Heavy Duty Equipment Technician

University of California, Santa Cruz; California (MO); On-site; USD 55,475 - 69,003; Full time

Job summary

University of California, Santa Cruz is seeking a Heavy‑Duty Equipment Technician under the Fleet Services Technical Staff Supervisor to perform maintenance and repair on university vehicles and equipment. You will inspect, diagnose, repair, and fabricate components across engines, transmissions, brakes, electricals, and hydraulic systems, including welding with TIG, MIG, Arc processes.

The role requires journeyman level experience, ability to read blueprints, operate diagnostic equipment, and

Qualifications

• Journeyman level experience in automotive heavy vehicle maintenance.
• Experience using tools and special tooling for repairs.
• Ability to weld and fabricate as required.
• Knowledge of diagnostic equipment operation.
• Ability to inspect and identify maintenance needs.
• Ability to safely operate university vehicles.
• Ability to work with minimal supervision and in teams.
• Ability to identify hazards and exercise judgment.
• Ability to manage deadlines and adapt to workload.
• Interpersonal skills for diverse groups.

Responsibilities

• Perform major repair and maintenance of heavy‑duty vehicles and equipment.
• Maintain and repair emission control systems.
• Work with gasoline, diesel, propane, CNG, and electric‑powered vehicles.
• Read blueprints and execute metal fabrication.
• Inspect vehicles to determine corrective action.
• Diagnose drivability issues with computer systems.
• Operate shop tools including welding and fabrication equipment.
• Prepare maintenance and repair records and work orders.

Skills

Journeyman experience

Welding fabrication

Diagnostic equipment use

Vehicle inspection

Teamwork

Safety awareness

Tools

Shop tools

Welding equipment

Diagnostic scanners

Job description

Job Summary

Under the direction of the Fleet Services Technical Staff Supervisor, the Heavy‑Duty Equipment Technician performs operational‑level heavy‑duty vehicular and equipment maintenance and repair duties. The technician inspects, maintains, repairs, diagnoses, adjusts, and replaces mechanical and electrical components on university‑owned vehicles and equipment, which include passenger sedans, light duty trucks, vans (both passenger and cargo), medium and heavy duty trucks, fire and police vehicles, passenger transport buses, tractors and landscape maintenance equipment, street sweepers, standby generators (1‑kw to 150‑kw), and other vehicles used in day‑to‑day operations. Systems and sub‑systems maintained and repaired include engine, transmission, ignition, fuel delivery, charging and starting, exhaust, electrical, drive‑train, braking systems (hydraulic and air actuated), air comfort, steering, suspension, and hydraulic systems. The technician will also perform fabrication and welding duties, operate and maintain shop tools and equipment, and document work performed, including TIG, MIG, Arc, and Fuel/Gas welding, cutting, burning, and shearing of various metals such as steel, aluminum, stainless steel, and cast aluminum.

Appointment Information

Budgeted Salary: $40.27‑$50.09 hourly. Salary commensurate with skills, qualifications and experience.

Benefits Level Eligibility: Full benefits.

Schedule Information

• Full‑time, Fixed
• Percentage of Time: 100%, 40 Hours per Week
• Days of the Week: Mon‑Fri
• Shift Includes: Day

Job Duties

• 65% – Maintenance/Repair/Metal Fabrication
  • Performs or assists other Heavy‑Duty Equipment Technicians and Automotive Technicians in major repair and maintenance of automotive and heavy‑duty vehicles and equipment, including major system overhauls.
  • Maintains and repairs emission control systems to ensure conformity to all local, state, and Federal emission regulations.
  • Performs maintenance and repair to vehicles and equipment operating on gasoline, diesel motor fuel, propane, compressed natural gas, and electric‑powered vehicles and equipment.
  • Reads and interprets basic blueprints and executes metal fabrication projects as directed.
• 15% – Diagnostic
  • Inspects automotive and heavy equipment to determine corrective action necessary.
  • Performs drivability diagnosis of computer‑controlled systems.
  • Performs repairs in the most cost‑efficient manner possible.
• 10% – Equipment Operation
  • Operates vehicles and equipment during the course of maintenance and repair.
  • Utilizes engine analyzers, emission analyzers.
  • Operates shop tools and equipment, including welding and fabrication equipment.
• 10% – Record Keeping
  • Prepares maintenance and repair records.
  • Prepares work orders that accurately reflect time and materials used in the course of repairs.

