Transit VM Lead Upholsterer
King County
FreshPosted Mar 12
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Posted: March 13, 2026 (2 days ago)
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Transit Maintenance Painter
King County
MTD - Metro Transit
Location
Seattle, Washington, 98104
Salary
$35.94 - $51.34
per hour
Type
Full-Time
More Maintenance & Trades jobs →Closes
March 30, 2026
Job Description
Summary
This job involves hands-on painting and maintenance work on transit facilities like buildings, parking lots, and bus stops, including tasks such as removing graffiti, applying stripes, and repairing surfaces.
It's a temporary role lasting up to a few years, with potential for permanent positions, and pays well with shift bonuses for evening or night work.
A good fit would be someone with practical painting experience who enjoys outdoor and indoor manual labor in a public service setting.
Key Requirements
- Journey-level experience in painting, including surface preparation like sandblasting and graffiti removal
- Knowledge of applying and removing vinyl wraps, thermal plastics, and striping
- Skills in drywall taping, fabrication, repair, and maintenance of buildings and assets
- Ability to work in various shifts, including swing/afternoon (5% differential) or overnight (7.5% differential)
- Valid Washington State driver's license (implied for transit-related fieldwork)
- Strong attention to safety and ability to perform physical tasks in outdoor environments
- At least 10 years of relevant work history documented in application
Full Job Description
Learn how Metro connects you with what matters
*This recruitment is open to all current King County employees and the general public. *
King County Metro Transit’s Facilities Division has an exciting opportunity for multiple Transit Maintenance Painters.
The Transit Maintenance Painter is responsible for performing journey-level painting in the fabrication, repair, and maintenance of Transit Facilities buildings, parking lots, bus stops, and other assets.
Duties include striping, graffiti removal, sandblasting, application and removal of vinyl wraps, drywall taping, thermal plastics, and other tasks.
This recruitment may immediately fill up to three (3) Term-Limited Temporary (TLT)/Special Duty Assignment (SDA) positions, with an anticipated duration through December 2027.
This recruitment may also be used to establish an eligibility pool to fill future Career Service, Term Limited Temporary, and/or Special Duty Assignment vacancies that may occur over the next twelve (12) months within this classification and division, at the discretion of the hiring authority.
Interviews and testing are anticipated to occur during the week of April 6, 2026, but dates are subject to change
WAGE INFORMATION
Qualified candidates typically start at the mid-point of the established pay range, depending on candidate qualifications. The top step of the pay range is achieved within three (3) years or less through automatic step progression, depending on initial step placement at time of hire.
The pay range for day shift is $35.94 to $51.34 per hour. The mid-point step is currently $46.21 per hour for day shift.
Position is eligible for shift differential if assigned to swing/afternoon or overnight shift. Positions assigned to swing/afternoon shift receive 5% shift differential, and positions assigned to overnight shift receive 7.5% shift differential.
WHO MAY APPLY
This recruitment is open to all current King County employees and the general public.
TO APPLY
Required Application Materials:
- An online King County application, updated with accurate contact information, and relevant work history going back 10 years (or more, if necessary), with all duties, dates of employment, and reasons for leaving explained clearly.
- Completed supplemental questions
Note: A cover letter/letter of interest and/or a resume are highly encouraged, but not required. Any additional attachments will not be considered.
Want to make sure your application materials are as competitive as possible?
We highly recommend visiting the Workforce Development website with King County for tips and examples on how to make your application materials most effective: https://kingcounty.gov/en/dept/dhr/about-king-county/hr-resources-employees-partners/employee-resources/workforce-development.
Applicants who are unable to apply online should follow the instructions at Application FAQ’s- King County.
For more information regarding this recruitment, please contact:
Erica Minshull, Talent Advisor for King County Metro Transit
Erica.Minshull@KingCounty.govor 206-477-6059
Requirements
Applying equity and social justice principles is a daily responsibility and a foundational expectation for all King County employees.
All employees are expected to model and apply our equity and social justice shared values, behaviors, and practices. As the Transit Maintenance Painter, you will also:
- Remove graffiti from bus shelters, street furniture, and other structures and properties throughout the Transit system.
- Apply protective coatings to the interiors and exteriors of buildings, structures, roadways, equipment, and office furnishings.
- Prepare a variety of surfaces prior to the application of protective coatings, by hand-sanding, scraping, pressure washing, or applying chemical removers.
- Using a high lift, perform pressure-washing on various structures and building exteriors.
- Utilize the sandblast booth to clean and prepare shelters and other various metal surfaces prior to painting.
- Apply paint and/or thermoplastic for pavement striping and traffic control markings.
- Perform drywall finishing and plaster work.
