Highway Maintenance Worker In-Training

About WSDOT

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is a multimodal agency with a global reputation for excellence. Our dedicated workforce plans, designs, builds, and operates an integrated transportation system that safely and efficiently moves people and goods throughout the state. In addition to maintaining over 20,000 lane miles of state highway and 4,100 bridges, WSDOT leads an award‑winning Active Transportation Plan, manages the world’s longest floating bridge, and operates the largest ferry system in the nation.

WSDOT is currently seeking to fill four Highway Maintenance Worker 2 positions in our South‑Central Region. Vacancies are in Yakima, Toppenish and Naches, WA. These positions are responsible for highway and roadside maintenance work. The persons in these positions are responsible for their own personal safety and the safety of other crew members while performing maintenance work. By accomplishing assigned tasks such as snow and ice control, repairing guardrail and signs, patching potholes, clearing brush and trees, maintaining highway drainage, and performing traffic control, the person in this position contributes to the safety and efficiency of travel on state highways.

Among the varied range of responsibilities held within this role, you will perform a wide variety of day‑to‑day maintenance operations:

• Section patrol operating various vehicles/trucks and equipment
• Pavement maintenance and repair; apply concrete, asphalt, and synthetic materials
• Drainage maintenance including catch basins, sedimentation facilities, culvert maintenance and repair, roadside ditching; erosion and slide repair; sign maintenance and repair: guardrail and impact attenuator installation and repair, fence installation and repair
• Tree removal, brush control, and vegetation management: establish, maintain and repair landscaped areas, including planting and remediation sites
• Haul materials such as rip rap, and hot and cold asphalt
• Remove litter on state right‑of‑way; remove animal remains and debris from roadways
• Perform minor preventative maintenance and mechanical repairs on equipment
• Illegal encampment clean‑up and disposal
• Training and certification may be given to operate other highway equipment such as tractor mowers, sweepers, rollers, and flusher trucks. Track, document, and report daily work activities
• Account for inventory and perform inventory of highway section
• Perform snow and ice control on state highways
• Operate snowplow and chemical deicer attachments for the application of anti‑icing compounds and sand to road surfaces. Maintain stockpile sites

To be considered for the Highway Maintenance Worker 2 level:

• Highway and Roadway Maintenance Expertise: Demonstrated experience performing routine and emergency maintenance on highways, roadways, and related infrastructure including pavement repair, drainage systems, erosion control, vegetation management, sign and guardrail installation, and debris removal. Ability to assess maintenance needs and perform repairs to highway structures, roadside features, and landscapes.
• Heavy Equipment Operations: Skilled in operating and maintaining heavy equipment such as front‑end loaders, tractor mowers, sweepers, flushers, truck‑mounted attenuators, backhoes, vactors, and 32,000‑60,000‑GVW dump trucks with snowplow and chemical deicer attachments.
• Licensing & Certification: Possession of a valid Class B Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) with N endorsement and without airbrakes restriction, and ability to obtain Class A within twelve months of hire. Valid CDL medical card.
• Teamwork: Ability to work effectively as part of a team and independently in the field. Capable of leading a crew in the absence of a Highway Maintenance Worker 3, demonstrating sound decision‑making and leadership skills.

To be considered for the Highway Maintenance Worker 1 level:

• Licensing & Certification: Possession of a valid driver’s license and the ability to operate state‑owned vehicles. Washington State flagging card (or ability to obtain within two months of appointment). First‑aid certification (or ability to obtain within six months…