INSTRUMENT MECHANIC (3843)

City of Los Angeles; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 135,000 - 144,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Los Angeles is seeking an Instrument Mechanic to perform highly skilled field and shop work on automatic controls and instruments. You will inspect, troubleshoot, calibrate, service, and repair instrumentation and related systems to ensure accurate process control.

Applicants should have several years of relevant experience in steam plants or building operations, including handling high-temperature boilers, HVAC systems, or related controls.

Qualifications

• Three years of full-time paid experience as a Steam Plant Assistant with the City of Los Angeles, one year as a Steam Plant Assistant “A” in the Instrument Shop or Operations.
• Two years of full-time paid experience at the level of Building Operating Engineer with the City of Los Angeles, operating or maintaining high temperature boilers or large refrigeration equipment (3,000 tons or more).
• Two years of full-time paid experience as an Electrician or Electrical Test Technician with the City of Los Angeles;
• Two years of full-time paid instrument mechanic, HVAC, or elevator mechanic experience inspecting, repairing and testing instrument/control systems at industrial facilities.

Responsibilities

• Inspect, troubleshoot, adjust, calibrate, service, maintain, overhaul, repair and test various automatic controls and indicating/recording instruments and devices.
• Analyze instrumentation and related system malfunctions to determine repairs and adjustments.

Skills

Steam Plant experience

Instrument control experience

Troubleshooting instrumentation

Calibrating and testing instruments

Process control systems

Education

Accredited college coursework in automation instrumentation

Tools

Process control diagrams (P&IDs)

Electrical/Instrumentation test equipment

Job description

ANNUAL SALARY

$141,816 (flat-rated)
The salary in the Los Angeles World Airports is $144,447 (flat-rated)
The salary in the Department of Water and Power is $135,469 (flat-rated)

NOTES

1. The current salary is subject to change. Please confirm the starting salary with the hiring department before accepting a job offer.

2. For information regarding reciprocity between the City of Los Angeles departments and LADWP, go to https://personnel.lacity.gov/Reciprocity_CityDepts_and_DW.P.pdf .

An Instrument Mechanic performs highly skilled field and shop work in inspecting, troubleshooting, adjusting, calibrating, servicing, maintaining, overhauling, repairing, and testing various automatic controls and indicating and recording instruments and devices; analyzes instrumentation and related system malfunctions to determine necessary repairs; and adjusts programs on instrumentation and controls required to interface with process control computers.

1. Three years of full-time paid experience as a Steam Plant Assistant with the City of Los Angeles, one year of which shall be as a Steam Plant Assistant “A” in the Instrument Shop or Operations; or
2. Two years of full-time paid experience at the level of Building Operating Engineer with the City of Los Angeles, which provides experience in the operation or maintenance of high temperature boilers or refrigeration equipment with a total capacity of 3,000 tons or more; or
3. Two years of full-time paid experience as an Electrician or Electrical Test Technician (formerly Electrical Tester) with the City of Los Angeles; or
4. Two years of full-time paid instrument mechanic, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) mechanic, or elevator mechanic experience inspecting, adjusting, repairing and testing electronic and/or pneumatic control systems, including transmitting, indicating and recording instruments and controllers at oil refineries, chemical plants, utility or wastewater treatment facilities; or
5. Two years full-time paid experience in instrument mechanic or related fields troubleshooting instrumentation issues using piping and instrumentation diagrams (P&IDs), wiring diagrams, loop drawings, associated schematics, and vendor drawings, and working with process control to troubleshoot and/or repair instrument/analyzer control loops, Safety Instrument System inputs/outputs, HVAC & Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC’s), and program, service, repair, and maintain instrumentation associated with process controls.

Completion of four semesters of course work on Automated Instrumentation and Controls from an accredited college may be substituted for one year of the required experience in Requirements #1 through #4. Completion of a three‑year apprentice program in Electrical/Instrumentation may be substituted for one year of full‑time paid experience in Requirement #5. Candidates must list their courses completed, dates taken, and school attended according to the on‑line instructions.

