Equipment Mechanic Operator

Inyo, County of (CA); El Cajon (CA); On-site; USD 52,000 - 74,000; Full time

Job summary

Inyo County is seeking an Equipment Mechanic Operator I-II for Tecopa/Shoshone and countywide work. The role combines repairing heavy construction equipment with operating trucks and road-maintenance machinery, ensuring timely repairs and safe operations.

Requirements include a High School diploma or equivalent, a California Class A license with triples, tankers and air brake endorsements (or ability to obtain within five months), and the ability to provide your own tools.

Qualifications

• High School graduate or equivalent AND two years of combined experience in heavy equipment maintenance and repair.
• California Class A operator's license with triples, tankers and air brake endorsements (or ability to obtain within five months).
• Must provide own tools and be able to perform FMCSA drug and alcohol testing as required.

Responsibilities

• Maintains, repairs, and overhauls gasoline and diesel-powered construction, maintenance, and automotive equipment.
• Performs routine services such as oil changes, brake adjustments and filter changes.
• Examines and locates mechanical defects in a wide variety of equipment, including diesel and gasoline-powered trucks and tractors.
• Operates a variety of vehicles and heavy equipment for construction and maintenance work.
• Maintains records of time and materials used on each job; files repair records.

Skills

Oil changes

Repair and overhaul

Diagnose defects

Welding

Operate heavy equipment

Field work

Education

High School diploma or equivalent

Tools

Must provide own tools

Job description

This particular vacancy is for the Tecopa/Shoshone area

Performs maintenance, repair, and overhaul of gasoline and diesel-powered equipment, including diagnosing defects, tuning engines, repairing brakes, electrical systems, and hydraulics. Maintains records, fabricates parts using welding, and operates various vehicles and heavy-duty machinery for construction and infrastructure upkeep. Conducts fieldwork, transports equipment countywide, and may train or lead other workers as needed.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

The Equipment Mechanic Operator I-II role involves both mechanical repair and equipment operation. Unlike a supervising position, it may provide temporary guidance and supervision on projects but does not supervise other workers. This role requires versatility in performing a range of mechanical and operational tasks, fieldwork, and ensuring safety and compliance.

The following duties are typical for this classification. Incumbents may not perform all of the duties listed and/or may be required to perform additional or different duties from those set forth below to address temporary or permanent changes in business needs and/or practices.

Level I

• Performs routine services such as oil changes, brake adjustments and filter changes.
• Maintains, repairs, and overhauls gasoline and diesel-powered construction, maintenance, and automotive equipment.
• Examines and locates mechanical defects in a wide variety of automotive, road construction, and maintenance equipment, including diesel and gasoline-powered trucks and tractors.
• Makes a variety of mechanical repairs including engine tune-ups, brake service, electrical and hydraulic system repair.
• Maintains records of time and materials used on each job; files repair records with fiscal staff.
• Uses welding equipment to fabricate, rebuild, and strengthen various equipment parts.
• Operates a variety of vehicles and equipment.
• Operates trucks, light and heavy-duty equipment used in the construction and maintenance of roads and drainage systems.
• Performs skilled and semi-skilled work in the maintenance, repair, and construction of County roads, bridges, culverts, traffic signage, and related structures.
• Disassembles, repairs, grinds, or replaces worn parts.
• Fits new parts and adjusts engines, oil, water, fuel pumps, carburetors, fuel injectors, governors, starting motors, brakes, and steering gear.
• Times and adjusts motors.
• Replaces electrical wiring.
• Overhauls hydraulic systems, brakes and steering assemblies on tractors and trucks.
• Performs work in the field.
• Operates equipment for construction and maintenance of roads, signs, culverts, and striping.
• May be required to transport throughout the County.
• May train other workers or works as lead worker as required.
• Performs related duties as assigned.

Level II

• Performs all the duties of Level I.
• Performs work with minimal supervision.
• Performs related duties as assigned.

EDUCATION and EXPERIENCE

Level I

• High School graduate or equivalent AND
• Two (2) years of combined experience in:
  • Automotive or heavy equipment maintenance and repair including the repair and overhaul of diesel and gasoline-powered automotive, construction, and maintenance equipment).
  • Operating heavy power-driven road construction equipment such as motor graders, dozers, or large earthmoving equipment.
• Road construction and maintenance.

Licenses, Certificates, and Special Requirements

• Must possess or have the ability to obtain within five months of start date a valid Class A operator’s license issued by the California Department of Motor Vehicles with triples, tankers and air brake endorsements.
• Must provide own tools.
• Must have ability to perform Biannual Inspection of Terminals (BIT).
• This position is subject to all FMCSA drug and alcohol testing requirements under 49 CFR Part 382, including pre-employment, random, post-accident, reasonable suspicion, and return-to-duty testing, as a condition of performing safety-sensitive functions.

Level II

PATH 1

• High School graduate or equivalent AND
• Two years of work experience as a Heavy Equipment Mechanic AND Heavy Equipment Operator.
  • Example of skills that qualify for Heavy Equipment Mechanic: the repair and overhaul of diesel and gasoline-powered automotive, construction, and maintenance equipment.
  • Example of skills that qualify for Heavy Equipment Operator: experience in road construction and maintenance work including operating heavy power-driven road construction equipment such as motor graders, dozers, or large earthmoving equipment.