- Patch nail holes, cracks, and joints with putty, plaster, or other filler to prepare various types of surfaces (metal, wood, and gypsum board) for painting.
- Select and use appropriately a variety of paints, varnishes, enamels, and paint removers.
- Operate, clean, and maintain a variety of equipment related to the preparation for and application of protective coatings.
- Operate a service vehicle and lift equipment in performance of assigned duties.
- Use all materials and equipment of the painting trade in a manner that protects people and the environment from any hazardous condition.
- Keep simple records of time and materials using handwritten and/or electronic logs and time records.
Qualifications
To be considered eligible for this role, applicants must possess these MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
- Three (3) or more years of work experience performing journey-level industrial and/or commercial painting duties, completion of a related apprenticeship or training program, or combination thereof that demonstrates the ability to perform the functions of the position.
- Demonstrated ability to perform brush, spray, and roller painting and to correctly apply enamels, varnishes, rubber and alkyd-based paints, epoxy paints, stains, sealers, and shellac.
- Working knowledge of the properties, application techniques, and hazards of protective coatings.
- Ability and skill to work in a sandblasting booth.
- Demonstrate behaviors that include fairness, respect, inclusiveness, integrity, and ethical conduct.
- Ability to work well and respectfully with a diverse group of individuals from a variety of different positions and backgrounds.
- Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
- Ability to read and interpret plans and schematics with design and color specifications.
- Ability to work independently and with minimal supervision.
- Ability to work constructively on a team with a diverse group of employees.
- Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.
The most competitive applicants will possess these DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS:
- Five (5) or more years of work experience performing journey-level industrial and/or commercial painting duties.
- Completion of a painter apprenticeship program and/or vocational training program related to the trade.
- Experience with application of vinyl wraps.
- Experience in thermal plastic applications.
- A valid Transportation Workers Identification Credential (TWIC) issued by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).
Necessary Special Requirements:
- Valid Washington State driver license, with an acceptable driving record. Out-of-state candidates must obtain a Washington State driver license within 30 days of hire.
Additional Information
CLASS CODE / PAY GRADE
9105100 / 35
UNION STATUS
This position is represented by Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU), Local 587.
SELECTION PROCESSApplications will be screened to determine whether candidates meet the minimum qualifications, as well as for clarity, completeness, and responsiveness to the application instructions above.
Highly competitive applicants may be asked to interview, which may also include a written test and/or practical skills test.
Formal offers will be finalized after candidates have successfully completed any necessary pre-employment processes, such as driving record checks, internal record reviews and/or reference checks, etc.
WORK LOCATION AND SCHEDULEThe work location will be at South Maintenance Facility (11911 E Marginal Way S; Seattle, WA 98134). This position is typically scheduled full time (40 hours per week).
Employees must be available and willing to work any shift (day, swing, or graveyard), weekends, nights, holidays, and call-outs.
This position is not exempt from the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act and is therefore overtime eligible, with prior supervisory approval.
This position is not eligible for telework/remote work.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
Work may be performed indoors or outdoors, sometimes in inclement weather. Specific tasks may require the use of a respirator, and therefore position is subject to respirator fit-testing.
Additionally, the work environment may include coming into contact with chemicals and may require following chemical spill clean-up in alignment with HAZMAT procedures.
When warranted, must be able and willing to wear safety equipment and protective clothing as required, including hearing protection.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
This position is required to frequently lift and carry objects weighing up to 50 pounds, and may involve lifting and carrying objects weighing up to 100 pounds with assistance.
Frequent walking, reaching, climbing, kneeling, stooping, and safe operation of power tools are also required.
Work may be performed in confined spaces, as well as in cramped and awkward positions, and may require working at heights with fall protection.
Forbes recently named King County as one of Washington State's best employers.Together, with leadership and our employees, we're changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence.
Are you ready to make a difference? Come join the team dedicated to serving one of the nation's best places to live, work and play.
Guided by our "True North”, we are making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. We value diversity, inclusion and belonging in our workplace and workforce.
To reach this goal we are committed to workforce equity.
Equitable recruiting, support, and retention is how we will obtain the highest quality workforce in our region; a workforce that shares and will help advance our guiding principles--we are one team; we solve problems; we focus on the customer; we drive for results; we are racially just; we respect all people; we lead the way; and we are responsible stewards.
We encourage people of all backgrounds and identities to apply, including Native American and people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+, people living with disabilities, and veterans.
KING COUNTY IS AN EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY (EEO) EMPLOYERNo person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation, and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class.
Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.
TO APPLYIf you are interested in pursuing this position, please follow the application instructions carefully.
If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process, or if you have questions, please contact the recruiter listed on this job announcement.
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