LEAD AUTOMOTIVE TECHNICIAN (20199)

USPS; Virginia; On-site; USD 68,000 - 83,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

FERS

Thrift Savings Plan (TSP)

Postal Service Health Benefits (PSHB)

FEGLI

Vacation and sick leave

Job summary

USPS in Sterling, VA seeks a Lead Automotive Technician to supervise a team of technicians at the Vehicle Maintenance Facility and perform complex repairs on a wide range of postal fleet vehicles. You will guide diagnostics and ensure high-quality maintenance.

The role requires a valid driver’s license, a clean driving record, and at least two years of unsupervised driving experience, plus leadership responsibilities for scheduling and safety compliance.

Qualifications

• Must possess a valid state driver’s license and a safe driving record.
• At least two years of unsupervised driving experience with passenger cars or larger in the U.S.
• Ability to lead and supervise a team of technicians in a vehicle maintenance facility.

Responsibilities

• Diagnose operating difficulties and perform tests on postal fleet vehicles.
• Conduct road tests before and after maintenance and document issues on work orders.
• Troubleshoot malfunctions and identify faulty parts or systems.
• Schedule and assign work to technicians, ensuring efficient workflow.
• Provide technical guidance on complex repairs and the use of diagnostic equipment.
• Maintain vehicle maintenance records and ensure compliance with safety regulations.

Skills

Driver's license required

Leadership

Tools

Vehicle diagnostic equipment

Electronic testing tools

Job description

Branch

Virginia District

Job Posting Period

10/31/2026 - 11/06/2026

Job Title

LEAD AUTOMOTIVE TECHNICIAN

Facility Location

DULLES VA VMF

22363 RANDOLPH DR

STERLING, VA 20166

Contact Information

Vimal Kapoor | MGR VEHICLE MAINTENANCE FACILITY

Position Information

• TITLE: LEAD AUTOMOTIVE TECHNICIAN
• FLSA Designation: Non-Exempt
• Occupation Code: 5823-0004
• Non-Scheduled Days: Saturday, Sunday
• Hours: 1500 - 2330

Driving Required

Applicants must have a valid state driver's license, a safe driving record, and at least two years of unsupervised experience driving passenger cars or larger. The driving must have taken place in the U.S. or its possessions or territories or in U.S. military installations worldwide.

English Language Proficiency

Must be able to communicate in and understand the English language with or without a reasonable disability accommodation under the Rehabilitation Act.

Medical and Background Eligibility

Postal Service employment is conditional upon your meeting medical suitability, general eligibility and suitability, and background check requirements. Therefore, if you receive a job offer, note that it will be conditional upon you meeting these requirements, even if you are allowed to begin working first.

Examination Requirement

For this vacancy announcement, the Postal Service will be referring a set number of the highest-ranked eligible candidates for selection consideration.

Salary Range

Starting annual salary $75,836 paid bi-weekly

Benefit Information

This is a career position which offers excellent benefits.

• Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS)
• Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) which is similar to 401(k) plans
• Postal Service Health Benefits (PSHB) program
• Federal Employees Group Life Insurance (FEGLI)
• Dental, Vision and Long-Term Care Insurance Programs
• Flexible Spending Program to cover eligible out-of-pocket health care and dependent care (day care) expenses
• Eleven paid federal holidays
• Accrued vacation and sick leave

Persons Eligible to Apply

All U.S. Citizens, lawful permanent resident aliens, citizens of American Samoa or other territory owing permanent allegiance to the United States. Applicants entitled to veterans' preference and/or covered by the Veterans Employment Opportunity Act may apply for any posted position. Applicants must have a valid email address to apply as communication regarding employment opportunities, examinations (when applicable), and background checks will be sent by email.

Background Check

The Inspection Service criminal background check is conducted using United States information resources only (e.g., FBI fingerprint check, state and county checks). A criminal background check involves a 10-year inquiry for any location where the individual has resided, worked or gone to school within the United States or its territories. As a result of this limitation, the criminal background checks of individuals who have not resided in the United States or its territories for the preceding 5-years may not be considered complete. The Inspection Service may be able to process inquiries for U.S. Citizens only, but only if their time spent out of the country was spent as: a trailing spouse or dependent of someone working for the U.S. government (military or civilian), a missionary, a student attending school in a foreign country, a Peace Corps participant, or as an employee of a U.S.-based employer/company. If the Inspection Service is unable to perform a complete background check because of residency outside the United States, such individuals will be ineligible for Postal employment.

