Combo Teardown Engineer

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

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.

• 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.

• 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.

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.

The successful candidate is a self-motivated, hands-on quality professional who takes initiative,…