Mechanical Engineer (Transit Engineer IV)

King County's Metro Transit Capital Division is seeking a Mechanical Engineer (Transit Engineer IV) to join a talented team of professionals to shape the future of sustainable transportation. If you are passionate about collaboration, complex and varied infrastructure, and contributing to impactful projects, we invite you to join our team!

As a Mechanical Engineer in the Capital Division’s Engineering Services Section, you will be part of a team that supports some of Metro’s most critical infrastructure. Primary responsibilities include building institutional knowledge while working with Facilities Maintenance and Environmental Compliance staff on projects that support the State of Good Repair of existing vehicle maintenance and operational facilities. Other work includes Passenger Facilities and Zero-Emissions Program initiatives, and other meaningful public-facing and internal projects.

In this role, you’ll ensure delivery of high-quality engineering work products and develop positive and productive relationships with a variety of tradespeople as well as office-based professionals.

About Metro Transit and the Capital Division 

King County Metro Transit is a trailblazer in public transportation, committed to connecting people to work, reducing commuter stress, and enhancing urban air quality. By providing comfortable and effective transit services, Metro benefits thousands of commuters and residents across King County, Washington. Renowned for pioneering innovations, we continue to set the standard in the nation's public transportation industry.

The Capital Division plays a vital role in delivering groundbreaking programs, such as Zero Emissions (ZE) infrastructure. Our teams are at the forefront of electrifying bus bases and establishing opportunity charging along transit corridors. Beyond electrification, the Capital Division ensures that Metro’s facilities remain safe, efficient, and ready to support daily operations. Through ongoing maintenance, upgrades, and modernization efforts, we help keep the system running smoothly. By integrating green building practices and sustainable design in every project, we reinforce Metro’s commitment to a cleaner, healthier and brighter future for all.

Why Work at King County Metro

• Be part of a nationally recognized agency advancing sustainable and equitable public transportation.
• Shape meaningful projects that improve daily travel for thousands of riders.
• Join a workplace that prioritizes diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Enjoy a hybrid work environment supported by collaborative teams.
• Access competitive medical, dental, and vision coverage, plus life and disability insurance and retirement options through the PERS pension system and 457(b) plan.
• Benefit from generous paid time off, including holidays, vacation, sick leave, parental leave, and volunteer leave.
• Take advantage of additional programs such as commuter benefits with an ORCA pass, flexible spending accounts, wellness resources, activity centers, and EAP support.

Recruitment Information: 

This recruitment will be used to fill one Career Service vacancy. In addition, this selection process may be used to generate an eligibility pool for future Career Service, Special Duty Assignment, or term-limited temporary vacancies that may occur in this classification and workgroup within the Capital Division. The eligibility pool will be retained for 12 months from the time it is established and may be extended or used at the discretion of the hiring authority.   

Who may apply:

We welcome applications from all interested candidates, including current King County employees and the public. Please refer to the "Supplemental Information" section of this job bulletin for the required application materials.

Questions? If you have questions regarding this position or recruitment, please contact Kam Kaur, Talent Advisor at [email protected].Applying our ACTIVATE values: being Accountable, Collaborative, Timely, and Impactful; how we Value Employees; staying Accessible; building what’s Trusted; and acting Equitably, is a daily responsibility and a foundational expectation for all King County employees. 

As a Mechanical Engineer, you will:

• Develop and analyze project alternatives, prepare and review mechanical engineering designs, specifications and cost estimates for transit facility capital projects, primarily in the area of HVAC, industrial facility utilities and equipment, underground and aboveground fueling and maintenance fluid distribution systems.
• Coordinate mechanical designs with electrical, structural and civil engineering units.
• Review consultant-produced predesign reports, designs, specifications and cost estimates.
• Assist project managers with project scopes, budgets and schedules.
• Provide engineering support to construction managers including contractor submittal reviews and field inspections.
• Provide engineering services to Metro Transit stakeholder groups and regulatory agencies to address concerns related to existing and planned facilities.
• Develop and maintain successful relationships with internal and external customers.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

We are looking for candidates who meet the following minimum qualifications:

The successful candidate will have a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering from a nationally accredited university, and five years' experience as an engineer OR the equivalent combination of education and experience which provides the applicant with the skills, knowledge and abilities required to perform the work. This position also requires five years’ experience as a licensed Professional Engineer, concurrent or consecutive to the base experience qualification listed above. Additional requirements:

• Active Professional Engineer (PE) license in WA State. Candidates licensed outside Washington must obtain Washington State PE licensure within six months of hire through reciprocity.
• Demonstrated ability to be analytical, innovative, and make independent decisions.
• Knowledge of pertinent laws, codes and regulations, including LEED and Green Building project principles.
• Ability to collaborate with a variety of individuals from diverse backgrounds with diverging opinions and establish productive relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Can manage multiple tasks and schedules and prioritize work, able to communicate if deadline conflicts or other workload issues arise.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Work experience being responsible for multiple simultaneous complex projects.
• Experience coordinating with engineering consultants for mechanical system design.
• Experience producing technical and budget documents for a non-technical audience; skills include planning, writing, reviewing and editing for content and readability.
• A valid Washington State Driver’s License or ability to get one by the time of hire. Ability to drive to and access work sites. 

