IL, US, 60607
Your success is a train ride away!
As we move America’s workforce toward the future, Amtrak connects businesses and communities across the country. We employ more than 20,000 diverse, energetic professionals in a variety of career fields throughout the United States. The safety of our passengers, our employees, the public and our operating environment is our priority, and the success of our railroad is due to our employees.
Are you ready to join our team?
Our values of ‘Do the Right Thing, Excel Together and Put Customers First’ are at the heart of what matters most to us, and our Core Capabilities, ‘Building Trust, Accountability, Effective Communication, Customer Focus, and Proactive Safety & Security’ are what every employee needs to know and do to be most impactful at Amtrak. By living the Amtrak values, focusing on our capabilities, and actively embracing and fostering diverse ideas, backgrounds, and perspectives, together we will honor our past and make Amtrak a company of the future.
Job Summary
This role is responsible for monitoring, maintaining, and troubleshooting Amtrak’s Centralized Traffic Control (CTC) system and associated technologies, including Train Dispatch Control Systems, PTC, SCADA, and EEPs. This role ensures the reliability of local and wide-area networks, workstation equipment, visual displays, and related electronics supporting computerized dispatching and corporate systems. The Electronic Specialist serves as the primary contact for emergency dispatch operations during telecommunications failures, coordinating system restoration with internal teams and third-party providers. Additional responsibilities include system update testing, verification of functionality, and providing desktop support for local dispatch systems while collaborating with internal departments and external rail partners.
Essential Functions
- Monitor all production systems and provide immediate onsite support for any problems, this includes but is not limited to AMTEC, SCADA, PTC, and EEPS.
- Provide historical data to other departments and agencies for reporting as well as data for the development groups for troubleshooting purposes.
- Perform system administration and troubleshooting duties on the HP NonStop and Red Hat (RHEL 8) workstations.
- Install and configure and trouble shoot Igel’s and HP Thin Clients, printers, cabling and various computer and network hardware.
- Provides information, assistance, and support to the various departments within Amtrak as well as working with employees of Metra Railroad, BNSF Railroad to determine area of responsibility in the event of interruptions in data communications.
- Serves as the key contact point for preparing and providing emergency train dispatching operation in the event of a failure within the Amtrak telecommunications system and coordinates the restoration of the system and/or its outlying equipment in conjunction with other Amtrak employees and third-party telecommunications service providers.
- Assists with system update testing and verification of system and field functionality.
- Provides corporate desktop support for local dispatch systems.
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in computer science or engineering or equivalent experience.
- 4+ years of related experience.
- This position requires medical examination, criminal background check, previous employment verification, initial drug, and alcohol screening in accordance with Amtrak company policy and federal DOT regulations. Position is also subject to mandatory random, reasonable suspicion/suspicious behavior, and post-accident Drug and Alcohol testing regulations as per FRA CFR Part 219.
- This position requires successful completion of company supplied, in-house roadway worker training class and Amtrak operating rules class in order to maintain employment as per FRA CFR Part 214 and Part 218.
- Applicants will be required to qualify for the position by passing a written Electronic Specialist examination.
- Experience with Red Hat Linux, Server and Mainframe is A+
- Applicants who successfully pass the written examination will be required to complete an entrance interview.
- Possesses good communication and interpersonal skills, work well with others in an integrated team environment and must be self-sufficient.
- Exposure to the ITIL Framework for Incident Change Problem and Release Management
Specified Shifts Available
This role supports a 24/7 environment and we are seeking to hire for two shifts:
- Flow Shift
- Sunday, 6am-2:30pm,
- Mon.& Tues., 2pm-10:30pm,
- Wed., & Thurs., 10pm – 6:30am)
- (Off: Fri and Sat.)
Preferred Qualifications
- Electronic/electrical education or background.
- Microsoft, Linux or Red Hat certification
- Networking, computer hardware/software experience.
- Previous experience in Industrial Control System (ICS), SCADA, or CTC Dispatching Center.
