Government Jobs in Washington with F-1 OPT Sponsorship

Summary

*** This position is open to King County employees and the general public. ***

The Marine Division with King County Metro Transit is hiring for a Marine Oiler for the Water Taxi team.

Oilers work onboard our Water Taxi vessels, which are based out of the Pier 50 terminal on the Seattle waterfront. Oilers perform a variety of preventative maintenance and repair of operating machinery, vessels and vessel systems, and marine facilities, ensuring safe and on-time service for passengers and crew. This position directly supports the County's interest in ensuring our customers have a reliable way to access our downtown core through our Vashon Island and West Seattle service routes.

This recruitment may immediately fill one (1) Career Service (CS) position. This recruitment may be used to create an eligibility list to fill future Career Service (CS), Term-Limited Temporary (TLT), and/or Special Duty Assignment (SDA), vacancies that may occur in this classification and division. Eligibility lists remain valid for six (6) months upon creation, or until the list is exhausted.

Interviews are anticipated to begin during the week of April 27, 2026, but dates are subject to change.

King County Water Taxi System

King County has been operating Water Taxi services since October 2009. In 2019, the Marine Division joined King County Metro to help Metro meet its goals of incorporating multiple modes of transit, including buses, boats, trains, shuttles, accessible services, and rideshare programs.

The Marine Division operates the Water Taxi ferry service on two routes in Puget Sound, both originating at Pier 50 in downtown Seattle: one route to West Seattle and the other to Vashon Island. The Water Taxi provides year-round service 7 days a week, 11 to 17 hours daily. In addition to King County Water Taxi service, Kitsap County currently provides passenger-only ferry service to Kingston, Bremerton and Southworth, which all use the King County passenger-only facility in Seattle.

WHO MAY APPLY

This recruitment is open to all current King County employees and the general public.

TO APPLY

Required Application Materials:

- An online employment application with employment history going back at least ten years if you have ten years of employment (or more to include all relevant experience). Be sure to list all job duties, dates of employment, and reasons for leaving.
- Completed supplemental questions

Note: A cover letter/letter of interest and/or a resume are highly encouraged, but not required.

Want to make sure your application materials are as competitive as possible?

We highly recommend visiting the Career Support Services website for tips and examples on how to make your application materials most effective: Workforce Development - King County.

For more information regarding this recruitment, please contact:

Erica Minshull, Talent Advisor for King County Metro Transit
Erica.Minshull@KingCounty.gov or 206-477-6059

Job Duties

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. As a Marine Oiler, you will also:

• Perform daily vessels’ startups, shutdowns, underway engineering rounds and routine safety checks without interfering in the normal schedule of operations. Communicate changes in operational status and other relevant details with Management, Captains, Deckhands, and other members of Engineering Team.
• Perform regular preventative maintenance, minor repair and cleanup/organization of King County-owned vessels, maintenance barge facility, docks, boarding ramps, gates, and security systems.
• Perform routine oil and filter changes, operating fluids, and bilge pumping and cleaning.
• Pump sewage, replenish potable water, and conduct vessel fueling operations as person in charge (PIC).
• Perform minor vessel and facility maintenance, including replacing lights and vessel windshield wipers, painting, and general preservation.
• Perform preventative maintenance, corrective repairs, and system upgrades assigned by the on-duty Marine Engineer and/or Marine Division’s Port Engineer.
• Assist on-duty Marine Engineer with troubleshooting and repair of all onboard vessel systems including electrical and electronic equipment.
• Perform administrative duties such as generating requisitions for parts, consumables, and other materials. Create work orders for work accomplished through King County’s electronic asset management database.
• Provide daily notes and maintain vessel engineering logs of all work performed.
• Operate a county fleet motor vehicle for parts pick up, delivery, or for other related duties.
• Upon occasion (emergent), serve as a Deckhand during normal ferry operations to ensure continuity of operations and/or during shipyard and fueling transits as required.

Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills

To be considered eligible for this role, applicants must possess these MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Possess the following credentials by no later than the scheduled start date:
- A valid Transportation Workers Identification Credential (TWIC) issued by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).
- A valid United States Coast Guard (USCG) Merchant Mariner's Document (MMD) or Merchant Mariner's Credential (MMC) with a minimum endorsement of Wiper and national medical certificate.
- A Driver License valid in the State of Washington with ability to operate a motor vehicle. Out-of-state candidates must obtain a Washington State driver license within 30 days of hire.

