Asphalt Raker, Senior

Join us in shaping Seattle’s streets! At the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT), we don’t just move people, we connect communities, build safer streets, and create a more sustainable city.

Position

Description:

With a bold vision for the future, we’re tackling big challenges: making travel safer, cutting carbon emissions, and ensuring reliable, affordable transportation for everyone—no matter who they are or where they live. Seattle is growing fast, and we’re building sidewalks, fixing bridges, and improving transit connections to keep our city moving. We’re a team of problem solvers, planners, engineers, communicators, and field crews bringing purpose‑driven work to life.

Now, we need passionate, innovative talent like you. Let’s build a Seattle that works for everyone together!

The Senior Asphalt Raker plays a key leadership role within a skilled team dedicated to building a city that is safe, connected, vibrant, affordable, and forward‑thinking. Under general supervision and reporting to the Asphalt Paving Crew Chief, this position leads job site operations, assists with the planning and execution of large‑scale asphalt paving projects, and provides training and guidance to laborers.

The Senior Asphalt Raker is also responsible for working independently to assess material needs and place orders accordingly. This role requires in-depth knowledge of asphalt mixtures and their applications in complex projects, as well as expertise in the use of related tools, equipment, and techniques—including screed adjustment for self‑propelled spreaders.

• Assigns jobs to members of the paving crew and checks and corrects the work of the paving crew.
• Advises supervisors of material requirements, size, duration, and extent of large jobs.
• Assists Crew Chief in planning large projects.
• Evaluates new equipment to determine if it meets departmental needs.
• Distributes, rakes, tampes, and smooths asphaltic materials on large and complex jobs.
• Performs large and difficult asphalt raking jobs where drainage is critical.
• Determines mix needed to complete job and orders from vendor.
• Uses jackhammer, compressor, extruder, ground pounder, and related equipment as needed.
• Repairs utility cuts (water, gas, City Light, and private contractors) by removing temporary material and replacing with permanent hot asphaltic material. Performs other related duties of a comparable level/type as assigned.
• Trains laborers and Asphalt Rakers in performance of job duties.
• Sets up traffic control at worksite in accordance with safety policies and practices.
• Works with Microsoft Office Products & Hansen Work Management System.

Minimum Qualifications

Two years’ experience in hot asphalt construction, maintenance and repair.

Requirements (strong candidates may have these)

• Experience working around heavy equipment and traffic.
• Ability to set up and utilize automatic screed leveling system on a paving machine.
• Experience with a smart level and/or laser level for grade; experience setting a paving project (equipment, labor, and material needs) while keeping within budget constraints.
• Knowledge and understanding of compaction rates related to a variety of street types and mix designs.
• Ability to read, understand, and implement blueprints and design drawings.
• Ability to accurately resolve complex drainage issues utilizing a paving machine or by hand raking.
• Good communication and customer service skills when interacting with the general public, coworkers, and other City staff at all levels.

• Work is performed around heavy equipment and heavy power tools and requires strenuous physical exertion.
• Position requires daily exposure to heavy traffic, extreme weather, loud noises from machinery, dust, and the heat and fumes of asphaltic material.

• Current Washington State driver’s license.

The full salary range for this position is $43.27 - $44.97 per hour. The City of Seattle offers a comprehensive benefits package including vacation, holiday, and sick leave as well as medical, dental, vision, life and long‑term…