Functional Purpose

Serves as a working group leader for lower level technicians and mechanics in a vehicle maintenance facility or an auxiliary garage; personally performs the most complex repairs and maintenance on all types of motor vehicles used in the postal fleet; provides work guidance and direction to lower level employees.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Diagnoses operating difficulties on a variety of vehicles and performs operational checks on engines; its major supporting systems, parts, components, assemblies; including emissions systems, electrical, computer and electronic controlled components.
• Performs various computerized and electronic diagnostic tests using specialized equipment; interprets trouble codes and other information from electronic scanners and test analyzers; uses reference materials such as service manuals and wiring schematics to determine operational difficulties, drivability problems and evaluates performance efficiency.
• Conducts road tests before and after maintenance and repairs; annotates vehicle problems on work orders.
• Troubleshoots malfunctioning vehicles resulting from road calls and identifies improperly functioning part(s).
• Conducts vehicle inspections, determines necessary repairs, annotates established estimated repair time (ERT); assigns and schedules work for individual employees or a group of employees engaged in vehicle maintenance.
• Performs maintenance and repairs resulting from normal preventive maintenance inspections.
• Provides technical guidance and instructions to mechanics and technicians on more difficult repairs and in the use of specialized computer-aided diagnostic equipment.
• Maintains, prepares and updates vehicle maintenance records, annotates repairs, labor hours and other relevant data.
• Assists in training personnel in the repair of vehicles and the use of specialized computer-aided diagnostic equipment.
• Personally observes and monitors compliance of established safety practices and procedures of vehicle maintenance activities; complies with all postal, local, state, and federal environmental regulations and policies.

Supervision

Manager, Vehicle Maintenance; Supervisor, Vehicle Maintenance; or other designated supervisor.

Requirements

1. BARGAINING UNIT QUALIFICATION STANDARD 5000B (5823-0004) LEAD AUTOMOTIVE TECHNICIAN

Function

Serves as a working group leader for lower level technicians and mechanics in a vehicle maintenance facility or an auxiliary garage; personally performs the most complex repairs and maintenance on all types of motor vehicles used in the postal fleet; provides work guidance and direction to lower level employees.

Description of Work

See the Standard Position Descriptions for the Occupation Codes given above.

Requirements

This section is composed of the knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) which are required to satisfactorily perform the tasks of the position. Applicants must demonstrate that they possess a sufficient level of each KSA, to include at least minimum competency for senior-qualified positions to enable them to perform these tasks satisfactorily. Applicants demonstrate these levels by describing examples of experience, education, or training, any of which may be non-postal. Ratings are based on the demonstration of the level of possession of each of the KSAs. Failure to demonstrate any KSA is disqualifying.

Ability to troubleshoot and diagnose malfunctions in automotive components or systems refers to a proficiency in observing, testing, analyzing, and isolating sources of trouble in automotive systems or their components, such as, electrical/electronic systems, engine, power train, fuel delivery, suspension, and braking systems through the use of appropriate automotive test equipment.

Ability to use automotive test equipment refers to the knowledge of, and proficiency with, various types of electrical/electronic diagnostic test equipment, such as voltage/amperage testers (VAT), multimeters (VOM), test lights, scanners, gas analyzers, etc.

Ability to make minor and major repairs to automotive components or systems refers to a proficiency in replacing parts, making adjustments, and rebuilding automotive systems or their components, such as electrical/ignition, emissions, fuel delivery, engine, suspensions, power train, braking systems, intake, exhaust, and starting aids.

Ability to prepare paperwork refers to the ability to record information and data to complete forms, such as parts requests and estimated repair time (E.R.T.), as it relates to the operation of a facility.

Ability to work with others refers to the ability to work safely and efficiently in cooperation with fellow employees to perform the duties of the position to include the test and repair of electrical/electronic and mechanical problems using the appropriate diagnostic equipment and/or procedure.

Ability to work without (immediate) supervision refers to the ability to perform safely and efficiently the duties of the position, such as planning and executing work activities without direct supervision.

Examination Requirements

Applicants must successfully complete Postal Service's Test 943 and Test 944.

Effective June 11, 2022, Exam 941 Automotive Bench Test is suspended until further notice.

Physical Requirements

Applicants must be physically able to perform efficiently the duties of the position.

Training Requirements

Applicants who qualify under this standard may be required to satisfactorily complete a prescribed training course(s) prior to reassignment or promotion.

Additional Provisions

At the time of appointment, applicants must have a valid driver's license from the state in which they live. Applicants must also demonstrate and maintain a safe driving record. Applicants selected under this qualification standard must successfully complete the required Vehicle Familiarization and Safe Operation training, including demonstration of the ability to safely drive a vehicle of the type used on the job.

Qualified applicants must successfully pass a pre-employment drug screening to meet the U.S. Postal Service's requirement to be drug free. Applicants must also be a U.S. citizen or have permanent resident alien status.

Important Information

The United States Postal Service (USPS) is an equal opportunity employer. The USPS provides reasonable accommodation for any part of the application, interview, and/or selection process, please make your request to the examiner, selecting official or local manager of Human Resources. This request can also be made by someone on your behalf. Explain the nature of your limitations and the accommodation needed. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be on a case-by-case basis.

The Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act of 2019 (Fair Chance Act) prohibits the Postal Service from inquiring into the criminal history of applicants before a conditional offer of employment has been made and sets out penalties for individual employees who violate the law. An applicant who feels their rights under this federal law have been violated has 30 days from the date of the alleged violation to file a complaint with the Postal Service at . Further information can be found at www.usps.com.

Special Note

Current career Postal Service employees are ineligible to apply to this posting.