Operating Engineer Jobs in Spokane, WA (NOW HIRING)

Salary: $30.11 - $34.91 Hourly
Location : Spokane County - Medical Lake, WA
Job Type: On-Call
Job Number: 2026-02964
Department: Dept. of Social and Health Services
Division: FTAA
Opening Date: 07/07/2026
Closing Date: 7/20/2026 11:59 PM Pacific
Salary Information: The high end of the salary range, Step M is typically a longevity step
Description
DSHS FTAA Stationary Engineer 2 - Boiler Operator (On Call)
Are you seeking supplemental income, specialized hands-on experience, a flexible schedule, or a launchpad to a rewarding State career?
Join the Maintenance and Operations Division supporting both Eastern State Hospital and Lakeland Village in Medical Lake as a temporary, experienced Boiler Operator (Stationary Engineer 2).
The role begins with 1.5 to 2 months of full-time, paid training (40 hours per week); afterward, you transition to an on-call, as-needed schedule. As an On-Call Boiler Operator, you will fill in for permanent staff during absences. Shifts vary and may include days, evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays-great for those who appreciate variety and responsibility.
Join a dedicated, unionized team committed to safety, efficiency, and public service.
What Makes This Role Unique
This is not a general engineering or maintenance role-your focus is strictly on boiler plants/boiler rooms. You will handle the operation, monitoring, and maintenance of high- and low-pressure steam boilers and hydronic water heating boilers.

• We operate 6 high-pressure steam boilers, 2 low-pressure steam boilers, and 2 hydronic water heating boilers.
• Our advanced combustion control systems include: Weishaupt, Siemens, Patterson-Kelley NURO, SCADA, and Metasys.

Please Note: Operators do not work on or operate emergency generators, HVAC equipment, or handle facilities maintenance outside boiler rooms/plants.
What We're Looking For

• Three years of experience in the operation, maintenance, and/or repair of stationary or marine high-pressure boilers and heating systems
  OR
• A certificate of completion of an advanced Stationary Engineer course from an accredited vocational/technical school or community college plus two years of related experience
  OR
• One year of State service as a Stationary Engineer 1

Important: All interviews are held in-person only.
Some of What You Will Do

• Ensure safe, efficient operation and maintenance of high- and low-pressure steam boiler plants/boiler rooms
• Operate, monitor, and repair gauges, valves, metering pumps, boilers, and electronic control/safety equipment for continuous operation
• Work exclusively within the boiler plants/boiler rooms with auxiliary systems directly serving the boilers (feedwater pumps, condensate pumps, deaerators, air compressors, fuel oil pumps, chemical treatment pumps, pneumatic and hand tools)
• Troubleshoot and adjust boiler operations and combustion control systems (Weishaupt, Siemens, Patterson-Kelley NURO, SCADA, Metasys)
• Interpret schematics, drawings, and manuals for equipment operation and upgrades
• Test boiler equipment for safety, perform chemical treatment and cleaning of boiler water and condensate
• Conduct blow-down operations as needed for safe boiler plant operation
• Respond to after-hours, weekend, or holiday incidents within the boiler plants/boiler rooms, evaluate situations, and notify the Plant Manager or designee as necessary

Desired Skills & Abilities

• Experience with combustion principals
• Experience with the operation of High-Pressure steam boilers and auxiliary equipment
• The ability to light off high-pressure boilers, multiple burners (with manually operated equipment), without the use of control devices, parallel them, transfer to control to the loop's controls, and put the boiler into service.
• Comfortable working from ladders/elevated platforms in high-temperature environments
• Proficient with personal computers and Microsoft Office applications (Outlook, PowerPoint, Excel, Word)
• Able to work respectfully and effectively with individuals from diverse backgrounds, including those with limited sensory/physical abilities
• Ready to respond to emergent issues within the boiler rooms/boiler plants after hours

