Signal & Lighting Electrician, Apprentice

City of Tacoma – Apprentice Signal and Lighting Electricians

The City of Tacoma is now accepting applications for Apprentice Signal and Lighting Electricians.

Summer of 2026

The traffic signal and streetlight shop is a smaller group of electricians that does a wide variety of work. This job can challenge you both physically and mentally, as it has a great mix of large heavy construction type work and technical expertise type work. We do everything from trenching for electrical conduit and placing reinforced concrete, to programming computers and network systems that operate our traffic signal‑controlled intersections.

Our equipment ranges from 80‑year‑old 1940s circuits tied directly to TPU transformers to state‑of‑the‑art vehicle detection systems and fish‑eye camera systems. As first responders, we handle after‑hour call‑outs to collision scenes and help keep citizens safe with traffic control systems, school beacons, pedestrian crossing beacons, and lighting.

The City of Tacoma signal and streetlight shop currently operates and maintains 360+ traffic signals, 600+ flashers and beacons, and about 23,000+ streetlights. Electricians are divided into three major categories:
Signal & Lighting Field Staff, Traffic Signal Controller Shop Staff, and Inspection and Locating Staff.

• Perform a variety of duties related to the installation, operation, maintenance and repair of traffic signals, beacons, street lighting systems (including 120V‑480V multi‑wire and 5KV series streetlight luminaries, LED, incandescent and vapor discharge‑type lamps), intelligent traffic systems (including fiber optic and copper network systems) and other electric/electronic‑related control devices and components.
• Program, wire, configure, test, inspect, troubleshoot and verify operations of traffic signal systems, failures in overhead and underground lines, cables, services and related equipment.
• Remove and replace damaged infrastructure, including utility wood poles.
• Work as a Qualified Electrical Employee, as defined by WAC 296‑45, including working within the minimum allowable approach distance on systems over 600V.
• Operate a variety of construction and heavy equipment, technical equipment and power and hand tools.
• Perform the duties of underground cable locator and/or construction inspector as assigned.
• Perform general maintenance electrical work in City‑owned buildings, at community events and special functions.
• Attend and participate in meetings, classes and training sessions.
• Communicate and coordinate work efforts with City staff, outside agencies, contractors, businesses, property owners and the public, as needed.
• Prepare and maintain written and electronic logs, charts, drawings, maps, databases, schematics, records and reports.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

• Work includes indoor and outdoor environments, subject to adverse weather conditions.
• Requires moving heavy objects, hand digging, ascending, descending and working from ladders and stairs. Must be able to work from heights and climb poles upon successful completion of applicable training.
• Must be able to observe, inspect and differentiate between a wide variety of electronic devices.
• Must be able to position oneself under, over and around equipment and machinery and in small or confined spaces.
• Employees may be exposed to high voltage wires, hazardous materials and gases and noise from equipment.
• May be required to work during non‑standard working hours and emergency call‑outs.

• Valid Washington State Driver's License.
• Valid Washington Commercial Driver's License with Class A‑Air Brake endorsement, flagging, CPR, first‑aid and forklift training certificates required prior to completion of the 12‑month probationary period.
• As part of the Apprenticeship Program, additional certifications will be required including Digger/Derrick certification, International Municipal Signal Association (IMSA) certifications for Traffic Signal 1, Traffic Signal 2 and Roadway Lighting.
• Apprentices must demonstrate continuing progress in knowledge and abilities…