Mechanical Field Inspector

At Greenbrier, we do the hard work that matters. The Greenbrier Companies (NYSE:GBX) is powering the movement of products around the world as a leading designer, manufacturer and supplier of freight rail transportation equipment and services.

Greenbrier’s heritage of hard work and industrial innovation is celebrated at every level of our organization. We structure our business to support teams that deliver innovative solutions for our customers while positively impacting the world around us.

Greenbrier’s success begins with people. We believe in supporting our global workforce through our unwavering attention to Safety, Quality, Respect for People and Customer Satisfaction. Our Inclusion, Diversity, Engagement, Access and Leadership (IDEAL) commitment is rooted in these values, which lead to a culture where employees are engaged and feel good about coming to work every day.

Summary

The Mechanical Field Inspector is a technical and regulatory authority responsible for ensuring freight car construction, repair, modification, and maintenance performed by contracted facilities and railroads comply with applicable AAR, DOT (FRA, PHMSA, TSA), and Transport Canada standards. The role’s primary focus is field inspection, regulatory compliance, quality assurance, and safety validation to determine fitness for service as designed.

This position partners closely with Asset Management, Commercial, and Operations teams to support repair execution, lease returns, fleet acquisitions, and customer issue resolution. While the role contributes to cost awareness and documentation, primary responsibility for cost approval and program financial management remains with Asset Management.

Duties and Responsibilities

To perform this job successfully an individual must be able to perform the following essential duties satisfactorily. Other duties may be assigned to address business needs and changing business practices.

• Perform physical inspections of freight cars at repair facilities, yards, manufacturing plants, and storage locations to determine condition, serviceability, and compliance.
• Conduct joint lease return inspections and allocate maintenance responsibility according to lease terms.
• Lead and support contract repair shop audits for regulatory and quality compliance.
• Ensure all inspected work complies with AAR, FRA, BOE 6000, AWS D15.1, and applicable Transport Canada standards.
• Support customer issue resolution related to mechanical or regulatory findings.
• As automation and digital tools evolve, this role is expected to focus increasingly on high judgment inspection activities, regulatory interpretation, and technical decision making
• Performs inspections, audits, and regulatory compliance reviews under established procedures.
• Serves as a regional or program authority; leads complex inspections, shop audits, customer escalations, and provides technical guidance to cross functional teams.
• Provide technical input to Asset Managers regarding repair scope, feasibility, and regulatory requirements.
• Support Enspire program setup by providing inspection findings, scope definitions, and technical clarification; coordinate with assigned Asset Managers to resolve technical questions.
• Support estimate and invoice review for technical accuracy and regulatory compliance, in partnership with Asset Management.
• Assist with program and lease return coordination by providing inspection findings, scope definitions, and documentation.
• Maintain inspection documentation and reports to support lifecycle decision making.

Qualifications

The following generally describes requirements to successfully perform the assigned duties.

Minimum Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required.
• 5 or more years of freight car inspection and maintenance experience.
• Thorough knowledge of AAR Field and Office Manuals and AAR Manual of Standards and Recommended Practices (Sections C–S).
• Familiarity with AAR Open Top Loading Rules.
• Strong background in freight car construction and repair shop operating practices.
• Knowledge of and ability to properly use all AAR and manufacturer gauges and measurement devices.
• Strong knowledge of freight car component reconditioning requirements.
• Experience with all freight car types, including tank cars.
• Military service with honorable discharge is a plus.
• Valid U.S. driver’s license required.
• Valid passport required; must be able to travel to Canada and Mexico without legal or other restrictions preventing entry.
• Proficiency in Microsoft 365 and web-based applications.
• Ability to comprehend and interpret industry rules and regulations.
• Ability to read and interpret blueprints and drawings related to fabrication, repair, and welding of freight cars.
• Ability to create repair estimates and project future maintenance costs.
• Proficiency in MS Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint) and ability to learn new software quickly.
• Strong work ethic; self-motivated and capable of working independently as well as collaboratively.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in both office and field settings.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Ability to track, manage, and prioritize multiple concurrent projects.

Preferred Qualifications

• Preferred: AAR Qualified Mechanical Inspector (QMI) certification or equivalent.
• Ability to work on-site at our Lake Oswego, Oregon office; remote work from other locations may be considered based on business needs.

Work Environment and Physical Requirements

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Ability to safely lift up to 35 pounds.
• Ability to work in adverse weather conditions and dress appropriately for the environment.
• Ability to perform physically demanding activities including: climbing ladders; entering tank car confined spaces through small openings; walking atop railcars at heights above 13 feet; safely operating freight car doors, hatch covers, and outlet gates; bending, crawling, balancing, and walking long distances on uneven terrain.
• Ability to work any shift, including weekends.

Physical Activities and Requirements 

Frequency Key

Not Applicable: Activity is not applicable to this occupation

Occasionally: Occupation requires this activity up to 33% of the time (0- 2.5+ hours/day)

Frequently: Occupation requires this activity from 33% - 66% of the time (2.5: 5.5+ hours/day)

Constantly: Occupation requires this activity more than 66% of the time (5.5+ hours/day)

Working Postures

• Sit: Frequently
• Stand: Frequently
• Walk: Frequently
• Bend: Frequently
• Kneel/Squat: Frequently
• Crawl: Frequently
• Climb: Frequently
• Reach Forward: Frequently
• Reach Upward: Frequently
• Handling/Fingering: Frequently

Lift / Carry Requirements                                                                  

• 5-10 lbs: Occasionally
• 10-25 lbs: Occasionally
• 25-50 lbs: Occasionally
• 50-75 lbs: Not Applicable
• 75+ lbs: Not Applicable

Push / Pull Requirements

• Up to 10 lbs: Occasionally
• 10-25 lbs: Occasionally
• 25-50 lbs: Occasionally
• 50-75 lbs: Not Applicable
• 75+ lbs: Not Applicable

EOE including Vet/Disability

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Greenbrier makes reasonable accommodations in the application and hiring process for individuals with known disabilities, unless providing accommodation would result in an undue hardship. Any applicant believing that he or she may need reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact Greenbrier Human Resources at careers@gbrx.com or call us at 503-684-7000.
 
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Email communication from The Greenbrier Companies (Greenbrier) will always come from a corporate email address that ends in @gbrx.com or from our applicant tracking system, iCIMS, after you have created a secure account and submitted your application. During the application process, you will create a secure account in our secure applicant tracking site that ends with “-gbrx.icims.com”. In this portal, we will ask you to provide your contact information, past employment history, education history and other job-related information.