Required Qualifications

• Journeyman level experience and skill in automotive heavy vehicle and equipment maintenance and repair.
• Experience in the operation and maintenance of tools and special tools used in the course of performing job duties.
• Ability to perform welding and fabrication operations required in the course of performing job duties.
• Knowledge in the proper use and operation of diagnostic equipment used in the course of performing job duties.
• Ability to properly inspect vehicles and equipment for needed maintenance and repairs, and to perform those maintenance and repair operations.
• Ability to safely operate university‑owned vehicles and equipment.
• Ability to work both individually and cooperatively with others with minimal or no supervision.
• Ability to identify and correct hazardous conditions and to exercise good judgment when to report unsafe and hazardous conditions.
• Ability to prioritize work assignments to meet deadlines, flexibility to work with changing workloads and deadlines, good customer service skills, and ability to work with interruptions.
• Good interpersonal skills to effectively interact with coworkers and the ability to exercise diplomacy in dealing with diverse groups of people.

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience completing advanced welding and fabrication projects such as TIG, MIG, Arc, and Fuel/Gas welding, cutting, burning, and sheering of various metals including steel, aluminum, stainless steel, and cast aluminum.

Special Conditions of Employment

• Selected candidate will be required to pass a pre‑employment criminal history background check.
• Selected candidate must pass the employment misconduct disclosure process.
• Must possess a valid license to drive in the state of California and be able to participate in the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) pull notice program.
• Must possess a valid Class B Commercial license with passenger endorsement and a satisfactory driving record. License must not be restricted to vehicles 15 passengers or less, and must certify the individual to drive passenger vehicles weighing more than 26,001 gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) and carrying 20 passengers or more.
• Must possess, or obtain within 6 months of hire, a valid California Class B license to drive and participate in the DMV pull notice program; must participate in DOT drug testing program.
• Ability to safely lift parts, components and supplies while bending, kneeling or stooping with or without accommodation.
• Ability to safely push and move equipment weighing up to 160 pounds with or without accommodation.
• Must have the ability to operate a vacuum, floor scrubber, and polisher; use cleaning chemical compounds; perform essential custodial duties including dumping bags into a dumpster or moving equipment and materials with or without accommodations.
• Ability to occasionally work overtime with little or no advance notice, and work on‑call to respond to emergencies after hours as necessary for emergency repairs.
• Ability to work shift work, 6 AM to 2:30 PM.
• Ability to work overtime including evenings, nights, weekends and holidays to meet operational needs, and work an alternate work schedule shift as required.
• The University of California has implemented a Vaccination Policy covering all employees. Employees, including new hires, are required to comply with any applicable policies relating to the university vaccination program.
• Per the Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act (CANRA), this position has been identified as a mandated reporter. The selected candidate will be required to report known or suspected child abuse or neglect and to sign a Statement Acknowledging Requirement to Report Child Abuse prior to commencing employment. Further information can be found at the University site.

Misconduct Disclosure Requirement

As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts a conditional offer of employment will be required to disclose any administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years that determine the candidate committed any misconduct, has been subject to any allegations or investigations, or has left a position following a notice of allegations or investigation. The following lists the policies that address various forms of misconduct:

• “Misconduct” means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the candidate’s previous place of employment, including violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, discrimination, dishonesty, or unethical conduct.
• UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy
• UC Anti‑Discrimination Policy
• Abusive Conduct in the Workplace

Safety Statement

All UCSC employees must understand and follow job safety procedures, attend required health and safety training, proactively promote safety at work, and promptly report actual and potential accidents and injuries.

EEO/AA Statement

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status or other protected categories covered by the UC Anti‑Discrimination Policy.