Automotive and Equipment Technician 3 (Statewide Shops) at State of Washington – Issaquah, Washington

Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission

Job Title: Automotive and Equipment Technician 3
Location: Issaquah, WA
Closes: Continuous. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis starting March 9th, 2026. We strongly recommend applying as soon as possible. The hiring manager reserves the right to close the posting at any time once a selection has been made.

Position Status: This is a permanent position. In addition to base salary, employees may be entitled to other forms of compensation depending on the type, duties, or location of the position. For union-represented positions, more information on other forms of compensation can be found in the applicable Collective Bargaining Agreements.

About this position:

The Automotive and Equipment Technician 3 (ET3) is responsible for the maintenance, inspection, and repair of Washington State Parks fleet of vehicles and grounds equipment. It is essential that Parks staff have reliable, functional vehicles and equipment to help them complete the organization's mission to keep parks safe and enjoyable for the public to use.

This position is not eligible to telework, as physical in-office presence is required to perform essential functions.

The Equipment Technician 3 position at WA State Parks Shops provides a great opportunity for a technician to expand their skills repairing and maintaining a large variety of equipment and vehicles. Our clean, well-stocked shop provides our technicians with the tools and equipment to accomplish our mission, to have the best fleet in the state. We offer competitive pay, benefits and paid time off. If you would like to join our well-rounded crew of technicians with many years of experience, please apply.

Duties include but are not limited to:

• Performs journey-level repair and maintenance of WA State Parks fleet including various makes and models of equipment, light vehicles, heavy industrial/commercial equipment, including trucks over 26K GVWR.
• Performs major and minor mechanical repairs, overhauls, and preventative maintenance.
• Orders replacement parts, as needed.
• May meets with sales personnel and vendor representatives to discuss equipment component requirements and product availability.
• Inspects, diagnoses, and makes major and minor repairs to on and off highway vehicles and equipment such as cars, pick-up trucks, semi-trucks and trailers, various makes of heavy equipment, specialized mechanical equipment; emergency vehicles such as Law Enforcement vehicles; heavy industrial equipment such as power shovels, graders, backhoes, dozers, snow blowers, front loaders, rollers, sweepers, forklift, woodchippers, and other Parks owned equipment.
• Inspects, diagnoses, and makes repairs to light industrial/commercial grounds equipment such as pumps, generators, farm equipment and implements, and lawn mowing equipment.
• Operates hand tools, power tools, and shop equipment such as grinders, vacuum gauge, voltage and regulator tester, wheel balancer, drill press, wheel pullers, lathes, jacks, air tools, OBD diagnostic scanner, digital volt meters, computerized diagnostic devices and software, emission testers, and various other equipment used in heavy and/or industrial/commercial equipment repair.
• Performs diagnostics, repair and maintenance of steering and suspension systems, hydraulic systems, air brake systems, computer control systems, and safety systems.
• Rebuilds engines, transmissions, and differentials.
• Road tests vehicles and equipment.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Option 1:

• A minimum of (5) years of full-time journey-level experience diagnosing and complete rebuilding of various makes and models of gas-powered vehicles
• and five (5) years of full-time journey-level experience diagnosing and complete rebuilding of various makes and models of on and off highway heavy equipment and diesel trucks and trailers
• and a valid unrestricted (except for corrective lenses) driver's license.

Option 2:

• An associate's degree in Automotive and Diesel technology from an accredited school
• and three (3) years of full-time journey-level experience diagnosing and complete rebuilding of various makes and models of gas-powered vehicles
• and three (3) years of full-time journey-level experience diagnosing and complete rebuilding of various make and models of on and off highway heavy equipment and diesel trucks and trailers
• and a valid unrestricted (except for corrective lenses) driver's license.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Ability to operate state motor vehicles, and various hand and power tools.
• Effective written and oral communication skills and recollection of verbal and written instructions.
• Ability to solve problems and make independent reasonable decisions.
• Take action to learn and grow, considering and incorporating new information and different perspectives.
• Ability to take action to meet the needs of others, collaborating with others to overcome challenges and find solutions.
• In depth understanding of gas/diesel engines, transmissions, drivetrains, and differentials.
• Ability to use state-of-the-art diagnostic tools, scanners, computers.
• Ability to read/ understand wiring diagrams and interpret complex service manuals, schematics, and diagnostic flow charts.
• Knowledge of complex hydraulic systems and controls.
• Independent troubleshooting /repair ability.
• Proficiency with a wide array of hand tools, power tools, and specialized equipment like hydraulic presses, gas torches, vehicle lifting/hoists.
• Adaptability to keep up with rapidly changing vehicle technologies (heavy and light emissions systems, and alternate power sources).

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Two (2) years of professional/journey-level experience fabricating and welding.
• ASE certifications
• Specialized manufacture training
• Class A CDL / manual transmission endorsement

Uniform Information: All Equipment Technicians are required to wear a uniform (coverall laundry services will be provided).

Working Conditions: Position works four (4) days a week, 10 hours a day. Core working hours are typically 6:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Monday - Thursday. Work schedule and hours may be flexible to meet business needs.

Work tasks vary, which require working with and interacting with park staff, private contractors, and the public. Work is performed inside of a heavy equipment repair shop environment which may expose you to loud noises and engine, gas, solvent fumes. Working in the shop or field in all weather conditions.

Work tasks will require crawling, squatting, lying on back, climbing ladders, reaching above head, pushing and pulling, turning and twisting, sitting up for one hour without breaks, uneven surfaces, using fine motor skills (grabbing, pinching, etc.) hand and eye coordination. Performing duties/standing for 45-minutes, lifting and carrying up to 50 lbs., operating small combustible engines, driving motorized vehicles up to two hours without a break, working in confined spaces, heights to 25 feet above ground level, and working around loud noises within safety limits. Occasional travel is required for annual training/maintenance conference.

How to apply:
Only candidates who reflect the minimum qualifications on their NEOGOV profile will be considered. Failure to follow the application instructions below may lead to disqualification. To apply for this position, you will need to complete your profile which includes three professional references and attach:

• A cover letter that specifically addresses how you meet the qualifications for this position
• Current resumé

To take advantage of veteran preference, please do the following:

• Attach a copy of your DD214 (Member 4 long-form copy), NGB 22, or USDVA signed verification of service letter.
• Please black out any PII (personally identifiable information) data such as social security numbers. Include your name as it appears on your application in careers.wa.gov.
• For more information on Veteran's Preference and instructions on how to check your eligibility, click here.

About Parks:
Want to join a great organization? The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission manage one of the largest, most diverse--and most beautiful—parks systems in the country. With more than 120,000 acres, the system includes 124 developed parks, including 19 marine parks, 11 historical parks, 35 heritage sites, 13 interpretive centers and approximately 500 miles of long-distance recreation trails. Parks is staffed with nearly 1,000 employees (summers), who are some of the most passionate employees you'll find anywhere. For more information on Washington State Parks, click here.

Note: This position is covered by the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE). Once the listed position(s) is(are) filled, this recruitment announcement may also be used to fill additional position(s) for up to sixty (60) days.

Prior to a new hire, a background check including criminal record history will be conducted. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment.

Persons needing accommodation in the application process or this job announcement in an alternative format may contact the human resources office at (360) 902-8565. Applicants who are deaf or hard of hearing may call through the Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6388.

For information about the recruitment process and qualifications, please contact Wendy Vandel at Wendy.vandel@parks.wa.gov or (360) 902-8688.

For information about this position, please contact John Nichols at John.Nichols@parks.wa.gov or (425) 649-4278.

All applicants with a legal right to work in the United States are encouraged to apply.

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