Highway Maintenance Specialist

Posted 10/22/2026 · Closes 11/05/2026 · Oregon Department of Transportation · Full-time · Troutdale, OR

About the role

Do you want to use your skills to make a difference? Join our hardworking sign crew in Troutdale and help keep Oregon's roads and travelers safe! As part of our team, you will operate equipment necessary to maintain and repair roadways, highways, bridges and structures. You will also help with emergency cleanup and traffic control after storms, spills, incidents and more. We provide a safe and reliable multimodal transportation system that connects people and helps Oregon's communities and economy thrive. We encourage people from all backgrounds and abilities to apply.

Responsibilities

• Operate a variety of heavy and light equipment and tools to maintain and repair various surfaces
• Assist with weather related emergencies and operate snowplows, deicer trucks and other equipment to clear snow from roadways
• Perform minor surface repairs including pothole and concrete patching and small inlay work
• Clear debris, clear brush, mow grass and spray roadside vegetation
• Maintain and repair fences, guardrails, concrete barriers and milepost markers
• Maintain drainage systems, dig and clean ditches and repair culverts, inlets and erosion
• Maintain wooded areas which includes replanting, pruning, thinning or trimming trees, shrubs and groundcover
• Service and repair tools and motorized equipment
• Perform minor maintenance including janitorial work, landscaping, painting and light carpentry
• Exposure to noise, extreme heights, all weather conditions, heavy equipment, pesticides and hazardous waste materials is expected
• Must be able to move around rough terrain, bend and stoop for extended periods and may need to lift up to 60 pounds
• May need to be available after hours, on weekends and holidays for emergency, on-call and weather related purposes

Requirements

Minimum qualifications

• One year of experience performing basic highway maintenance work, OR
• Two years of general landscaping, maintenance, mechanical, farming, logging, and/or construction experience or training

Special qualifications

• Maximum 45-minute response time to 620 W Columbia River Highway, Troutdale, OR 97060 for emergency call-outs
• Current, valid commercial driver's license Class A (CDL-A) with tanker endorsement, no air brake restrictions, no 5th wheel restrictions, and no manual transmission restrictions, OR ability to acquire a Class A commercial learner permit within 60 days of hire and a CDL-A with tanker endorsement and restrictions removed within six months of hire (ODOT covers training costs)
• Valid driver license and acceptable driving record
• Pre-employment driving records checks including Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) Clearinghouse registration and full query check for final candidates; annual query for current employees
• Note: As of Sept. 29, 2025, FMCSA rescinded guidance allowing state DMVs to issue limited-term CDLs; individuals with an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) are no longer eligible to obtain a CLP or CDL

Preferred skills & experience

• Experience in road maintenance, construction, or in a maintenance training program (e.g., ODOT High School to Highway, ODOT/ODF Fire and Ice, Job Corps)
• Experience with crane and bucket truck work
• Experience operating dump trucks and other heavy equipment (front end loaders, skid steers, excavators, etc.)
• Snow removal experience (using snow blowers, snow plows, sanding or deicing)
• Experience with hand tools such as drills, grinders, Sawzall, chainsaw, and impact wrenches

Benefits

• Work/life balance
• 11 paid holidays per year
• Flexible work schedules
• Paid leave
• Comprehensive and equitable base salary within the listed range (determined via equal pay assessment based on application materials)
• Salary range increases by 6.95% for current PERS members or upon becoming PERS eligible
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness opportunity

Pay

Non-PERS monthly salary range: $4,312 – $5,988. For PERS members or upon PERS eligibility, the range increases by 6.95%.

Schedule

Standard schedule with requirement to be available after hours, on weekends, and holidays for emergency, on-call, and weather-related purposes. Must maintain a maximum 45-minute response time to the Troutdale maintenance station for emergency call-outs.