Highway Maintenance Specialist - Boulder

Highway Maintenance Specialist - Boulder

Join to apply for the Highway Maintenance Specialist – Boulder role at the Colorado Department of Transportation.

Nothing two days are exactly the same. Your daily activities change based on project needs, weather, environment, and road conditions. You will be on‑call on a rotating basis and may be called to respond to weather and other emergencies. You will typically work in a team environment; each maintenance patrol location has at least one lead highway maintenance specialist and multiple specialists.

• Plowing snow
• Operating heavy equipment such as tandem dump trucks, loaders, and tractor mowers
• Mowing grass and weeds
• Removing debris from roadways, culverts, and tunnels
• Shoveling gravel, sand, concrete, and asphalt
• Digging ditches
• Installing and repairing guardrails, highway markers, signs, and lighting
• Filling potholes and roadway cracks
• Setting out traffic control signs and cones
• Removing and covering graffiti
• Installing pavement markings and striping
• Stopping or slowing traffic in emergency situations
• Maintaining equipment and performing minor repairs
• Following safety guidance and wearing proper safety equipment

Your work is critical to keeping Colorado’s roadways open and safe. It positively impacts the quality of life for all Coloradans and visitors and supports the state’s economy.

• Personal protective equipment (uniforms, boots, hard hats, gloves, safety vest, respirator, and tools)
• Full payment for your CDL physical after your first year with CDOT
• Partial reimbursement (up to 50%) for CDL renewal after your first year with CDOT
• CPR and first‑aid training
• Career training opportunities
• 40‑hour work weeks, with overtime available during weather emergencies
• 4‑day work schedule (10‑hour days Monday‑Thursday) during the summer months, typically May‑September
• Opportunities to learn new equipment and advance within CDOT

• Exposure to loud noise
• Exposure to fumes, odors, gases, dusts, and chemicals that may affect breathing, eyes, and skin
• Use of respirators when required
• Work near traffic, including high‑speed traffic
• Use of ladders and scissor lifts (10‑20 ft)
• Driving CDOT vehicles
• Frequent emergency responses outside regular hours, including weekends and holidays
• Work in extreme temperatures, variable weather, and elevations up to 12,000 ft

Must have at least two (2) years of physical labor and/or heavy equipment operation experience.

• Strong commitment to working safely
• Desire to learn and adapt quickly
• Enjoys working outdoors and performing physically demanding work
• Pride in a job well done
• Team player who looks out for colleagues
• Effective communication, especially in safety‑critical situations
• Commitment to excellent customer service
• Problem‑solving mindset
• Experience operating equipment such as dump trucks, loaders, bulldozers, and backhoes
• Experience with hand tools
• Basic computer skills and adaptability to new software
• State service experience related to duties of the position (if applicable)

• Must possess and maintain a valid Commercial Driver’s License Class A or B with no air‑brake restriction
• Non‑Colorado CDL holders must be eligible to drive in Colorado at hire and must transfer within 30 days of relocation
• Pass pre‑employment screening (social security, criminal, driving records, etc.)
• May be required to pass a drug test and DOT physical
• On‑call and shift work
• Essential Services Designation – required to report immediately for essential or emergency services
• May need to live within 30 minutes driving time to respond promptly
• New hires: two weeks of maintenance training; veterans: one week annually, completed via computer or in Aurora
• May need hazardous materials endorsement within 6‑12 months
• Provides a telephone number for emergency contact

• A complete CDOT Application for Announced Vacancy (submit online via the “APPLY” button)
• A complete Supplemental Questionnaire (part of the online application)
• If veteran, a copy of your DD214 (attach via online application)

The State of Colorado strives to create a Colorado for All by building and maintaining workplaces that value and respect all Coloradans through a commitment to equal opportunity and hiring based on merit and fitness.