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Job Description

Overview

Compass Rail is dedicated to providing top-tier solutions for railcar repair and transloading, offering a comprehensive range of services tailored to meet the diverse needs of clients in the rail transportation industry. The Carman Mobile Railcar Repair Technician is responsible for inspecting, diagnosing, and repairing railcars at various locations, requiring strong mechanical skills and a commitment to safety and compliance.

Responsibilities

  • Perform on-site inspection, maintenance, and repair of freight railcars, including tank cars and boxcars.
  • Inspect, test, remove, install, and repair various valves and fittings on tank cars.
  • Perform valve seat resurfacing, lapping, and leak testing using approved procedures and calibrated tools.
  • Troubleshoot mechanical problems and perform structural and running gear repairs.
  • Ensure all valve and car repairs comply with FRA, AAR, and company standards.
  • Accurately complete documentation including inspection forms, valve repair records, and regulatory compliance paperwork.
  • Operate welding and cutting equipment for structural and component repairs when required.
  • Drive and operate a service truck equipped with tools, valve kits, and repair materials.
  • Maintain proper inventory of valve parts, gaskets, seals, and specialty tools.
  • Communicate effectively with dispatchers, supervisors, and customers regarding repair status and site conditions.
  • Work outdoors in varying weather conditions and travel frequently within the assigned region.

Requirements

  • High school diploma or GED required.
  • 2+ years of experience in railcar repair, mechanical valve work, or related field preferred.
  • Familiarity with FRA and AAR regulations, particularly those related to tank car valve inspections and qualifications.
  • Experience with valve repair tools, hydrostatic testing, and documentation procedures.
  • Welding certification (FCAW, SMAW) is a plus.
  • Valid driver's license and clean driving record; CDL preferred or willingness to obtain.
  • Ability to read and interpret valve schematics, repair manuals, and safety documentation.
  • Strong attention to detail and ability to work independently.

Benefits

  • Health Insurance
  • Dental
  • Vision
  • PTO
  • 401k

Additional Information

  • Full Time - 40 hours per week, may need to work extended hours.
  • Overnight Travel is required.
  • May be required to complete up to three weeks of offsite training in Hamlet, North Carolina.

Benefits

Health Insurance
Dental
Vision
PTO
401k
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How this job compares in Chicago, IL

Pay in context

At roughly $30/hr, this posting comes in about 21% below the $38/hr median for welding jobs in Chicago, IL, where the middle half runs $30–$50/hr across 65 postings with published pay. Put another way, it pays more than about 23% of the comparable postings we have wage data for. That gap is worth raising directly — in a market this size there is normally room to negotiate toward the median, particularly if you already hold the certifications the posting asks for.

The local market in Chicago, IL

We're tracking 95 other active welding openings in Chicago, IL right now, from 54 different employers. 34 of them were added in the last week. Across Illinois as a whole we're tracking 342 other active welding openings from 206 employers. A metro this active generally means you have real leverage — employers here are competing for the same welders. Browse every welding job in Chicago, or widen the search to Illinois.

The most active employers in Illinois at the moment, by number of open welding reqs, are Gerber Collision & Glass (16), S&C Electric Company (10), and Crash Champions (9). Volume like that usually means either a genuine expansion or a staffing agency working several client sites — worth knowing which before you apply.

Within Illinois, the best-paying metros we track by median hourly rate are Chicago at $38/hr, Downers Grove at $36/hr, and Elk Grove Village at $34/hr. Chicago is among them.

What you'll be running

This posting calls for Stick and Flux-Core work. Stick (SMAW) burns a flux-coated consumable rod and needs no shielding gas, so it works in wind, rain, and on dirty or rusted steel. That tolerance for bad conditions keeps it the default for field, structural, and repair work. Flux-cored (FCAW) runs a hollow wire filled with flux, combining MIG-like deposition rates with the outdoor tolerance of stick. It is the workhorse on heavy structural steel and shipbuilding, where thick sections and long welds reward speed.

See all railroad welder openings if you want to compare this against similar roles.

Similar openings near Chicago, IL

Pay figures are medians computed from live postings in the Welding Pros index, not from survey data, and they move as employers post. Mobile Railcar Repair Technician figures were last recalculated when this page was built.