If you're detail-oriented, safety-minded, and passionate about keeping vital systems running, apply now.
Questions? Email and reference job number 2026-02964.
The Department of Social and Health Services' (DSHS) vision that people find human services to shape their own lives requires that we come together with a sense of belonging, common purpose, shared values, and meaningful work. It is crucial to our agency's vision that you bring a fairness, access, and social justice commitment to your work with DSHS. We strive to support all Washingtonians, including Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, people with physical, behavioral health, and intellectual disabilities, elders, LGBTQIA+ individuals, immigrants and refugees, and families building financial security.
Supplemental Information
Prior to a new hire, a background check including criminal record history may be conducted. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant's suitability and competence to perform in the job. This announcement may be used to fill multiple vacancies. Employees driving on state business must have a valid driver's license. Employees driving a privately owned vehicle on state business must have liability insurance on the privately owned vehicle.
Washington State Department of Social and Health Services is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in any area of employment, its programs or services on the basis of age, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity/expression, marital status, race, creed, color, national origin, religion or beliefs, political affiliation, military status, honorably discharged veteran, Vietnam Era, recently separated or other protected veteran status, the presence of any sensory, mental, physical disability or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability, equal pay or genetic information. Persons requiring accommodation in the application process or this job announcement in an alternative format may contact the Recruiter at . Applicants who are deaf or hard of hearing may call through Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or 1-.
E-Verify is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security
More than Just a Paycheck!
Employee benefits are not just about the kind of services you get, they are also about how much you may have to pay out of pocket. Washington State offers one of the most competitive benefits packages in the nation.
We understand that your life revolves around more than just your career. Like everyone, your first priority is ensuring that you and your family will maintain health and financial security. That's why choice is a key component of our benefits package. We have a selection of health and retirement plans, paid leave, staff training and other compensation benefits that you can mix and match to meet your current and future needs.
Read about our benefits:
The following information describes typical benefits available for full-time employees who are expected to work more than six months. Actual benefits may vary by appointment type or be prorated for other than full-time work (e.g. part-time); view the job posting for benefits details for job types other than full-time.
Note: If the position offers benefits which differ from the following, the job posting should include the specific benefits.
Insurance Benefits
Employees and their families are covered by medical (including vision), dental and basic life insurance. There are multiple medical plans with affordable monthly premiums that offer coverage throughout the state.
Staff are eligible to enroll each year in a medical flexible spending account which enables them to use tax-deferred dollars toward their health care expenses. Employees are also covered by basic life and long-term disability insurance, with the option to purchase additional coverage amounts.
To view premium rates, coverage choice in your area and how to enroll, please visit the Public Employees Benefits Board (PEBB) website. The Washington Wellness program from the Health Care Authority works with PEBB to support our workplace wellness programs.
Dependent care assistance allows the employee to save pre-tax dollars for a child or elder care expenses.
Other insurance coverage for auto, boat, home, and renter insurance is available through payroll deduction.
The Washington State Employee Assistance Program promotes the health and well-being of employees.
Retirement and Deferred Compensation
State Employees are members of the Washington Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS). New employees have the option of two employer contributed retirement programs. For additional information, check out the Department of Retirement Systems' web site.
Employees also have the ability to participate in the Deferred Compensation Program (DCP). This is a supplemental retirement savings program (similar to an IRA) that allows you control over the amount of pre-tax salary dollars you defer as well as the flexibility to choose between multiple investment options.
Social Security
All state employees are covered by the federal Social Security and Medicare systems. The state and the employee pay an equal amount into the system.
Public Service Loan Forgiveness
If you are employed by a government or not-for-profit organization, and meet the qualifying criteria, you may be eligible to receive student loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.
Holidays
Full-time and part-time employees are entitled to paid holidays and one paid personal holiday per calendar year.
Note: Employees who are members of certain Unions may be entitled to additional personal leave day(s), please refer to position specific Collective Bargaining Agreements for more information.
Full-time employees who work full monthly schedules qualify for holiday compensation if they are employed before the holiday and are in pay status for at least 80 nonovertime hours during the month of the holiday; or for the entire work shift preceding the holiday.
Part-time employees who are in pay status during the month of the holiday qualify for the holiday on a pro-rata basis. Compensation for holidays (including personal holiday) will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status in the month to that required for full-time employment, excluding all holiday hours. Pay status includes hours worked and time on paid leave.
Sick Leave
Full-time employees earn eight hours of sick leave per month. Overtime eligible employees who are in pay status for less than 80 hours per month, earn a monthly proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment. Overtime exempt employees who are in pay status for less than 80 hours per month do not earn a monthly accrual of sick leave.
Sick leave accruals for part-time employees will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment. Pay status includes hours worked, time on paid leave and paid holiday.
Vacation (Annual Leave)
Full-time employees accrue vacation leave at the rates specified in (1) or the applicable collective bargaining agreement (CBA). Full-time employees who are in pay status for less than 80 nonovertime hours in a month do not earn a monthly accrual of vacation leave.
Part-time employees accrue vacation leave hours in accordance with (1) or the applicable collective bargaining agreement (CBA) on a pro rata basis. Vacation leave accrual will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment.
Pay status includes hours worked, time on paid leave and paid holiday.
As provided in , an employer may authorize a lump-sum accrual of vacation leave or accelerate the vacation leave accrual rate to support the recruitment and/or retention of a candidate or employee for a Washington Management Service position. Vacation leave accrual rates may only be accelerated using the rates established WAC 357-31-165.
Note: Most agencies follow the civil service rules covering leave and holidays for exempt employees even though there is no requirement for them to do so. However, agencies are required to adhere to the applicable RCWs pertaining holidays and leave.
Military Leave
Washington State supports members of the armed forces with 21 days paid military leave per year.
Bereavement Leave
Most employees whose family member or household member dies, or for loss of pregnancy, are entitled to five (5) days of paid bereavement leave. In addition, the employer may approve other available leave types for the purpose of bereavement leave.
Additional Leave
Leave Sharing
Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
Leave Without Pay
Please visit the State HR Website for more detailed information regarding benefits.
Updated 01-07-2026