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Grow your career with Metro Trades

King County Metro is a national transportation leader providing public transit in the form of buses, light rail, paratransit, water taxi, vanpools and more! We promote safe work practices, collaborative work styles, diverse work environments and career pathways. Our employees make a difference! Come be part of an award winning and forward-thinking organization.

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Stay up-to-date on upcoming positions at Metro with great pay, fantastic benefits—including a pension—and career advancement opportunities! We need talented employees to help fulfill this vision—are you ready?

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Trades positions at Metro offer top benefits!

  • Good pay at competitive wages
  • Paid training
  • Medical, dental, vision and more!
  • A pension! (These are disappearing in other industries and better than an 401K!)
  • Shift differentials

Discover trades positions with Metro

Rail

Building Operating Engineers for Rail perform skilled day-to-day operation, maintenance, troubleshooting and repairs of facility heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) and related building systems for Metro Rail facilities.

Skill sets: Experience with refrigeration and air conditioning equipment, boilers, gas burners, chillers, heat pumps, direct digital controls (DDC) and line voltage controls, control circuits, hydronic, balancing systems, and variable frequency drives.

Build your skills and career: This position provides the opportunity to be exposed to a diverse set of operating systems and technology. Additional training is available for successful candidates as well as career advancement opportunities. The Rail Division organization is growing to support Link Light Rail extension projects. This planned growth will create many promotional and training opportunities for motivated personnel.

Applicant testing: Final applicants will be given some form of a mechanical aptitude test.

 

Rail Facilities Mechanic

Rail Facilities Mechanics are responsible for the maintenance, repair and upgrades of Light Rail operating facilities, supporting systems and equipment. Responsibilities also include the coordination and oversight of the work performed by outside contractors working in an assortment of crafts and engaged in a variety of building and systems maintenance, repair and enhancement.

Skill sets: Journey-level work experience in the Fire and Life Safety Systems, plumbing, welding, and/or mechanical fields and skills maintaining mechanical equipment, utilizing appropriate tools and equipment, reading blueprints, coordinating with others, training coworkers, and problem-solving skills.

Build your skills and career: This position offers a wide variety of opportunities to showcase your skills as the Rail Division grows. Install and modifying new electrical systems at our new Rail facilities to troubleshooting repairs on our existing equipment. Additional training is available for successful candidates as well as career advancement opportunities. The Rail Division is growing to support Link Light Rail extension projects. This planned growth will create many promotional and training opportunities for personnel.

Applicant testing: final applicants will be given some form of a mechanical aptitude test.

 

Transit Facilities

Transit Facilities Building Operator Engineers are required to perform skilled day-to-day operation, maintenance, troubleshooting and repairs of facility heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) and related building systems for Metro Transit facilities.

Skill sets: Experience with refrigeration and air conditioning equipment, boilers, gas burners, chillers, heat pumps, direct digital controls (DDC) and line voltage controls.

Build your skills and career: Transit Facilities BOE's are exposed to a diverse set of operating systems and technology. Additional training is available for successful candidates as well as career advancement opportunities.

Applicant testing: final applicants will be given some form of a mechanical aptitude test.

Vehicle Maintenance

Transit Mechanics are responsible for the maintenance and repair of heavy-duty diesel industrial automotive engines, trolleys, coaches, hybrid electric coaches, battery electric coaches, and other vehicles operated by Metro Transit. Transit Mechanic is a career with meaning. Our team provides our customers safe, dependable, clean transportation in a timely cost effective, environmentally sensitive manner, with a work force that values teamwork, communication, and diversity.

Skill sets: Transit Mechanic is a journey-level position. Metro is looking for 4 years of experience in heavy-duty diesel, automotive equipment, aviation, or marine repair and maintenance.

Or

Two years of journey level experience 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 work experience that provides the applicant with the knowledge and skills to perform the work of the position.

Build your skills and career: King County Metro Transit is a regional leader in helping people move quickly throughout the area. As a Transit Mechanic you will work on the latest technology in coach systems including diesel hybrid and full battery electric powertrains. Training is provided in house by our Fleet Engineering team or from Factory Training Reps.
Transit Mechanic is also a great first step toward promotions within King County to help you reach your future career goals.