The most competitive applicants will also possess these DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS:

- Two (2) or more years of work experience in the maritime industry or related trade; completion of a maritime education program, relevant trade education program or apprenticeship, or similar training totaling two (2) or more years; or some combination thereof.
- Work experience providing customer service to the traveling public, or the ability to provide accurate, timely, and polite service to the traveling public, including providing appropriate guidance to customers in the event of an emergency situation.
- MMC/MMD with unlicensed endorsements (such as QMED/Oiler, AB, Tankerman, etc).
- MMC/MMD with licensed engineering endorsement (such as Designated Duty Engineer, Assistant Engineer, or Chief Engineer).
- Certification in Fire Safety Training and Life Saving Training (STCW endorsements).
- Previous work experience on US Coast Guard-inspected passenger vessels, preferably on high-speed vessels.
- Knowledge of operation and maintenance of vessel machinery and mechanical equipment, and the proper and safe operation of propulsion and auxiliary machinery.
- Knowledge of maintaining vessel engineering logs and required daily operating/administrative computer software for detailed recordkeeping (such as Database and MS Office 365 software experience, M5 or other maintenance database software, OneNote, Teams, Planner, Outlook, Word, and Excel).
- Knowledge of safe work practices, including proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE), safe lifting techniques, and proper use of fire extinguishers and life-saving equipment.
- Skill in the general maintenance of a ship’s machinery and mechanical systems, including skill in the use of hand or power tools for maintenance and repair.
- Ability to work effectively with others in a work environment that embraces and encourages diversity in its workforce and where differences are valued.
- Ability to demonstrate behaviors that include fairness, respect, and inclusiveness.
- Ability to respond safely, effectively, and expeditiously during an emergency.
- Effective communication skills, both written and verbal.
- Ability to perform assigned regular work duties independently and alone without the need for direct supervision.
- Ability to be punctual in order to ensure reliable sailings as scheduled for the traveling public.

Supplemental Information

CLASS CODE / PAY GRADE

8441100 / 52

UNION MEMBERSHIP

This position is represented by Maritime Engineers’ Beneficial Association (MEBA).

SAFETY SENSITIVE

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 the 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 USCG and DOT alcohol and controlled substances testing program protocols.

WORK SCHEDULE

This position is non-exempt from the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act, and is therefore eligible for overtime pay if scheduled and approved. Shifts may be scheduled on weekends, holidays, and other non-standard workdays.

This position is currently anticipated to be scheduled 40 hours per week, though the schedule/work hours may vary and are subject to change twice a year based on seniority and sailing season. Employees must be available and willing to work any shift (including early mornings and evenings), weekends, and holidays. This position is not exempt from the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act and is therefore overtime eligible, with prior supervisory approval. This position is not eligible for telework/remote work.

WORK ENVIRONMENT AND LOCATION

This position requires the incumbent to report to the workplace in person on a regular and consistent basis, and is therefore not eligible for telework/remote work. This position is vital to ensuring timely and dependable sailings for our Water Taxi customers.

This position will have you standing or walking most of the day. This position requires work aboard motor vessels, both while tied up and underway, as well as work in the maintenance yard. Work requires accessing and performing duties in confined spaces (such as within the voids below deck), climbing ladders, and lifting/moving up to 50 pounds.

The Pier 50 facility is located in Seattle's historic Pioneer Square district, which is accessible by nearby bus lines, Link Light Rail, and the Sounder (commuter train) Station.

SELECTION PROCESS

Applications will be screened to determine whether candidates meet minimum qualifications, and for clarity, completeness, and responsiveness to the application instructions above. Highly competitive applicants may be asked to interview. Formal offers will be finalized after candidates have successfully completed any necessary pre-employment processes, such as drug and alcohol testing, background checks, DOT/USCG physicals, and internal record reviews or reference checks. The first six (6) months of employment in a Career Service position are served in a probationary capacity to provide an opportunity to confirm whether the position is a good match between the successful candidate’s interests and skills and the ability to perform the requirements of the job.

Forbes recently named King County as 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 solve problems; we focus on the customer; we drive for results; we are racially just; we respect all people; 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.

Need assistance?

Applicants who are unable to apply online should follow the instructions in the Application FAQs at www.KingCounty.gov. If you have any questions related to this job posting, including needing the announcement in an alternative language format, or regarding accommodation requests for the application or assessment process, please contact the recruiter listed on this announcement.