PROCESS NOTES

1. Only applicants that are currently or have previously worked in the Department of Water and Power as Steam Plant Assistants in the following DDR (Duties Description Record) numbers 82-38096, 82-56017, or as Steam Plant Operators in DDR numbers 94-56104 and 94-56105 and meet the above noted requirements, will qualify for this examination under requirement #1.

2. Applicants who lack six months or less of the required experience at the time of filing may file for this examination. However, they cannot be appointed until the full experience requirement has been met.
3. As a condition of employment, a valid Class C driver’s license issued by the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is required at the time of appointment. Applicants will be deemed ineligible for hire if their DMV record reflects three or more moving violations and/or at‑fault accidents, or a conviction of a major moving violation within the last 36 months in any state or jurisdiction. The City of Los Angeles reserves the right to issue a notice of ineligibility at any time before a final job offer is extended.
4. Please note that qualifying education must be from a college or university accredited by a City of Los Angeles recognized agency. A list of approved accrediting agencies can be found at https://personnel.lacity.gov/Accredited%20Institutions%2008-21-08.pdf.
5. Candidates completing the examination process may be contacted by the Personnel Department to provide proof of qualifying coursework. Applicants who wish to expedite this process may attach a copy of their qualifying coursework or transcripts to their on‑line application at the time of filing in the Attachments section.

APPLICATION DEADLINE

Applications must be received by THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2026.

Examination Weight

Multiple-Choice Test - 100%

Additional job analysis information can be obtained by going to https://personnel.lacity.gov/jobs/job-analyses.cfm and clicking on Competencies under Instrument Mechanic.

The multiple-choice test will be proctored and administered on-line during a single session. Candidates invited to participate in the on-line multiple-choice test will be able to take the test from a remote location (i.e., their home) using a computer with a webcam and a reliable internet connection. Candidates will receive an e-mail from the City of Los Angeles outlining the dates and specific steps on how to take the multiple-choice test on-line. It is anticipated that the remote proctored multiple-choice test will be administered between WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 13, 2027 and TUESDAY, JANUARY 19, 2027. Candidates who do not complete and submit the remote proctored multiple-choice test on-line using a computer by the specified date and time will not be considered further in this examination.

FAQs for on-line testing is available at https://personnel.lacity.gov/faqs/employment-testing-process.html. Only candidates who demonstrate a hardship may be offered the option to take the multiple-choice test onsite at a City facility.

NOTES

1. This examination is based on a validation study, and as provided by Civil Service Commission Rule 4.20, the multiple-choice test will not be subject to candidate inspection.
2. As a covered entity under the Fair Employment and Housing Act and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City of Los Angeles does not discriminate on the basis of disability and upon request, will provide reasonable accommodations to ensure equal access to its programs, services, and activities. To request a disability accommodation, please complete the Disability Accommodation Form within 14 calendar days of the submittal of the City application. The Disability Accommodation Form can be obtained at https://personnel.lacity.gov/exams/verify_disability.pdf.
3. Applications are accepted subject to review to ensure that minimum qualifications are met. Candidates may be disqualified at any time if it is determined that they do not possess the minimum qualifications stated on this bulletin.
4. Based on the City policy, you may be required to undergo mandatory drug and alcohol testing prior to and during employment in this class.
5. You may be required to pass an annual or periodic work fitness evaluation to determine your eligibility for continued employment.
6. In conjunction with Civil Service Rules, applicants who are current eligible City employees or are on a reserve list will be considered Promotional candidates while all other applicants will be considered Open candidates.
7. The promotional list will ordinarily be used ahead of the open competitive list. However, if open competitive candidates receive a higher score, without military credits, than the highest available promotional candidate, after adding seniority credit at the rate of 0.25 of a point for each year of continuous classified City service, the Civil Service Commission, upon request of the appointing authority, may approve certification of such open competitive candidates ahead of the promotional candidates.
8. A final average score of 70% is required to be placed on the eligible list.
9. In accordance with Civil Service Rule, Sec. 4.24, review periods may be combined. Candidates in the examination process may file protests as provided in Sec. 4.20, 4.22, 4.23 as applicable and within the required time frame; however, the Personnel Department may respond to and resolve protests