PATH 2

• One year as an Equipment Mechanic Operator I with Inyo County.

Licenses, Certificates, and Special Requirements

• In addition to those listed in Level I
• Must possess a valid Class A operator’s license issued by the California Department of Motor Vehicles.

The following generally describes the knowledge, skills, and abilities to enter the job and/or be learned within a short period of time in order to successfully perform the assigned duties.

KNOWLEDGE OF

• Principles, methods, and practices pertaining to the repair of heavy construction and maintenance equipment repair and maintenance.
• Tools, materials, and equipment used in the maintenance, adjustment, and repair of heavy construction and automotive equipment.
• Construction and maintenance of roads, signs, striping and drainage systems.
• Principles and methods of preventive maintenance of gasoline and diesel-powered equipment.
• Provisions of the California Vehicle Code and safe driving practices pertaining to the operation of light and moderately heavy vehicles and equipment.
• Safe work practices.
• Operation and routine maintenance of equipment including backhoes, sprayers, loaders, trucks, rollers, compressors, and related equipment.
• Handling hazardous materials.

SKILL/ABILITY TO

• Inspect and approve heavy construction and maintenance equipment repair work.
• Locate mechanical defects, estimate the type and feasibility of repairs. Perform repair.
• Operate machines and tools used in automotive and heavy-duty road equipment repair and welding work.
• Maintain accurate records and prepare repair orders
• Skillfully and safely operate various types of heavy and light construction equipment, tree maintenance and removal, and hand and power tools.
• Read and interpret repair manuals and schematics
• Perform skilled work in a variety of trades associated with road construction.
• Perform heavy construction or maintenance work to within close tolerance.
• Judge distances in ground levels and grade stakes.
• Understand and carry out oral and written instructions.
• Perform physical labor requiring manual dexterity and agility.
• Meet and maintain standards of physical endurance and agility.
• Work cooperatively with those contacted in the course of work

WORKING CONDITIONS

The conditions herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.

Environmental Conditions

• Assigned work is performed indoors and outdoors in a variety of extreme weather environments with multiple types of hazards in small and/or physically awkward spaces.
• Expect frequent contact with coworkers and exposure to noise, vibration, and moving parts from trucks, machinery, and equipment.
• Exposure to strong odors and other airborne irritants may be constant.
• The job is physically strenuous and requires stamina for extended periods and tasks that involve prolonged standing, kneeling, or other demanding physical activity.
• Appropriate safety gear is required.
• The workweek schedule is typically four ten-hour days and may include overtime.

Physical Demands

• Constant (>62% of typical day): Standing and walking, handling (holding, light grasping), power grasping, bending and twisting at the neck and waist, lifting / pushing / pulling / carrying up to 25 pounds, repeated hand movements that require dexterity and hand-eye coordination, and reaching and using tools below the shoulder.
• Frequent (31-62%): Standing and walking on varied terrain (including uneven ground and slippery surfaces) in awkward body positions for extended periods, exposure to dust / gas / fumes / chemicals, reaching and using tools above the shoulder, and operating potentially hazardous tools and machinery.
• Occasional (7-31%): Sitting / driving, squatting / crouching, operation of foot controls, reaching above and below the shoulder and remaining in this position whole handling up to 25 pounds, crawling (under equipment), reading / interpreting / documenting, exposure to brief periods of extreme noise, exposure to vibration from vehicle or tool operations, using electronic equipment (from computers to testing devices), climbing steps / stepstools / ladders and working at heights, kneeling, fine fingering (pinching, picking), exposure to seasonal extreme wind and temperatures (120F to -10F), and lifting / pushing / pulling / carrying / holding 26-100 pounds. Also, interacting face-to-face and electronically with tact and diplomacy using visual / auditory / speech acuity, with memory and recall, for accurate, timely, and courteous operations / communications / transfer of information in a variety of weather environments.
• Infrequent (1-7%): Using the telephone.
• Never/Rare (<1%): Running, exposure to biohazards, and lifting / pushing / pulling / carrying / holding more than 100 pounds.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

• Must successfully complete a pre-employment background investigation
• Must successfully pass pre-employment drug screen
• Required to wear safety shoes

SELECTION

Selection procedures will be determined by the number and qualifications of applicants and may include a qualification screening, written examination, and oral interview.

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH QUALIFYING DISABILITIES

Inyo County will make reasonable efforts in the examination process on a case-by-case basis to accommodate persons with disabilities. If you have special needs, please contact [phone] prior to the examination process.

CITIZENSHIP/IMMIGRATION STATUS

Inyo County hires only U.S. citizens and lawfully authorized non-citizens in accordance with the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986.

WORK LOCATION

The County of Inyo has work sites located throughout the Owens Valley (Independence, Bishop, Lone Pine, Big Pine, and Olancha) and the Death Valley area (Death Valley, Tecopa, and Shoshone). All Inyo County positions are considered Countywide. Positions are assigned to a work site based upon the needs of the County. Positions may be temporarily or permanently reassigned to another work site as deemed necessary by the Department Head and/or County Administration.