Transit Mechanic Apprentice - CS

King County; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Join King County Metro as an Apprentice Mechanic, where you'll play a pivotal role in maintaining the safety and efficiency of the region's transit vehicles. This position offers comprehensive training in vehicle systems while allowing you to gain hands-on experience in a dynamic environment dedicated to improving public mobility. The role entails a commitment to safety standards, working collaboratively within a diverse team, and embracing ongoing education in mechanics.

Qualifications

• Basic knowledge of diagnostic tools and equipment for automotive repairs.
• Skill in basic mathematics.

Responsibilities

• Assist in the maintenance of coaches and associated equipment.
• Learn and perform maintenance, repair and overhaul of various engine and vehicle systems.
• Operate a variety of power and hand tools.

Skills

Basic knowledge of automotive mechanics

Communication skills

Customer service skills

Interpersonal skills

Basic computer skills

Skill in using hand and power tools

Education

Valid Washington State Driver License

Job description

This recruitment is open to all King County Metro employees to apply except current Metro employees in the Journey Level Transit Mechanic job classification.

Learn how Metro connects you with what matters

About the Transit Mechanic

We've got an outstanding team of Transit Mechanics - come help us be even better!Bring your safe work practice, your collaborativework style, your desire to work in a diverse work environment, and your excitement to make a difference to Metro!

Come be part of an award winning and forward-thinking organization. Expand your skills while you work in a large mass transit environment.

As an Apprentice Mechanic, you willassist in the maintenance of all coaches and associated equipment. As they gain more knowledge and experience, employees perform increasingly more responsible coach and component repair duties under the close supervision of experienced mechanics. Successful candidates will be expected to participate in training classes related to this trade and will be considered in training status until they attain Journey Level status as a mechanic.

About King County and Metro Transit Vehicle Maintenance - #TradesJobs
As a mobility agency, we move hundreds of thousands of people in our region every day, helping them get to their destination. We know that mobility connects people to opportunity — and that destination is sometimes more than an actual place. It may be a new job, a better education, a critical medical appointment, or a chance to start over.

The Mission of Vehicle Maintenance is to provide customers safe, dependable, clean transportation in a timely, cost effective, environmentally sensitive manner, with a workforce that values teamwork, communication, and diversity. By providing safe, reliable, and equitable public transportation services, we can—and will—improve regional mobility and quality of life in King County.

The Vehicle Maintenance section operates a twenty-four-hour shop with three shifts (day, swing, and graveyard) seven days a week at various locations throughout King County. Openings may occur on all shifts. Staff pick their work two times annually, and new hires must be able to accept any shift at any location.

Safety Sensitive Position

This 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.

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. Under the general supervision of qualified mechanics, lead mechanics and higher-level vehicle maintenance supervisors, as the Apprentice Mechanic, you will:

• Gain experience as a Transit Mechanic and be assigned increasingly responsible work while working more independently in areas where you have demonstrated skill, as you learn all aspects of coach maintenance and repair.
• Learn and perform maintenance, repair and overhaul of engine, transmission, suspension, electrical, pneumatic, hydraulic, and related components, and assemblies.
• Assist mechanics in diagnosis, disassembly, repair, and reassembling of engines, transmissions, differentials, brakes, heads, injectors, and other mechanical equipment.
• Work in specialty areas at the Component Supply Center (CSC) to learn to rebuild components in each of the bus systems and other skills.
• Operate a variety of power and hand tools.
• Operate gas, diesel, and electric-powered vehicles.
• Input and extract diagnostic data using a computer terminal.
• Work requires incumbents to learn and transfer new and expanded mechanical, electrical, and electronic knowledge and skills as diagnostic systems and mechanical/electronic components are modified and updated.
• Timely completion of, and passing, all related supplementary training classes, seminars, courses, and examinations, deemed necessary for the apprenticeship program.
• Work requires compliance with all applicable federally mandated safety-sensitive requirements.
• Perform other related duties as required.

At a minimum, to qualify for this position you will need:

• Basic knowledge of automotive mechanics and components of gasoline and diesel-powered engines.
• Basic knowledge of the diagnostic tools, methods, and equipment use, in automotive and equipment repairs.
• Communication skills*Customer service skills.
• Interpersonal skills.
• Basic computer skills required to enter and extract information from automated vehicle maintenance systems and related software applications.
• Skill in the use of hand and power tools used in automotive mechanics.
• Skill in basic mathematics.
• Skill in working with a variety of individuals from diverse backgrounds.
• Skill in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships.

Necessary Special Requirements:

• Must have a valid Washington State Driver License and acceptable five-year driving record at time of hire.
• 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 post-offer, pre-employment physical examination.
• Willingness and availability to work on weekdays, nights, weekends, and holidays during the term of the apprenticeship and upon completion of the program.
• Within six months of hire, a candidate must be able to obtain a Class B Commercial Driver License (CDL) with a 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 the required Class B CDL.
  • Please Note: to obtain a CLP in Washington State, you must be able to provide your current license, the medical certification obtained through the required physical (DOT Card,) your 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: Commercial Learner's Permit (CLP) | Washington State Department of Licensing.

Who May Apply
This position is open to current King County employees; however, current Metro Transit Journey Level Mechanics will not be eligible for these apprenticeship positions. For Tips on Applying, please visit http://www.kingcounty.gov/jobs/applying.aspx.

*Please note:This recruitment is open to all King County Metro employees to apply; however, positions will first be filled with qualified Vehicle Maintenance (VM) employees. All remaining positions may be offered to current non-VM internal, or external, qualified candidates, in that order and in accordance with the ATU 587 labor agreement.

Selection Process

Applications will be screened for minimum qualifications. All those passing screening will be invited to an in-person written and hands-on aptitude test. The aptitude tests are designed to evaluate the candidates' mechanical aptitude. These will be closed book exams. Those passing testing will be invited to one or more in-person panel interviews. The most competitive candidates will be extended a conditional offer of employment based on their weighted performance throughout the entire recruitment process. Vacancies will be filled with current career service VM employees first. Remaining vacancies will then be filled with TLT or non-VM King County employees. If vacancies remain, they may be filled with external candidates.

Conditional job offers will be converted to final/formal job offers upon completion of all pre-employment process tasks, which at least include: a physical examination and drug screen, drug and alcohol background check, successful record review for internal candidates (see below) or reference checks from previous/current employer(s) and review of driving record.

In the previous 12 months, current employee applicants must:

• Have no more than seven accident points.
• Have a minimum of 2.5 on their last evaluation. If the employee only has a probationary evaluation, they must have a minimum of a B in each category.

Vacancy Information

This recruitment will be used to fill at least three (3) vacancies for the 4-year Apprentice Mechanic.

This recruitment may be used to create an eligibility list of qualified candidates to fill additional career service vacancies identified in this classification. Lists may be active up to 9 months, at the discretion of the hiring authority.

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 process, or if you have questions, please contact Robin St. James via email at [e-mail].

Work Schedule

Employees in this non-exempt classification work a 40-hour per week schedule with two consecutive days off, but not necessarily Saturday and Sunday.An apprentice will have to complete a college-level heavy-duty diesel course as part of the program. Prior heavy-duty diesel credits may apply toward this requirement.

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.

Union Representation
Positions in this classification are represented by Amalgamated Transit Union, Local 587.

Classification Code

8442000 / This is the first of a three-level Mechanic classification series. The series includes Transit Mechanic - Apprentice, Transit Mechanic, Transit Mechanic - Lead.

For more information regarding this recruitment, please contact the recruiter:
Japatra McGee (she/her)
Human Resources Talent Advisor
[e-mail]

Forbes recently named King County 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 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.