Highway Maintenance Specialist

Oregon Department of Transportation; Hermiston (OR); On-site; USD 48,000 - 67,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

11 paid holidays a year

Paid leave and benefits

Job summary

The Oregon Department of Transportation seeks a Highway Maintenance Specialist to join the Hermiston crew, maintaining roads across Umatilla County with heavy equipment and routine repairs. The role requires ability to work in diverse weather and potentially lift up to 60 pounds.

Applicants should have two years of landscaping/maintenance experience and at least one year in highway maintenance. A CDL-A with tanker endorsement is preferred, training available if needed.

Qualifications

• Two years of general landscaping, maintenance, mechanical, farming, logging, and/or construction experience or training.
• One year of experience performing basic highway maintenance work.

Responsibilities

• Operate a variety of heavy and light equipment to maintain and repair surfaces.
• Assist with weather related emergencies and operate snowplows and deicer trucks.
• Perform minor surface repairs including pothole and concrete patching.
• Clear debris, maintain vegetation and mow grass along roadsides.
• Maintain fences, guardrails and milepost markers.
• Maintain drainage systems and repair culverts.
• Care for wooded areas and perform basic landscaping tasks.
• Service and repair tools and motorized equipment.
• Perform janitorial, painting and light carpentry tasks.
• Face exposure to noise, weather, and hazardous materials.
• Be able to lift up to 60 pounds and move across rough terrain.

Skills

Landscaping experience

Maintenance experience

Job description

Job Description

Transportation Maintenance Specialist 2 – Highway Maintenance Specialist

Oregon Department of Transportation

Delivery & Operations Division – Region 5

Maintenance Crew

Hermiston

The Role

Do you want to use your skills to make a difference? Join the Hermiston Maintenance crew in providing road maintenance services throughout Umatilla County Oregon. ODOT’s Maintenance and Operations crews tackle the daily activities needed to keep Oregon’s transportation system safe and open for travelers and freight. We are here for the day‑to‑day needs, extreme weather events, and everything in‑between. ODOT’s goal is the same as yours – we want you to get where you need to go safely. Check out our information video and see what a day in the life of ODOT work may look like.

We provide a safe and reliable multimodal transportation system that connects people and helps Oregon's communities and economy thrive. We encourage people from all backgrounds and abilities to apply for our positions.

Initial Posting Date

08/19/2026

Application Deadline

09/02/2026

Agency

Department of Transportation

Salary Range

$4,312 - $5,988

Position Type

Employee

Position Title

Highway Maintenance Specialist

A Day In The Life

• Operate a variety of heavy and light equipment and tools to maintain and repair various surfaces.
• Assist with weather related emergencies and operate snowplows, deicer trucks and other equipment to clear snow from roadways.
• Perform minor surface repairs including pothole and concrete patching and small inlay work.
• Clear debris, clear brush, mow grass and spray roadside vegetation.
• Maintain and repair fences, guardrails, concrete barriers and milepost markers.
• Maintain drainage systems, dig and clean ditches and repair culverts, inlets and erosion.
• Maintain wooded areas which includes replanting, pruning, thinning or trimming trees, shrubs and groundcover.
• Service and repair tools and motorized equipment.
• Perform minor maintenance including janitorial work, landscaping, painting and light carpentry.
• Exposure to noise, extreme heights, all weather conditions, heavy equipment, pesticides and hazardous waste materials is expected.
• Must be able to move around rough terrain, bend and stoop for extended periods and may need to lift up to 60 pounds.
• May need to be available after hours, on weekends and holidays for emergency, on call and weather related purposes.
• To request a copy of the position description, which includes all duties and working conditions, please email [e-mail].

What’s In It For You

• Work/life balance, 11 paid holidays a year, paid leave and so much more. Learn more about working at the Oregon Department of Transportation and the benefits we offer.
• Comprehensive and equitable base salary offer within the listed range. Through an equal pay assessment, we will determine the salary offer using the information you provide in your submitted application materials. Please ensure your application materials are detailed, accurate and reflect your skills, experience (paid and unpaid) and education as they relate to the position when applying.
• The salary range listed is the non-PERS monthly salary range. If you are already a participating PERS member or once you become PERS eligible, the salary range will increase by 6.95%.
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness opportunity!

Minimum Qualifications

• Two years of general landscaping, maintenance, mechanical, farming, logging, and/or construction experience or training;
• One year of experience performing basic highway maintenance work.

Special Qualifications

Employee will be required to use a commercial motor vehicle to conduct business. You must possess a current, valid commercial driver’s license A (CDL-A) with a tanker endorsement, no air brake restrictions, no 5th wheel restrictions and no manual transmission restrictions, OR have the ability to acquire a class A commercial learner permit within 60 days of hire and a CDL-A with a tanker endorsement and restrictions removed within six months of hire (ODOT will cover training costs) to be considered eligible for this position.

A valid driver license and an acceptable driving record are required for this position. We will conduct pre-employment driving records checks, including Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) Clearinghouse registration and full query check for our final candidate(s) and annual query for current employees.

As of Sept. 29, 2025, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has rescinded prior guidance that allowed state DMVs to issue limited term commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs). As a result, individuals who hold a lawful employment authorization document (EAD) are no longer eligible to obtain a commercial learner’s permit (CLP) or commercial driver’s license (CDL). This federal policy change may impact candidates applying for positions that require a CDL. For more information, please refer to the FMCSA announcement and the accompanying FAQ.

This position requires a maximum 60 minute response time to 1840 S Hwy 395, Hermiston, OR 97814 for emergency call-outs.

What We’d Like To See

• Experience in road maintenance, construction or in a maintenance training program such as ODOT High School to Highway program, ODOT/ODF Fire and Ice program, Job Corps, etc.
• A current, valid commercial driver’s license A (CDL-A) is preferred.
• Winter maintenance experience such as sanding, deicing or using snow blowers or snowplows.
• Experience using hand tools and operating light and heavy equipment such as tractors, excavators, loaders or dump trucks.
• Experience working in potential hazardous traffic and work zones practicing safety awareness.
• Experience completing basic mechanical repairs on light and heavy vehicles or equipment.
• Experience working on a team and training others.

Additional Information

• We do not offer visa sponsorship. If you are hired, you will be required to fill out the US Department of Homeland Security’s I-9 form confirming you are able to work in the US. We are not an E-Verify participating employer, and we are unable to proceed if E-Verify participation is required [e.g., STEM Optional Practical Training (OPT) Extension].
• The State of Oregon does not request or require your age, date of birth, attendance or graduation dates from an education institution during the application process.
• We may use this recruitment to fill multiple or future vacancies.
• We will conduct name-based criminal background checks on final candidates, not including current ODOT employees. All applicants may be subject to additional pre-employment check(s) such as driver license, LEDS (Law Enforcement Data System), and/or education verification as required for the position.
• You will be represented by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU).

ODOT is an Equal Employment Opportunity and Afficiative Action Employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin, disability, sexual orientation or any other class protected by state or federal laws in admission or access to our programs, services, activities, hiring, and employment practices. Applicants with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation during the application process. For questions, concerns, or complaints regarding EEO/AA/ADA, contact 1-877-336-6368 (1-877-EEO-ODOT). This information can be made available in an alternative format by contacting ODOT Recruitment at 503-986-3700. Oregon Relay Service can be reached by calling 7-1-1.

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