Highway Maintenance Specialist

Initial Posting Date:
07/14/2026

Application Deadline:
07/28/2026

Agency:
Department of Transportation

Salary Range:
$4,312 - $5,988

Position Type:
Employee

Position Title:
Highway Maintenance Specialist

Job Description:

Transportation Maintenance Specialist 2 - Highway Maintenance Specialist
Oregon Department of Transportation
Delivery & Operations Division - Region 5
Maintenance Crew
Pendleton

The role:

Do you want to use your skills to make a difference? Join our hardworking Pendleton maintenance crew and help keep Oregon's roads and travelers safe throughout Umatilla County! As part of our team, you will operate equipment necessary to maintain and repair roadways, highways, bridges and structures. You will also help with emergency cleanup and traffic control after storms, spills, incidents and more! See what a day in the life of maintenance crews can look like as we work to help travelers get where they need to go safely. Apply today!


Our first application screening is scheduled for 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, July 28, 2026 . We encourage interested applicants not to delay in applying.


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.

Before applying, visit our applicant information website to learn more about our process. If you are a current State of Oregon employee, you must apply through your employee Workday profile

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.
  
  
• Maintain drainage systems, dig and clean ditches and repair culverts, inlets and erosion.
  
• Clear debris, clear brush, mow grass and spray roadside vegetation.
  
• Maintain and repair fences, guardrails, concrete barriers and milepost markers.
  
• 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 View email address on click.appcast.io
  

What's in it for you:

• Work/life balance, 11 paid holidays a year, flexible work schedules, 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!
  

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Minimum qualifications:

One year of experience performing basic highway maintenance work.

OR

Two years of general landscaping, maintenance, mechanical, farming, logging, and/or construction experience or training.

Special qualifications:

• 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 1327 SE 3rd St., Pendleton, OR 97801 for emergency call-outs.
  
• This position requires the final candidate obtain their Public Pesticide Applicator's license within six months of hire.
  

What we'd like to see:

If you have these attributes, let us know in your application materials! It's how we will choose whom to move forward! You do not need to have all these qualities to be eligible for this position. We may also use transferable skills, experience and education to help us decide who will move forward.

• 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.
  
• Experience using hand tools and operating light and heavy equipment such as tractors, excavators, loaders or dump trucks.
  
• Experience completing basic mechanical repairs on light and heavy vehicles or equipment.
  
• Experience working safely around traffic and work zones.
  
• Willingness to learn new things.
  
• Experience working on a team and helping others.
  

How to apply:

• Complete the following required steps:
  
  • Fill out the application or attach a resume. Please contact the recruiter under the 'Need help?' section if you have any questions about how to fill out the experience fields or to attach a document. Your submitted experience fields or attached resume must include dates (MM/YYYY) for each employer.
    
  • Complete questionnaire. Answer the checkbox-style questions before submitting your application.
    
• After you submit your application, please respond to the public records request authorization and gender identity questionnaire. This screen will come after you submit and will complete the process. If you are a current State of Oregon employee, the tasks will come to your Workday inbox.
  
• If you are a veteran or Oregon National Guard servicemember, you may receive preference. The task to upload your documents will be available after you submit your application. For privacy reasons, please do not attach your military service document(s) to your application or combine it with any other required document attachments.
  

Need help?

• For questions, call View phone number on click.appcast.io or email View email address on click.appcast.io.
  

Additional information:

• This recruitment will remain open until filled. Our first application screening is scheduled for 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, 07/28/2026, but we may close the announcement at any time after this date when we have received an adequate number of applications. We cannot guarantee that we will consider applications received after this screening date. We encourage interested applicants not to delay in applying.
  
  
• 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 Affirmative 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 View phone number on click.appcast.io. Oregon Relay Service can be reached by calling 7-1-1.

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Snowplow, road maintenance, highway, farming, flagging