The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA or "the agency") connects San Franciscans with their communities to enhance the economy, environment and, ultimately, the quality of life in the city. As an agency within the City and County of San Francisco, the SFMTA is responsible for managing the city's transportation network.?The agency has more than 6,000 employees who are responsible for the management of all ground and some underground transportation in the city. The SFMTA has oversight over public transit, as well as bicycling, paratransit,?parking and curb management, street operations, walking, and taxis.
APPOINTMENT TYPE:?Permanent Exempt (https://careers.sf.gov/knowledge/role-@types/) .?Permanent-Exempt (PEX) Appointment.? Pursuant to the City & County of San Francisco Charter, Section 10.104.13, any person occupying a position under exempt appointment shall not be subject to civil service selection, appointment and removal procedures.? Exempt employees shall serve at the pleasure of the Appointing Officer.?
Application Opening: Tuesday, November 25, 2025
Deadline to Apply: Application filing will close on or after Wednesday, December 10, 2025
Recruitment ID: PEX-9180-162226
Salary: $180,440 - $230,308 annually (Range A) (https://careers.sf.gov/classifications/?classCode=9180)
Division: Transit
Section/Unit: Maintenance of Way (MOW)
Work Location: 700 Pennsylvania Ave, San Francisco, CA 94107, USA
Work Hours: Monday - Friday, 7AM - 4PM
??IMPORTANT??: Your application MUST include responses to the supplemental questionnaire found here: forms.office.com/r/YBpRdTQUS5
Applicants must complete the supplemental questionnaire and the online application by the filing deadline. A cover letter and resume must be attached to the online application. The application, resume, and cover letter will not be reviewed without a completed supplemental questionnaire and vice versa.
The SFMTA Transit Division's Maintenance of Way (MOW) Section is seeking a Senior Operations Manager, Mechanical Infrastructure (Mechanical Infrastructure SOM). This role will oversee and manage the work of four mechanical and infrastructure-related units within MOW, including: Cable Car Propulsion, Cable Car Track Maintenance, Mechanical Systems, and Light Rail Vehicle (LRV) Track Maintenance. The role encompasses the leadership of over 100 maintenance personnel across various classifications, with an emphasis on ensuring high-quality infrastructure in support of SFMTA Muni operations. The ideal candidate is highly self-motivated and professional, with extensive experience managing complex maintenance programs within a transit or similarly scaled operational environment.
Under the direction of the Deputy Chief Maintenance Officer (DCMO), the Mechanical Infrastructure SOM plans, manages, supervises, and leads the execution of essential maintenance and repair activities involving mechanical systems and infrastructure that support the City's transit operations.
This position is responsible for implementing and overseeing preventive and corrective maintenance programs, ensuring compliance with Standard Operating Procedures and regulatory requirements, and guiding staff in resolving technical and emergency maintenance challenges. The Mechanical Infrastructure SOM works closely with engineering and project delivery teams on capital projects related to mechanical infrastructure including design review and operational readiness support. The position may also serve as a delegate for the DCMO when required.
The MOW section of the SFMTA Transit Division directly oversees the fixed guideway infrastructure, ensuring smooth and safe operations of our rail and trolley-bus lines. MOW is comprised of three maintenance and operation units: Mechanical Infrastructure, Electrical Infrastructure, Facilities Maintenance as well as Engineering, Compliance and Administration units. Together these teams directly support four of the five SFMTA transit modes including trolley bus, light rail, historic streetcar and cable car. The MOW section works collaboratively with other SFMTA divisions and other city departments to provide services to our customers by operating and maintaining over 100 track miles of railway, 500 miles of electrical overhead and critical supporting systems.
Transportation connects us all. That's why every single day the SFMTA is working hard to build a safer, more reliable transportation system for our city. We strive to ensure that our community, and the nearly 25 million visitors that our city receives each year, have access to safe and reliable transportation options. Join us to be a part of delivering this mission!
Examples of Important and Essential Duties for the?9180-Manager VI:
Oversees all day-to-day Maintenance of Way mechanical infrastructure functions.
Provides direction to subordinate managers on operations, maintenance priorities, and performance improvement efforts within mechanical infrastructure teams.
Plans, assigns, and oversees the work of staff engaged in the maintenance and repair of mechanical systems, cable car propulsion, cable car track and LRV track infrastructure.
Adjusts plans and programs to address emerging problems and maintenance needs; develops and implements new initiatives to support departmental goals.
Maintains and refines Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs),
Monitor staff assignments, service levels, and organizational efficiency and recommend adjustments to the DCMO as needed.
Identifies and implements opportunities for continuous improvement and operational excellence.
