Transit Mechanic (J2 : ATU L587-Transit)

Full Job Description

$3,000.00 SIGN ON BONUS!

Apply now to be included in our two-day hiring event on Wednesday, January 28 and 29, 2026 (second date will only happen due to number of candidates).

Refer to the Supplemental Information section near the bottom of this advertisement for additional application, testing, interviewing, and hiring details.

Not sure if King County Metro is the place for you? Would you like more information about the job or our team? Come to the OPEN HOUSE! Email jamcgee@kingcounty.gov to reserve your spot Saturday, January 10, at 11:00 am. Make sure to enter "Open House" in the subject so you don't get missed.

Learn how Metro connects you with what matters!

About the Transit MechanicIn King County Metro's (KCM) Vehicle Maintenance (VM) Division, there is no such thing as a normal day.

Technicians at KCM have been on the leading edge of technological changes for decades; from being the first to install bike racks on buses, to purchasing hybrid buses on a large scale, and now actively working to move towards a fully electric fleet.

At Metro, you will be part of a collaborative team that continues to advance technology and improve products for the entire transit industry; we led the way in battery-electric bus testing - as well as safety innovations!

Transit buses are highly sophisticated vehicles which require strong technical skills to diagnose and repair.

We are near having 1,400 coaches- a combination of diesel, trolley, hybrid, and all-electric buses. We have a bit under 300 mechanics that keep them in service and on the road.

While we were at mechanic staffing capacity for a bit, we've seen recent promotions of some mechanics, and others have let us know they're ready to retire.

We're also investing further in our all-electric coach numbers and need more staff to get the new buses ready for service. All this means that we're searching for skilled mechanics again.

https://kingcountymetro.blog/2019/04/24/how-metro-connects-you-with-what-matters/ Safety Sensitive PositionThis position is considered safety sensitive.

Applicants for positions defined as safety sensitive are required to undergo drug testing prior to employment, and subsequent to commencement of employment, will be subject to random, post-accident, reasonable suspicion, return to duty and follow-up drug and alcohol testing in compliance with Federal DOT alcohol and controlled substances testing program protocols.

Requirements

Applying equity and social justice principles is a daily responsibility and a foundational expectation for all King County employees.

In this role you will apply equity and social justice principles that exemplify shared values, behaviors, and practices to all aspects of the work. As the Transit Mechanic, you will:

• Inspect, diagnose, and repair mechanical defects in gasoline, electric, hybrid and diesel-powered buses, trolleys, trucks, cars, and other heavy motorized mechanical equipment.
• Operate and maintain electronic diagnostic and related equipment.
• Diagnose, dismantle, repair, and overhaul all types of gasoline and diesel internal combustion engines, automatic transmissions, differentials, hydraulic, pneumatic, and electrical systems.
• Install, maintain and repair electrical and mechanical units and accessories of electrically powered trolley coaches using electrical diagrams and schematics.
• Perform wheel alignments, adjust/replace brakes and repair pumps, starters, injectors, lights, steering gears, generators, and air conditioning systems.
• Install, maintain, and repair a variety of auxiliary systems, equipment, and electronics, including fare collection, communication, surveillance, and related components.
• Operate overhead cranes, hydraulic lifts, hoists, jacks, drill presses, and brake turning lathes, as appropriately certified.
• Perform field repair work and emergency road repairs, drive wrecker truck to tow in disabled coaches.
• Maintain records of completed repairs, time worked, and materials used.
• Enter and extract data in automated vehicle maintenance system.

Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

This position requires Journey Level knowledge and skills in the principles, practices, techniques, tools, and equipment of the automotive and diesel repair trade.

Regular attendance and performance of duties, as assigned, are required of this position. At a minimum, to qualify for this position you will need to meet one of the following qualifications:

• Four years of experience in heavy-duty diesel, automotive equipment, aviation or marine repair and maintenance, as a Journey Level mechanic. -OR-
• Two years of experience in heavy-duty diesel or automotive equipment repair and maintenance as a Journey Level mechanic and completion of a two-year vocational or community college diesel automotive mechanics program, or a recognized apprenticeship program. -OR-
• Any equivalent combination of education and experience that provides the applicant with the knowledge and skills to perform the work of the position.

In addition, successful candidates will also have:

• Knowledge of mechanical principles of gasoline, diesel, and all-electric powered engines; fluid, pneumatic and hydraulic systems; power train, suspension, and chassis components and assemblies; electrical, ignition, breaking, heating, and air conditioning systems.
• Knowledge of installation, maintenance and repair of auxiliary systems, equipment and electronics including fare collection, communication, surveillance, and related components.
• Knowledge of current diagnostic techniques and equipment used in fleet repair operations.
• Knowledge of industrial safety rules, shop safety rules, and applicable regulations and procedures that apply to a vehicle repair facility.
• Basic computer skills required to enter and extract information from automated vehicle maintenance systems and related software applications.
• Skill in the operation of electronic diagnostic equipment, as well as power and hand tools used in mechanical maintenance and equipment repair.
• Skill in the operation of overhead cranes, hydraulic lifts, hoists, jacks, drill presses, lathes, and related equipment.
• Skill in the operation of wreckers and associated auxiliary equipment and winches.
• Skill in basic mathematics.
• Customer service skills; skill in working with a variety of individuals from diverse backgrounds.
• Communication and interpersonal skills; skill in establishing and maintaining effective working relations.

Desirable qualifications include: (This experience is not required; applicants without this experience are not meant to be dissuaded from applying, however, applicants with this experience should highlight it.

If you don’t already have this experience and you are hired for this position, you can look forward to expanding your skillset as a Metro employee!)

• Heavy-duty diesel, bus, or truck fleet maintenance experience.
• Experience working with hybrid technology.
• Experience working with all-electric propulsion systems.
• Experience working in a structured, unionized team environment.

