Link Light Rail, Metro Transit’s Rail Division, is responsible for operating and maintaining Link Light Rail service on a 20+ mile route from the Angle Lake Station south of Sea-Tac Airport to Northgate station in North Seattle. Plans and/or construction are underway extending the system to the north, east, south, and west. Expansion over the next five years alone will include the addition of more than 20 stations and 40 miles of light rail track. The light rail line is a critical part of the region’s transportation network and carries more than 79,000 daily weekday riders.
King County Metro Transit is a regional leader in helping people move quickly throughout the region, reducing commuter stress, greening the environment and radically improving urban air quality, by providing comfortable, effective transit services for the thousands of commuters and other residents of King County, Washington. Working for Metro means working for a leader in this public transportation industry. This is an exciting time for King County Metro Transit, which recently received the 2018 award for the best large transit agency in North America.
This recruitment will be used to fill multiple career service Rail Electrical Worker positions. These positions will perform skilled journey-level work to troubleshoot, maintain, repair, upgrade, and perform comprehensive preventive maintenance on rail electrical systems as well as electrical systems and equipment in Light Rail shops, tunnels, and other facilities.
Pay Information
This is a single-wage position. Current day shift wage is $54.43/hour, and 2nd/3rd shifts wage is $57.77/hour.
These positions are considered safety sensitive. Applicants for these positions 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 substance testing program protocols.
Who May Apply
This position is open to King County employees and the general public, although current members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), Local 77, who apply within the initial five (5) working days of this posting will be given first consideration.
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.
- An attached resume.
Work Schedule
This non-exempt position is eligible for overtime pay at double time rate and employees must be willing and able to work any shift. This position is part of a workgroup that provides 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year support. This is a heavily weighted night shift work group.
Work Location
Operations & Maintenance Facility (OMF) Central at 3407 Airport Way S., Seattle, WA.
Also, upon the location opening:
Operations & Maintenance Facility (OMF) East at 1925 120th Ave NE, Bellevue, WA.
Great Benefits
King County provides our employees with a free transportation pass (good on most transit systems throughout the Puget Sound region). We offer a benefits package that includes competitive medical, dental and vision benefits for the whole family including state-registered domestic partner; competitive vacation, sick, and holiday leave plans; participation in the State’s Public Employees Retirement Plan (PERS); as well as the option of participating in the County’s deferred compensation plan (a 457 plan). For more details, please see the Benefits tab on this posting.
For questions regarding this recruitment, please contact:
Travis McKinnon, Talent Advisor, tmckinnon@kingcounty.gov
Job Duties
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. Job Duties include:
- Work safely to maintain Light Rail Overhead Contact Systems (OCS); and associated components such as messenger wire, contact wire, section insulators, pole and enclosure mounted switches, air gaps, insulated and uninsulated overlaps, poles, underground feeders, switches, electrical wiring and systems including a variety of single phase, three phase and DC systems.
- Work safely to maintain Traction Power Substations (TPSS), troubleshoot and repair all feeder cables and associated components, underground feeders, enclosed crawl space associated components, switches, electrical wiring, relays, and monitoring systems, including a variety of single phase and three phase AC and DC systems.
- Perform inspections, maintenance and upgrades of Traction Power Substations and their components such as switches, transformers, rectifiers, fuses, relays, programmable logic controllers (PLCs), batteries, chargers and associated equipment.
- Maintain and repair low voltage systems such as fire and security alarms; maintain and repair, transfer switches and uninterruptible power supplies.
- Maintain and repair equipment in Light Rail shops, offices, park and ride lots, and tunnels.
- Flag trackway to provide safe rail work zones; set-up work-zone traffic control areas.
- Maintain and provide daily work records and complete work requests.
- Load and unload tools, materials, and equipment.
- Maintain appropriate parts stock on assigned vehicles, in substations and shops.
- Operate company assigned vehicles, including hi-rail and aerial lift equipment and perform rolling inspections from raised aerial equipment.
- Read and interpret distribution maps, feeder maps, blueprints, schematics, and other drawings.
- Plan, schedule and coordinate activities and work with other trades and divisions.
- Trim trees and other vegetation which may interfere with train movement or electrical installations.
- Pump water from vaults and manholes.
- Perform snow and ice removal.
- Respond to emergency calls as necessary.
- Inspect relevant work completed by contractors.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills
Minimum Qualifications
Three years of high voltage electrical maintenance and/or electrical construction experience OR any equivalent combination of experience and education which provides the applicant with the desired skills, knowledge and ability required to perform the job duties. Additional qualifications include:
- Knowledge of national, state, and local electrical codes and means of compliance.
- Knowledge or rail industries standards, IEEE, and APTA standards.
- Knowledge and understanding of electrical theory.
- Knowledge of industry safety standards.
- Skill in locating underground cables; installing conduit and pull underground cable.
- Skill in maintaining Light Rail Overhead Contact System (OCS) and components.
- Skill in maintaining Traction Power Substations (TPSS) components.
- Skill in the use of tools and equipment required to perform cable splicing and repair.
- Knowledge and experience using electrical test equipment.
- Skill in reading and interpreting blueprints, schematics, and drawings.
- Skill in oral and written communications.
- Mechanical skills.
- Problem solving and analytical skills.
Necessary Special Requirements
- Washington State Journey Electrician Certificate (EL01), Journey Level Line Worker Certificate, High Voltage Journey Level Certificate or equivalent high voltage certification is required.
- Washington State Class B (or A) driver’s license with air brake endorsement or the ability to obtain and maintain a Class A license within six months of hire date, and an acceptable driving record. Out-of-State applicants may obtain their Washington driver’s license upon arriving here, prior to employment.
- Applicants must be able to meet on-going educational and training requirements and maintain required certifications such as Hi-Rail, Forklift, Aerial Lift, Confined Space, First Aid/CPR, and other certifications.
Working Environment
Work is performed both indoors and outdoors, day and night and in inclement weather. Must be able to work in crowded/tight spaces, tunnels, and aerial structures at heights.
Supplemental Information
Supplemental Information
Applications will be screened to determine whether candidates meet minimum qualifications, and for clarity, completeness, and responsiveness to the application instructions above. Highly competitive applicants may be asked to interview. Formal offers will be finalized after candidates have successfully completed any necessary pre-employment processes, such as drug and alcohol background checks, driving abstract reviews, and internal record reviews. Start dates may be coordinated with the applicant’s current supervisor to accommodate the business needs of Metro Transit’s Rail Division.
Learn how Metro connects you with what matters.
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 that is 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) 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.
Want to make sure your application materials are as competitive as possible?
We highly recommend visiting the Career Support Services website for tips and examples on how to make your application materials most effective: Career Support Services – King County.
Need assistance?
Applicants who are unable to apply online should follow the instructions at Application FAQs – King County .If you have any questions related to this job posting, including needing the announcement in an alternative language format, or regarding accommodation requests for the application or assessment process, please contact the Talent Advisor listed in the posting.
Union Membership
This position is represented by International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 77.
Class Code
8212100
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