Applicant testing: Final candidates will be tested in hands on stations and an “Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) style” paper test.

 

Transit Facilities

Maintenance Constructor’s perform welding, plumbing and mechanical work, maintains and services equipment including pumps, pressure washers, gates, shop machinery, grounds keeping, heavy-duty and related equipment. Also, the operation and hauling of heavy-duty equipment.

Skill sets: Have you completed an apprenticeship, training, or vocational school program in the welding, plumbing or mechanical field? Do you have three years of journey-level work experience in these areas? If you answered yes to any of these questions, Metro may be looking to hire you. This position offers a wide variety of opportunities to showcase your skills, from assembling and setting Transit bus shelters to maintaining building systems and equipment.

Build your skills and career: Additional training is available for successful candidates as well as career advancement opportunities.

Applicant testing: Final candidates will be given practical tests on welding, pipe fitting, as well a written test on general maintenance knowledge.

Rail Facilities Electrician


A Rail Facility Electrician
performs a variety of journey-level electrical work in the installation, maintenance and repair of electrical and electronic systems, equipment, and hardware at Link Light Rail Facilities.

Skill sets:
Ideal candidates have journey-level work experience in in the electrician trade and skills in:

  • repairing, troubleshooting and maintaining electrical systems and equipment
  • reading blueprints and schematics,
  • reading, interpreting, maintaining and repairing a variety of instrumentation,
  • using a variety of hand and power tools, multi-meters and diagnostic equipment,
  • coordinating with others

Build your skills and career: This position offers a wide variety of opportunities to showcase your skills as the Rail Division grows. This includes installing and modifying new electrical systems at our new Rail facilities to troubleshooting repairs on our existing equipment. This planned growth will create many promotional and training opportunities for personnel.

Applicant testing: Candidates presenting evidence that they meet or exceed the qualifications noted may be invited to participate in a test, hands-on exercise and/or panel interview process.

 

Transit Facilities - Utility Line Worker

A Utility Line Worker - performs journey-level skilled work, assisting in the construction and maintenance of the trolley overhead and underground systems for Metro’s Transit Facilities Division.

Skill sets: This position requires completion of a recognized Line Worker apprenticeship program and two years of work experience as a journey level Line Worker. Knowledge in installing, maintaining, and repairing intersection tracks, set and guy a variety of poles, string wires and cables for electrical power, and install and maintain overhead trolley lines.

Build your skills and career: Persons doing this work have the opportunity to work in various locations throughout King County and conduct a variety of job duties with other skilled employees.

 

Vehicle Maintenance


Transit Electronic Technicians
are responsible for troubleshooting and performing repairs on various Intelligent Transportation System’s electronic equipment onboard mass transit coaches (farebox, cameras and digital video recorder, Automatic Passenger Counter (APC), ORCA card reader, driver’s display unit (DDU), and networking system with Cradlepoint’s wireless router), vehicle auxiliary and ancillary equipment, and on the electrical propulsion systems and components for Metro Transit’s trolley and hybrid fleets.

Becoming a Transit Electronic Technician at Metro is an opportunity to directly affect your community. Your daily accomplishments are part of the team effort to mobilize the entire county with clean, dependable, and safe transportation in a cost effective, environmentally sensitive, and timely manner with a work force that highly values communication, diversity, and teamwork.

Skill sets: The Transit Electronic Technician classification is a journey-level position. We are looking for at least two years of vocational, college-level, or military electronics training or a graduate from an accredited electronics apprenticeship program and two years' experience troubleshooting and repairing electronic equipment or any equivalent combination of education and work experience that provides the applicant with the knowledge and skills to perform the work of the position.

Build your skills and career: As a Transit Electronic Technician, you will be trained to work on the latest technology of electrical and hybrid powertrain components and systems for mass transit coaches.

The Transit Electronic Technician classification can be a steppingstone that propels you upwards toward careers that challenge and showcase your leadership skills and abilities throughout Metro Transit and King County.

Applicant testing: Candidates will be required to pass a basic electronics test.

Other trades positions in our divisions

And there are more! Signup for job alerts to stay in the loop on Metro Trades.

