MECHANIC

Solid Waste Authority of Palm Beach County; West Palm Beach (FL); On-site; USD 48,000 - 66,000; Full time

Job summary

Solid Waste Authority of Palm Beach County in Florida seeks a skilled Heavy Equipment Mechanic to diagnose, repair, and maintain automotive and construction equipment. The role requires experience with engines, hydraulics, electrical systems, and welding.

Training and proper certification are preferred to ensure safe operation and compliance. The position involves outdoor work under hot, humid conditions with exposure to moving parts and loud noises.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Three years related experience and/or training as a tractor/trailer, automotive or heavy equipment mechanic.
• Professional training or technical certifications preferred.

Responsibilities

• Diagnose and repair heavy and off-road equipment including tractors, graders, cranes, and loaders.
• Inspect and perform diagnostic checks and replace necessary units and parts.
• Operate heavy equipment as required.
• Weld and cut metals to repair machinery.
• Perform tire service and repair on equipment.
• Perform related duties as needed.

Skills

Heavy equipment repairs

Diagnostics and tools

Safety procedures

Technical math

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Three years related experience

Professional training or certifications preferred

Tools

Diagnostic tools

Job description

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.

• Diagnose and make major repairs to cars, class eight tractors, walking floor trailers, graders, bulldozers, tractors, cranes, loaders, and other heavy and off-road equipment.
• Make minor and major repairs on such items as engines, air brake systems, Allision transmissions, differentials, front and rear suspensions, hydraulic systems, pneumatic undercarriages, electrical and air conditioning systems.
• Inspect, produce diagnostic checks, adjust, or replace necessary units and parts on heavy equipment and automotive vehicles.
• Operate automotive and heavy equipment as necessary.
• Weld and cut various metals to repair SWA equipment.
• Perform tire service and repair on SWA equipment.
• Perform other related work as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITY

The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Considerable knowledge of standard practices and equipment of the automotive, heavy truck, heavy equipment mechanic trade.
• Considerable knowledge of the principles of gasoline and diesel engines and mechanical repairs on automobiles, heavy trucks, and construction type equipment.
• Considerable knowledge of occupational hazards and safety precautions of the trade.
• Ability to do basic math and calibrate tools and equipment and use diagnostic tools and software to operate an electronic engine diagnostic tool.
• Ability to adapt available tools and repair parts to specific repair problems.
• Skilled in the use and care of hand and machine tools and welding and cutting equipment.
• Aptitude and disposition to learn new skills and procedures as required.
• Ability to communicate sufficiently with the public, peers, and superiors; to respond to inquiries and make entries on reports and records.
• Ability to analyze and trouble‑shoot basic mechanical issues and use a computer to analyze equipment.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

The ideal candidate possesses the education and experience listed below.

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Three years related experience and/or training as a tractor/trailer, automotive or heavy equipment mechanic.
• Professional training or technical certifications preferred.
• Any combination of experience, education and training that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the essential functions of the position.

CERTIFICATES AND LICENSES

• Valid Class E Florida Driver’s license required.
• CDL Class B Florida Driver’s License required OR ability to obtain within one (1) year of hire. SWA will reimburse for the cost of obtaining the CDL B license and allow time as permitted to facilitate the attainment of the license.
• Must own tools of trade.

The physical demands and 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.

This position works outdoors, and the employee is routinely subject to extreme heat, wet and humid conditions, loud noises, fumes, or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals and moving mechanical parts and the risk of electrical shock. On rare occasions, the employee will work indoors and be exposed to high precarious places.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is routinely required to climb on and off heavy trucks and large type heavy off-road equipment. The employee is routinely required to operate equipment and stand, walk, talk, hear; use hands to finger, handle, or feel and reach with hands and arms. The employee is also routinely required to sit, climb, or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl, lift, and smell. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds and on rare occassion,100 pounds with assistance. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, and depth perception.