Coordinates with Administration on budget development, tracking expenditures and evaluating cost estimates for repair options.
Prepares and approves requisitions for materials and supplies.
Investigates field work and complaints for procedural compliance, quality, and safety; ensures inspections are completed in accordance with regulations and standards.
Works collaboratively with engineering personnel, contractors, and vendors on mechanical and facility projects, including capital improvements and emergency repairs.
Supports employee development through training, coaching, and performance management.
The 9180 - Manager VI may perform other duties as assigned/required.
Minimum Qualifications:
Possession of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university; AND
Eight (8) years of full-time experience at a mass transit agency in the operation, maintenance and repair in any of the following: buildings, stations or passenger infrastructure; and/or use of heavy construction equipment; and/or track work; and/or maintenance engineering, which must have included three (3) years at the second supervisory level or management level which includes responsibility for supervising staff; AND
Possession of a valid driver's license.
Substitution:
Additional years of qualifying experience (both second-level supervisory or non-supervisory) may substitute for the required education on a year-for-year basis. One year (2,000 hours) will be considered equivalent to thirty (30) semester units or forty-five (45) quarter units.
Notes:
Applicants must meet the minimum qualifications by the final filing date unless otherwise noted.
One (1) year full-time experience is equivalent to 2000 hours. (2000 hours of qualifying work experience is based on a 40-hour work week). Any overtime hours that you work above forty (40) hours per week are not included in the calculation to determine full-time experience.
Desirable Qualifications:
The stated desirable qualifications may be used to identify candidates advancing to the interview process and/or to identify job finalist(s) at the end of the selection process when referred for hiring.
Ability to plan, assign, and direct maintenance and repair activities of a large, multidisciplinary workforce.
Ability to supervise the preparation of detailed operating records and maintenance reports.
Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively with staff, peers, and the public.
Capacity to manage shifting priorities, emergencies, and operational challenges.
Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.
Substantial leadership experience in a senior position within a large, complex organization.
Experience working with oversight boards or commissions is highly desirable.
Verification: Applicants may be required to submit verification of qualifying education and experience at any point during the recruitment and selection process. More information can be found at: https://sfdhr.org/information-about-hiring-process#verification. Falsifying one's education, training, or work experience or attempted deception on the application may result in disqualification for this and future job opportunities with the City and County of San Francisco.
All work experience, education, training and other information substantiating how you meet the minimum qualifications must be included on your application by the filing deadline. Information submitted after the filing deadline will not be considered in determining whether you meet the minimum qualifications.
Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of a completed City and County of San Francisco application.
Selection Process: Applications will be screened for relevant qualifying experience. Additional screening mechanisms may be used to determine candidates' qualifications. Only those applicants who most closely meet the needs of the Agency will be invited to move forward in the selection process.
Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications are not guaranteed to advance through all the steps in the selection process.
Minimum Qualification Supplemental Questionnaire (MQSQ): Candidates will be required to complete an MQSQ as part of the employment application at a later time. This MQSQ is designed to obtain specific information regarding an applicant's experience in relation to the Minimum Qualifications (MQ) for this position. The MQSQ will be used to evaluate if the applicant possesses the required minimum qualifications.
Terms of Announcement and Appeal Rights: Applicants must be guided solely by the provisions of this announcement, including requirements, time periods and other particulars, except when superseded by federal, state or local laws, rules or regulations. [Note: The correction of clerical errors in an announcement may be posted on the Department of Human Resources website at https://careers.sf.gov/.
Additional Information Regarding Employment with the City and County of San Francisco:
Information About the Hiring Process (https://sfdhr.org/information-about-hiring-process)
Conviction History
Employee Benefits Overview (https://sfdhr.org/benefits-overview)
Equal Employment Opportunity
Disaster Service Worker (https://sfdhr.org/disaster-service-workers)
ADA Accommodation
Right to Work (https://sfdhr.org/information-about-hiring-process#identification)
Copies of Application Documents
Diversity Statement (https://sfdhr.org/information-about-hiring-process#diversitystatement)
This recruitment may be utilized to fill similar positions in this classification at SFMTA.
Applicants will receive a confirmation email from notification@careers.sf.gov that their online application has been received in response to every announcement for which they file. Applicants should retain this confirmation email for their records. Failure to receive this email means that the online application was not submitted or received.
For questions or inquiries, please contact: Maggie Gonzalez Diaz, at Maggie.GonzalezDiaz@sfmta.com.
The City and County of San Francisco encourages women, minorities and persons with disabilities to apply. Applicants will be considered regardless of their sex, race, age, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition (associated with cancer, a history of cancer, or genetic characteristics), HIV/AIDS status, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, military and veteran status, or other protected category under the law.
