Combo Teardown Engineer

Company Description

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Job Description

Who will you be working with?

The Teardown Engineer is responsible for identifying the root causes of failure in returned locomotive traction motor wheelsets (combos).

How will you make a difference?

 Data collected through teardown and failure analysis is used to drive improvements in product design, manufacturing processes, quality, and overall product reliability, resulting in better outcomes for customers.

What do we want to know about you?

Qualifications/Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university in Engineering, Physics, Mathematics, or a related technical field with a minimum of 2 years of experience in Manufacturing, Maintenance, Quality, Reliability, Supply Chain, or Engineering.

OR

• Associate Degree in Engineering, Physics, Mathematics, or a related technical field with a minimum of 5 years of experience in Manufacturing, Maintenance, Quality, Reliability, Supply Chain, or Engineering.
• Demonstrated ability to apply analytical problem-solving and root cause analysis techniques in an industrial environment.
• Willingness and ability to travel up to 10% of the time.

 Desired Characteristics

• Demonstrated hands-on experience performing root cause analysis, failure analysis, and troubleshooting of defective products, rotating equipment, and/or heavy machinery.
• Customer-focused with the ability to understand customer requirements, establish priorities, and deliver timely technical solutions.
• Strong analytical and quantitative problem-solving skills, including application of statistical methods, Six Sigma, Lean, and structured root cause analysis techniques.
• Experience manufacturing, remanufacturing, maintaining, or servicing locomotive components, traction motors, wheelsets (combos), or similar heavy industrial equipment.
• Experience analyzing product performance, reliability, and quality data to identify trends, support corrective and preventive actions (CAPA), and drive sustainable improvements.
• Demonstrated understanding of quality systems and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Strong oral, written, and presentation communication skills, with the ability to effectively communicate technical findings to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and diverse activities in a fast-paced environment.
• Familiarity with manufacturing and quality tools, including PPAPs (Production Part Approval Process), SOP development, measurement system analysis, and Gage R&R studies.
• Knowledge of structured problem-solving methodologies such as 8D, A3, Fishbone Analysis, Fault Tree Analysis, or similar root cause investigation techniques.
• Experience utilizing Reliance, Proficy, eServices, i360, or other Wabtec transportation, quality, operational, or supply chain data systems.

What will your typical day look like?

As a member of the Forensics Team within the Reliability Center of Excellence (CoE), the Teardown Engineer will define, develop, and execute all aspects of the Combo analytical teardown process. This role serves as a critical link between field performance, remanufacturing operations, and quality improvement efforts by transforming failure analysis findings into actionable corrective and preventive actions. Through close engagement with shop operations, the Teardown Engineer will develop a thorough understanding of the combo remanufacturing process and leverage insights from both failure analysis and production activities to improve quality, process capability, and product reliability. As a key member of the Quality organization, this role helps strengthen quality systems and drive sustainable product and process improvements.

What Success Looks Like

The successful candidate is a self-motivated, hands-on quality professional who takes initiative, embraces challenges, and is energized by solving difficult technical problems. They build trust across all three shifts, collaborate effectively with operations teams, and are comfortable stepping into the shop daily to understand issues firsthand. They are flexible, innovative, and relentlessly focused on improving safety, quality, reliability, and customer outcomes.

Essential Responsibilities

• Ensure all teardown activities are performed in compliance with Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS) requirements.
• Prioritize, schedule, lead, and perform hands-on analytical teardowns and teardown reviews based on business criticality, customer requirements, and resource availability.
• Interact directly with customers during joint teardowns and support customer investigations.
• Provide timely and accurate technical findings to customer-facing teams through Reliance Material Returns and other communication channels.
• Analyze Combo performance data, test results, and historical quality records to supplement physical teardown evidence, identify failure trends, and determine root causes using structured problem-solving methodologies.
• Manage teardown workflow and resources to deliver timely, high-quality root cause analysis that supports rapid implementation of corrective and preventive actions while developing technical expertise in combo assemblies, components, failure modes, and remanufacturing processes.
• Collaborate with Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, and Quality teams to translate failure analysis findings into sustainable product and process improvements.
• Develop a deep understanding of shop operations and the Combo remanufacturing process to identify opportunities for improving quality, process capability, productivity, and reliability.
• Support quality improvement initiatives through the investigation of nonconformances, identification of systemic issues, and validation of corrective actions.
• Enhance electronic workflows and reporting capabilities within Reliance in partnership with the Reliance implementation team.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives by partnering with quality and operational leaders to identify, implement, and institutionalize best practices across teardown, quality, and remanufacturing processes.
• Serve as a change agent by communicating investigation results, project status, risks, and improvement opportunities while promoting a culture of quality and operational excellence.
• Mentor and provide technical guidance to team members 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.

More information on offered benefits, which include health, welfare, and retirement, is available at mywabtecbenefits.com.

Relocation assistance may be provided if eligibility requirements are met.

Wabtec will only employ those who are legally authorized to work in the U.S. for this opening. Any offer of employment is conditioned upon the successful completion of a drug screen (as applicable) and fitness for duty test (as applicable).

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Additional Information

Our job titles may span more than one career level. The salary rate for this role is currently $62100-85300 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.