Lead Fleet Diesel Mechanic

City Of Lake Wales; Lake Wales (FL); On-site; USD 27,552 - 41,328; Full time

Job summary

City Of Lake Wales is seeking a seasoned fleet technician to lead maintenance operations on diesel-powered vehicles and heavy equipment. You will plan, schedule, and coordinate preventative and corrective maintenance to ensure safety, reliability, and efficiency across municipal assets.

Responsibilities include using CMMS for work orders, maintaining accurate records, and reporting to state and federal agencies.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED or vocational training.
• 3–5 years of progressively responsible automotive and diesel maintenance experience.
• ASE Medium/Heavy Truck (T-Series) certifications preferred or equivalent.

Responsibilities

• Lead technician for fleet maintenance operations, directing daily work and shop activities.
• Plan, schedule, and monitor preventative maintenance to maximize availability.
• Use CMMS to create, assign, track, and close work orders and vehicle history.
• Maintain accurate maintenance records and report to regulatory bodies as required.
• Support emergency readiness and hurricane response with dependable vehicle availability.
• Overtime may be required.

Skills

Diesel tech knowledge

Leadership

Education

High school diploma or GED

Tools

CMMS

Diagnostic equipment

Job description

Position Details

Job Location: FL - Lake Wales, FL 33853
Position Type: Full Time
Salary Range: $19.44 - $29.58 Hourly

General Purpose

Performs advanced diagnostics, maintenance, and repair of diesel‑powered vehicles, heavy equipment, fleet vehicles, and other municipal assets while serving as the technical lead for the City's fleet maintenance operations. Assists in planning, scheduling, assigning, and coordinating preventative and corrective maintenance activities to ensure safe, reliable, and efficient operation of the City's fleet and equipment.

Supervision Received

Works under the general supervision of the Public Works Operations Manager or designee.

Supervision Exercised

Provides day‑to‑day technical direction, work assignments, training, and quality oversight to assigned Fleet Maintenance personnel.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Serves as the City's lead technician by providing technical expertise, assigning daily work, coordinating shop activities, and ensuring fleet maintenance operations are performed safely, efficiently, and in accordance with departmental standards.
• Plans, schedules, assigns, and monitors preventative maintenance activities to maximize fleet availability and extend equipment life.
• Utilizes the City's computerised maintenance management system (CMMS) or equivalent software to create, assign, track, document, and close work orders, preventative maintenance schedules, inspections, labour, parts usage, and equipment history.
• Ensures maintenance records are accurate, complete, and maintained in accordance with departmental policies and regulatory requirements.
• Gathers and reports information required by State and Federal regulatory agencies.
• Assists in maintaining fleet readiness to support emergency operations, hurricane response, disaster recovery, and other public works activities requiring dependable vehicle and equipment availability.
• May require overtime or weekend work as operational needs dictate.
• Other duties as required.

Peripheral Duties

• Assures an adequate supply of equipment, supplies and materials necessary for ongoing vehicle maintenance operations.
• Assists subordinate staff in the performance of their duties as needed.

Qualifications

Desired Minimum Qualifications

• (A) High school diploma, GED, or vocational school graduation in automotive, diesel technology, or a closely related field.
• (B) Minimum of three‑five (3‑5) years progressively responsible experience in automotive and diesel maintenance, including heavy equipment and construction equipment repair; and in the allied welding processes.
• (C) ASE Medium/Heavy Truck Certifications (T‑Series) preferred. Employees may be required to obtain certifications within a specified period after hire.
• (D) Any equivalent combination of education and experience.

Necessary Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• (A) Considerable knowledge of the automotive mechanic and welding trades, including the principles, practices, methods, and trends; considerable knowledge of applicable federal, state, county, and city policies, laws, and regulations affecting vehicle maintenance activities; knowledge of the operation and repair of gasoline and diesel internal combustion engines and computerised engine control systems.
• (B) Working knowledge of diagnostic equipment and troubleshooting techniques, including ignition timing, air injection, EGR systems, canister purge systems, sensors, and solenoids; ability to work from blueprints, drawings, broken parts, and oral and written instructions; working knowledge of safe work practices.
• (C) Ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, with employees, consultants, representatives of other governmental agencies, City officials, and the general public; ability to conduct research and prepare comprehensive reports; ability to supervise and administer a variety of vehicle maintenance programmes.

Special Requirements

Valid Florida drivers license. ASE Medium/Heavy Truck (T‑Series) certifications or equivalent.

Tools and Equipment Used

Motorised vehicles and equipment, diagnostic equipment, hydraulic testing equipment, welding equipment, and devices such as air injection, EGR, canister purge, sensors, and solenoid. Additionally common hand and power tools, computers, radios, telephones, copy machines, and related maintenance equipment.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls and reach with hands and arms. The employee frequently is required to sit, talk or hear. The employee occasionally required to stand, walk, climb or balance, and smell. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, colour vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee occasionally works in outside weather conditions. The employee occasionally works near moving mechanical parts and is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions and vibration. The employee is occasionally exposed to fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals. The noise level in the work environment is sometimes loud in garage bays, and moderately quiet in office settings.