- Previous experience using Linux/Unix operating system.
- Previous experience with Nonstop server-type system.
Communications and Interpersonal Skills
- Technical Expertise: Background in electronics, electrical systems, networking, and computer hardware/software; experience with Industrial Control Systems (ICS), SCADA, or CTC Dispatching Centers preferred.
- Operating System and Server Knowledge: Familiarity with Linux/Unix environments and Nonstop server systems.
- Communication and Collaboration Skills: Strong interpersonal and communication abilities; able to work effectively in an integrated team environment while being self-sufficient.
- Adaptability and Problem-Solving: Ability to troubleshoot complex systems and coordinate solutions across multiple platforms and stakeholders.
Physical Requirements/Environmental Conditions
- Requires on–call status
- Shift work and after-hours works is required and may be up to 16 hours per day.
The salary/hourly range is $65,500.00 – $84,888.00. Pay is based on several factors including but not limited to education, work experience, certifications, etc. Depending on an employee’s assigned worksite or location, Amtrak may consider a geo-pay differential to be applied to the employee’s base salary. Amtrak may offer additional incentive and pay programs to recognize and reward our employees, including a short-term incentive bonus based upon factors such as individual and company performance that is commensurate with the level of the position.
| Health and Wellbeing | Financial and Retirement | Work and Family Life Support |
| Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance | 401K with Employer Match | Generous Paid Time Off |
| Wellness Programs | Railroad Retirement Benefits | Paid Caregiving Days and Backup Care |
| Health Savings Account | Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness | Fertility and Family Building Benefits |
| No-cost Personal Health Advocate | Student Loan Assistance | Adoption and Surrogacy Assistance |
| Medical Plan Opt-out Credit | Tuition and Education Reimbursement | Paid Family Leave |
| Life Insurance | Rail Pass Privileges | |
| Short- and Long-term Disability Insurance | Employee Assistance Program | |
| No-cost Financial Advisor Sessions | Commuter and Flexible Spending Accounts |
Learn more about our benefits offerings here.
Requisition ID:166617
Work Arrangement:06-Onsite 4/5 Days Click here for more information about work arrangements at Amtrak.
Relocation Offered:No
Travel Requirements:Up to 25%
You power our progress through your performance.
We want your work at Amtrak to be more than a job. We want your career at Amtrak to be a fulfilling experience where you find challenging work, rewarding opportunities, respect among colleagues, and attractive compensation. Amtrak maintains a culture that values high performance and recognizes individual employee contributions.
Amtrak is committed to a safe workplace free of drugs and alcohol. All Amtrak positions requires a pre-employment background check that includes prior employment verification, a criminal history check and a pre-employment drug screen.
Candidates who test positive for marijuana will be disqualified, regardless of any state or local statute, ordinance, regulation, or other law that legalizes or decriminalizes the use or possession of marijuana, whether for medical, recreational, or other use. Amtrak's pre-employment drug testing program is administered in accordance with DOT regulations and applicable law.
In accordance with DOT regulations (49 CFR § 40.25), Amtrak is required to obtain prior drug and alcohol testing records for applicants/employees intending to perform safety-sensitive duties for covered Department of Transportation positions. If an applicant/employee refuses to provide written consent for Amtrak to obtain these records, the individual will not be permitted to perform safety-sensitive functions.
In accordance with federal law governing security checks of covered individuals for providers of public transportation (Title 6 U.S.C. §1143), Amtrak is required to screen applicants for any permanent or interim disqualifying criminal offenses.
Note that any education requirement listed above may be deemed satisfied if you have an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.
Amtrak is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race/color, to include traits historically associated with race, including but not limited to, hair texture and hairstyles such as braids, locks and twists, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth and related conditions, such as lactation), national origin/ethnicity, disability (intellectual, mental and physical), veteran status, marital status, ancestry, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, genetic information, citizenship or any other personal characteristics protected by law.
