Highway Maintenance Worker 3 – Plant Establishment

About the role

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is a multimodal agency dedicated to planning, designing, building, and operating an integrated transportation system. This role involves leading maintenance crews in the repair and upkeep of highways and structures.

Responsibilities

• Lead a region-wide mitigation crew in performing landscape, roadside, and environmental restoration activities.
• Perform vegetation management, planting, irrigation, erosion control, habitat restoration, pesticide application, and other landscape maintenance activities.
• Plan, assign, and oversee daily work activities, equipment use, and job site operations while promoting safety and minimizing impacts to the traveling public.
• Train, mentor, and support crew members in the safe and efficient operation of equipment, tools, and maintenance procedures.
• Operate and maintain a variety of commercial vehicles, heavy equipment, power tools, and specialized machinery.
• Design, implement, and conduct traffic control operations, including lane closures, detours, and road or bridge closures.
• Inspect, maintain, and repair roadway features, signs, fences, guardrail systems, drainage facilities, and related transportation assets.
• Support winter operations, emergency response activities, right-of-way cleanup efforts, contractor oversight, permit documentation, and other maintenance assignments.

Requirements

• Highway Maintenance Operations Skills, knowledge, and experience performing highway maintenance and operations activities on state highways.
• Ability to operate a wide range of commercial vehicles, heavy equipment, power tools, and specialized machinery.
• Experience operating highway maintenance equipment and commercial vehicles, performing physically demanding work in all weather conditions.
• Communication, Customer Service & Coordination Skills.
• Work Documentation & Technology Ability and experience maintaining accurate records, tracking inventory and maintenance activities, and using computerized systems and mobile devices.
• Ability to operate Class A, B, and/or C equipment w/ current technology in highway maintenance operations.
• Ability to work nights, weekends, holidays, and perform emergency callouts/stand-by 24 hours a week.
• Ability to transport, move, and manipulate various types of equipment weighing 50 pounds or more.
• Ability to respond to the assigned duty station within 60 minutes of an after-hours callout.
• Ability to traverse rough, steep, and uneven terrain and work at elevated heights, above 25 feet over land or water.

Qualifications

• Washington State Class A Commercial Driver’s License with N endorsement, no air brake restrictions, and no transmission restrictions.
• Valid Traffic Control/Flagging card or ability to obtain within six (6) months of hire.
• Washington State Pesticide Applicator’s License with Aquatic endorsement or ability to obtain within six (6) months of hire.
• Ability to operate TEF highway maintenance equipment, including cranes, and commercial vehicles with a gross vehicle weight of 26,000 pounds or greater.
• Experience serving as a traffic control lead during emergency and planned operations.
• Possession of specialized certifications: Backflow Prevention Tester Certification and Crane Certification.
• Knowledge of the surrounding geographic area, roadway network, traffic patterns, and maintenance features.

Benefits

WSDOT offers a comprehensive benefits package including a variety of healthcare options, state retirement programs, and more. Employees also have the option of tuition assistance and paid leave.

Pay

Salary range is provided upon hire. A general wage increase of 2% will be applied for all state employees on July 1, 2026. The salary listed includes an additional 10% Group C Assignment Pay.

Schedule

The typical schedule for this position is four 10-hour shifts per week (40 hours total; Mon.-Thurs.; 6:00 am - 4:30 pm). Weekend, holiday, alternate shift, and emergency response work may be required to support operational needs and respond to unscheduled events. Employees must be able to report to their assigned duty station within 60 minutes of an after-hours call.