Necessary Special Requirements:

• Must pass drug and alcohol testing provision for safety-sensitive positions as required by the U.S. Department of Transportation, 49 CFR Parts 40 and 655.
• Must pass a post-offer, pre-employment physical examination.
• All candidates must have a valid driver's license with an acceptable five-year driving record.

Within 90 days of hire, a candidate must be able to obtain a Class A Commercial Driver License (CDL) with passenger endorsement, and with the air brake restriction removed.

All candidates without a current CDL must have a Class B Commercial Learner's Permit (CLP), with correct endorsement and restriction removed, prior to receiving a formal offer.

After hire, King County Metro Transit will provide you with paid training, on our equipment, so that you can obtain a Class A CDL, which is required for this position.Please Note: to obtain a CLP in Washington State, you must be able to provide your current license, Social Security number and proof of U.S.

Citizenship or Lawful Permanent Residency.

For more information visit the official Washington State Department of Licensing official website at: https://www.dol.wa.gov/driver-licenses-and-permits/commercial-driver-licenses-cdl.

Additional Information

To apply

If 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 Japatra McGee (jamcgee@kingcounty.gov).

Military veterans and spouses encouraged to apply. (Relevant MOSs may include Airforce/ 2T3XI, Army/ 915A, Coast Guard/ ENG, Marine Corps/ 1341, and Navy/ AS)

Application and Selection

A King County application, completed at www.kingcounty.gov/jobs, with employment history going back at least ten years if you have ten years of employment (or more to include all relevant experience), including answers to the supplemental questions are required.

Applications will be screened to determine whether candidates meet minimum qualifications, and for completeness, and responsiveness to application instructions.

The most competitive candidates presenting evidence that they meet or exceed the qualifications noted above may be invited to participate in a testing process.

Those passing the test will be invited to participate in one or more panel interviews. This will be highly competitive recruitment, so you are encouraged to clearly detail your experience.

Hiring Event Process

1. Testing Portion- Due to the nature of the tests, all testing MUST be conducted in person. All invited candidates must participate on one of the available dates.

Candidates will have up to three hours to complete a written and practical/hands-on test.

In the written section, a candidate will have 60 minutes to complete an ASE style 50-question, multiple-choice, general mechanical knowledge test in the following systems: Engine, Drivetrain, Air Brakes, Foundation Brakes, Suspension & Steering, Tooling, and Electrical.

Once the written portion is completed, you will participate in a series of observed and timed hands-on exercises intended to gauge your ability to follow directions and showcase your Journey Level mechanical aptitude.

The following systems may be covered: Relay Valve, Head Torque, Electrical Faults, Valve Adjust, Drill & Tap, and Wheel End Inspection.

All necessary tools and safety equipment will be provided, and you will have the ability to ask clarifying questions prior to beginning each exercise.

2. Interview Portion- After a brief break following testing, interviews will be offered to candidates with satisfactory test scores. The interview will last approximately 30 mins.

3. Hiring Portion- A member of the human resources team will be onsite and immediately extend preliminary offers to all passing candidates.

All candidates not selected for initial placement will remain on the hiring list with the intention of future placement in order of performance score, as positions become available.

Once a preliminary/conditional offer of employment has been made, being hired will be contingent on passing all requirements outlined for King County safety-sensitive positions.

Those requirements include items such as successfully passing a drug screen and two-year FTA background verification, passing a pre-employment physical, satisfactory reference checks, and an acceptable five-year driving record review.

While most requirements can be completed online, additional time away from any current employment will be required for the drug screen appointment (approximately 30 minutes) and the job-specific physical (completed at any of our partner provider clinic locations, Concentra clinics.)

Vacancy Information

This recruitment will be used to fill multiple career service (CS), special duty assignment (SDA) or fully benefitted term limited temporary (TLT) positions.

Any candidate hired to an SDA or TLT position can be converted if a spot becomes available.

In addition, this recruitment may also be used to create a list of qualified candidates to fill future positions in this classification, as they become available.

An eligibility list of qualified candidates may be created to fill future positions as they become available.

If created, the eligibility list would remain active until exhausted and would be utilized at the hiring authority’s discretion.

Work Schedule

Employees work a 40 hour per week schedule with two consecutive days off, but not necessarily Saturday and Sunday. Work schedules and locations are based on a seniority system, and schedules are bid on twice yearly.

Swing shift and/or graveyard shift vacancies will be the most likely openings. Employees must be able and willing to work any shift, including any combination of days off, at any location.

These positions are FLSA non-exempt and therefore eligible for overtime pay. KCM has an amazing full-range benefit package.

We also offer some of the best pay in the region, and shift differential is paid to those working second and third shifts.

Shift pay is 5% for second shift and 7.5% for third shift, on top of hourly pay. Our current Journey Level hourly starting rates are:

• $44.37 - $49.91 / first shift
• $46.59 - $52.41 / second shift
• $47.70 - $53.65 / third shift

Union Representation

This position is represented by Amalgamated Transit Union, Local 587.

Classification Code

8442100

For more information regarding this recruitment, please contact:

Japatra McGee (she/her)

Human Resources Talent Advisor

jamcgee@kingcounty.gov

Hear what our employees have to say: https://youtu.be/Ry-hLcLwm7M

Forbes 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 are 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 Americans and people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+, people living with disabilities, and veterans.

King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer, no 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.

Applicants who are unable to apply online should follow the instructions at Application FAQ’s- King County.

For technical support related to your application, contact the GovernmentJobs' applicant support team for assistance: +1 855-524-5627.

For guidance on how to complete these required materials, be sure to visit the Career Support Services website for resources on how to complete application materials for King County recruitment