
Locomotive Materials Specialist - Topeka, KS
Required skills
- basic mathematical calculations
- logistics
- shipping/receiving
- forklifts
- shop equipment
- inventory software
- Microsoft applications
- shop environment
- flexible work schedule
- auditing
Nice to have
- GE/Wabtec locomotives
- materials management
- logistics support
- technical experts
- materials experts
- customer's facility
Role summary
Wabtec is seeking a Locomotive Materials Specialist in Topeka, KS, to provide essential materials management and logistics support for GE/Wabtec locomotives at a customer's facility. This onsite role involves ensuring the availability of maintenance materials, managing inventory through cycle counts and stockouts, processing orders, and coordinating shipments. The specialist will utilize inventory software and Microsoft applications, operate forklifts, and interpret mechanical drawings. While no prior locomotive experience is required, candidates must have a background in logistics or shipping/receiving, basic math skills, and the ability to complete Wabtec's Materials Certification Training within 12 months. The position supports a 24/7 schedule with 12-hour shifts and requires physical stamina for working in a shop environment.
Don’t have experience with locomotives? That’s ok! We provide in-depth training to give our materials specialist the knowledge and expertise needed to be successful.
Who will you be working with?
As a member of the Field Services Americas team, you will be responsible for helping our customers maintain their fleet of GE/Wabtec locomotives by providing exceptional materials management and logistics support. You will be part of a team made up of Wabtec technical and materials experts, all working to ensure our customer’s fleet is running at optimal levels.
How will you make a difference?
This position works onsite at our customer's facility where you'll play a critical function in ensuring maintenance materials are always available for locomotive repairs and maintenance. Our Materials Advisors are trained subject matter experts in our parts and logistics processes. They receive world-class training and become certified in materials management for state-of-the-art locomotive engines.
What do we want to know about you?
- High school diploma / GED
- Ability to perform basic mathematical calculations
- Successful previous experience working in a logistics or shipping/receiving work environment
- Previous experience safely operating forklifts and other shop equipment
- Experience with inventory software and Microsoft applications
- Ability to complete Wabtec Materials Certification Training within prescribed time (normally 12 months from hire date)
- Experience, willingness, and ability to work in shop environment and to work various shifts on various days as required, including having a flexible work schedule to perform auditing and training on various shifts.
What will your typical day look like?
Our materials specialists work inside locomotive diesel repair shops located on our customer’s property, and work side by side with our customer, including their management teams.
This is a unique aspect to this role in that you are essentially always in front of the customer, which requires a heightened since of awareness and customer centric focus, but also enables you to see the immediate impact of your contributions on a daily basis.
This role supports 24/7 schedule coverage. Shifts are normally 12 hours in length. Routine tasks include things such as pulling material from the warehouse for shop use, conducting weekly stockouts, and performing daily cycle counts to address inventory inconsistencies. Assisting with the forecasting of material needs for inbound and in-shop locomotives, ensuring quality control processes for inbound and outbound shipments, and arranging LTL and Expedite shipments. Utilize various software programs to facilitate material ordering, receiving, shipping, and tracking, as well as interpreting mechanical drawings to identify necessary materials. Forklift operation and conducting daily shift inspections.
Run reports on various inventory metrics, process sales of material, and retrieve repair cycle assets from the shop floor. Perform general housekeeping, maintenance, and organization of the warehouse, as well as processing warranty claims and conducting daily counts of large commodity assets. Address requests from Circle of Service shops for locomotive material and assembling customer orders from stock. Coordinate physical inventory counting and fulfilling all other assigned job duties with precision.
What about the physical demands of the job?
- Standing and walking throughout the day
- Walking on hard and sometimes uneven surfaces throughout the day
- Walking up and down stairs
- Climbing on/off of locomotives
- Wearing all required personal protective gear (hardhat, steel toe boots, ear plugs, eye protection) throughout the day
- Abiding by all safety rules and requirements
- Speaking and hearing
- Typing and operating a computer
- Working overnight shifts and multiple days in a row, as required
- You may also be asked to perform other duties outside of your function or trade, for which adequate training will be provided if necessary.
Our job titles may span more than one career level. The salary range for this role is $20.00 - $30.00/hr. The actual salary offered to a candidate may be influenced by a variety of factors, such as: training, transferable skills, work experience, education, business needs, market demands, and work location. The base pay range is subject to change and may be modified in the future. More information on offered benefits, which include health, welfare, and retirement, is available at mywabtecbenefits.com.
Our job titles may span more than one career level. The salary rate for this role is currently $0-0 The actual salary offered to a candidate may be influenced by a variety of factors, such as: training, transferable skills, work experience, education, business needs, market demands and work location. The base pay range is subject to change and may be modified in the future. More information on offered benefits, which include health, welfare, and retirement, are available at mywabtecbenefits.com. Other benefit offerings for this role may include annual bonus, if eligible.
What could you accomplish in a place that puts People First?
At Wabtec, it’s not just about a job - it’s about the impact you make. When our people come together, we’re Expanding the Possible by continuously improving what we do and how we do it - for our clients and each other.
If you’re ready to revolutionize how the world moves for future generations, Wabtec is the place for you.
Who are we?
Wabtec is a leading global provider of equipment, systems, digital solutions, and value-added services for the freight and transit rail sectors. Drawing on more than 150 years of experience, we are leading the way in safety, efficiency, reliability, innovation, and productivity. Whether it’s freight, transit, ports, logistics, mining, industrial, or marine, our expertise, technologies, and people together – are accelerating the future of transportation. With roots that date back to George Westinghouse, Thomas Edison, and Louis Faiveley, Wabtec has always built technologies and implemented solutions for a variety of sectors that are critical to meeting the needs of customers and governments alike.
Our global team of about 30,000 employees worldwide delivers performance that moves the world forward. We’re lifelong learners, obsessed with better. Learn more at www.WabtecCorp.com.
Culture powers us and the possibilities.
We believe the best ideas come from a mix of experiences and backgrounds. At Wabtec, we strive every day to create a place where everyone belongs. We’re building a culture where leadership, inclusion and your unique perspective fuel progress.
We’re proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We welcome talent of all backgrounds, experiences, and identities, including race, gender, age, disability, veteran status and more.
Need accommodation? Just let us know - we’ve got you.
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