The most competitive candidates will also meet these desired qualifications:

• Design experience with underground and aboveground fuel and industrial fluid storage tanks and the applicable regulatory requirements.
• Design experience with any of the following: industrial waste collection systems, HVAC, industrial facility utilities and equipment, fire suppression, aging public infrastructure.
• Participation in LEED, Green Buildings, or other sustainability related projects.
• Experience reviewing others’ mechanical engineering work products and/or mentoring EITs or entry level engineers

Application Process:

If you are interested in pursuing this position and supporting King County’s vision for unified, equitable, and high-performing government, please follow the application instructions carefully. Provide us with your work history as applicable, ensuring that you provide details that highlight your ability to fulfill the requirements for this position.

If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, or you would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process, please contact Kam Kaur, Talent Advisor, at [email protected]. 

Required Application Materials:

• Submit an online application through our careers site. Update your application with all relevant work history going back at least 10 years (or more if necessary), including detailed job duties, dates of employment, and clear explanations for reasons for leaving.
• Attach a resume.
• Attach a Writing Sample: Submit Predesign Report or Alternatives Analysis, or comparable writing sample with application
• Thoroughly respond to all required Supplemental Questions within the application.

Please visit this page if you need assistance with your application, need links to Career Support Services, and for Application FAQs - Find a job with us - King County, Washington.

Selection Process:

Applications and required documents will be reviewed for clarity, thoroughness, competitiveness, and writing skills. Your application must confirm and support your answers to the supplemental questions and any experience mentioned in your resume. If responses cannot be validated within your application, or if applications are missing the required materials listed in this job announcement, candidates may be removed from consideration.

The most competitive candidates may be asked to participate in one or more panel interviews. Final scores may be weighted to consider overall application materials, relevant experience, and interview scores. Offers and start dates will be finalized after completing any required pre-employment screenings, such as reference checks and/or internal record reviews.

Work Schedule:

Our regular business hours are 40 hours per week, Monday through Friday. However, work outside of these hours may occasionally be required. This position is classified as exempt under the Fair Labor Standards Act, and therefore, is not eligible for overtime pay. We may also consider flexible hours.

Work Location:

The main work site associated with these positions is King Street Center, 201 S. Jackson St, Seattle WA 98104.

This is a hybrid role, requiring a combination of remote and onsite work at various King County facilities. Employees are currently expected to work onsite 2 days per week, and this is anticipated to increase to 3 days per week starting 2027. A County-issued laptop will be provided, and employees must maintain a dedicated workspace with reliable internet access to perform their duties efficiently and remain accessible during scheduled work hours.

Employees must reside in WA state and within a reasonable distance of their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements. 

Safety Responsibility: Employees
• Responsible for understanding this policy and their role in safety
• Report all safety concerns
• Follow safety practices and procedures as necessary to maintain a safe work environment and in conformance with applicable regulations, policies, and training
• Report safety and security concerns and ideas to supervisors or anonymously through data collection system

Union Representation: This position is represented by the Technical Employees Association. 
Class Code: 714502 Transit Engineer IV

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.

King County's Vision, Mission, and ACTIVATE Values unite us.

King County serves residents with a relentless sense of urgency, delivering on commitments with transparency and accountability. We are action-oriented, creative problem solvers who collaborate across roles, engage directly with communities, and challenge the status quo to achieve meaningful impact. As a unified team, we uphold high ethical and stewardship standards, embrace change, stay curious, and continuously improve. Across all interactions, we listen first, act quickly, and stay aligned as a team to earn and sustain public trust. Learn more about our Vision, Mission, and ACTIVATE Values here and visit our Why work at King County page here.

King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer

No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on sex, race, color, national origin, ethnicity, religious affiliation, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age except by minimum age and retirement provisions, pregnancy, status as a family caregiver, parental status, marital status, military status or status as a veteran who was honorably discharged or who was discharged solely as a result of the person's sexual orientation or gender identity or expression, citizenship or immigration status, genetic information, or other protected class. However, to the extent that distinction or differential treatment on the basis of citizenship or immigration status is authorized by either federal or state law, regulation, or government contract, it is not an unfair practice.

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.