Rail

  • Rail Signal and Communications Technician
  • Rail Laborer
  • Rail Service Worker

About Rail




Vehicle Maintenance

  • Equipment Service Worker
  • Upholsterer
  • Utility Service Worker

About Vehicle Maintenance




Facilities

  • Carpenter
  • Electrician Constructor (Electrician)
  • Painter

About Facilities

Hiring process

  • Submit your application

    • Applications are accepted online on King County Jobs page
    • All information must be included in the application. We do not review materials unless they are specifically asked for (such as resumes and cover letters).
    • Make sure to address the requested skills we have requested in the job announcement in your application materials when you are describing what you did at previous employers.
  • Testing and interview

    If your application is found to be competitive, you will be invited to participate in further evaluation of your skills and knowledge such as testing and/or interviews.

    Depending on the Trades position applied for, there may be technical testing, online skills testing, or a physical test to demonstrate that you are able to perform the job. Testing will differ by position and some may not have testing.

    Candidates who successfully pass any testing will then be invited to an interview.

  • Conditional offer: 4-6 weeks to complete pre-employment

    Based on the results of your interview, you may receive a “conditional” job offer to start. This offer is conditional upon you passing the pre-employment process that includes:

    • Physical exam (job ready, DOT or USCG—paid for by Metro Transit
    • 5-Year driving record review
    • Drug screening (only if required)
    • Professional reference's and/ or employment verification

    You will receive a formal offer when you have successfully passed the required pre-employment process steps.

  • Start your career with Metro!

    Congratulations! Once you have passed the pre-employment process, we will assign you a start date. You will attend a New Employee Orientation and Welcome to Metro presentation as well as safety training and position specific training for your Metro Transit Division. Welcome aboard!

Discover Rail, Vehicle Maintenance and Transit Facilities

Rail workers and truck 

Rail

Metro Transit's Rail Division is responsible for operating and maintaining Link Light Rail service on a 20.4 mile route from south of Sea-Tac Airport to Northgate. Expansion over the next five years alone will include the addition of more than 20 stations and 40 miles of light rail track which is a critical part of the region's transportation network. Working in Rail offers a wide variety of opportunities to showcase your skills as the Rail Division grows. This planned growth will create many promotional and training opportunities for personnel. Get in on the ground floor with a trades position in the Rail Division and get your career started with Metro!

Metro bus in the shop

Vehicle maintenance

King County Metro is a national transportation leader providing public transit in buses, light rail, paratransit, water taxi, vanpools, and more! The Vehicle Maintenance Division is responsible for maintenance and cleaning the fleets to keep our county moving and thriving. This team promotes safe work practices, collaborative work styles, diverse work environments, and career pathways. Using advanced technology and continual training programs, the division operates effectively and efficiently creating a learning culture where knowledge sharing is essential for long term personal and professional growth. In Vehicle Maintenance, there are opportunities for cross training, future advancement, and career development. It is the duty of all team members to promote an atmosphere of excellence to serve our communities by providing mobility services to all King County residents. A position in Vehicle Maintenance at Metro is a steppingstone that propels you upwards toward careers that challenge and showcase your leadership skills and abilities throughout Metro Transit and King County.

Metro mechanic welding metal

Transit Facilities Division

Transit Facilities provides the maintenance and custodial services to all Metro’s buildings facilities and other assets in King County. The maintenance and service support teams provide effective and efficient maintenance service utilizing state of the art technology and eco green products for safe practices. The service management section provides superior support functions from finance, safety compliance and asset management for the implementation of policies and procedures for management of infrastructure and services management agreements. The Metro Transit Facilities Division operates in a learning and diverse culture promoting social equity in a work environment created to promote personal and professional development within team members.

Apprenticeships and pathways

 

Trade Apprenticeships

Metro has created pathways for employees to advance their skills and careers. Qualified employees working at Metro in utility and equipment service, custodial and other non-trades positions can find opportunities in Metro’s apprenticeship programs.

Apprenticeship serves as a crucial pathway for qualified Metro employees to become skilled trades people.

Learn more about our Trade Apprenticeships

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