Construction and Maintenance Equipment Operator, 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. 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. Thanks to a historic voter‑approved $1.55 billion investment in transportation in 2024, we’re building sidewalks, fixing bridges, and improving transit connections to keep our city moving.

SDOT has an opportunity for a Construction and Maintenance Equipment Operator (CMEO). The CMEO will execute specific instructions for the safe operation of heavy construction and maintenance equipment and will support SDOT work on curb ramp restoration, sidewalk repairs, utility cut restoration, and emergency response around the city. The role involves working across the entire organization and collaborating with staff from other departments within the City.

• Responsible for safe operation, pre‑trip and post‑trip inspections of heavy construction and maintenance equipment and for performing thorough inspections of combination trucks or tractor/trailers prior to operation to ensure their safe condition; cleans equipment and performs minor repairs.
• Operate rubber tire loaders to move materials, load trucks, and supplies.
• Operate excavators, backhoes, graders, frontend loaders, and double‑drum rollers in right‑of‑way (ROW) on‑street restoration or other types of work.
• Apply OSHA/WISHA rules, labor and industry rules, SDOT policy and safety rules, and contract language within a variety of bargaining contexts.
• Work as a team leader utilizing good communication skills to ensure job completion, safety, and efficiency.
• Operate motorized construction and maintenance equipment and their accessories, and heavy trucks for transporting construction and maintenance equipment.
• Inspect job sites for underground utilities, overhead obstructions, and hazardous conditions.
• Dig holes, trenches, and tunnels and stockpile spoil or load spoil in dump trucks for hauling.
• Drive truck and trailer to and from job sites.
• Document daily activities, inspections, and accomplishments.
• Inspect job assignments for overhead obstructions and hazardous conditions.
• Support department goals in promoting race, diversity, and social justice.
• Ensure safety regulations are observed during the loading, rigging, transporting, and unloading of materials.
• May be required to act in a lead capacity at job sites where all other activities are secondary to equipment operation.
• Perform other related duties of a comparable level/type as assigned, respond to all emergencies around the city.

• Two years of heavy equipment operation and maintenance or one year of experience with completion of a recognized course in construction and maintenance equipment operation that includes practical operating experience. Current Washington State driver’s license.

• Knowledge of the operation of construction and maintenance equipment.
• Ability to read and interpret blueprints.
• Understanding of the construction of ADA ramps, road panels, and sidewalks.
• Comfortable driving CDL‑required equipment in snow and ice response.
• Experience leading crews.
• Ability to operate motorized construction and maintenance equipment and their accessories, and heavy trucks for transporting construction and maintenance equipment.
• Experience reporting emergency calls around the city.

• Ability to work outdoors in all weather.
• Exposure to dust, dirt, high noise levels, diesel and gas fumes, and engine exhaust.
• Moderate physical exertion required to operate equipment.
• Standing, bending, stooping, and lifting in excess of 50 pounds are sometimes required.

• May require current Washington State Commercial Class A driver’s license with the Air Brake restriction removed.
• May…