MECHANICAL TECHNICIAN (Trainee, I/II/III)

Careers In Government; San Rafael (CA); On-site; USD 85,000 - 146,000; Full time

Job summary

Central Marin Sanitation Agency (CMSA) in San Rafael, CA seeks a Mechanical Technician Trainee I/II/III to learn and perform preventive, corrective, and unscheduled maintenance on stationary and mobile equipment in water and wastewater facilities. You will inspect, repair, and replace components and gain hands-on experience with tools, safety systems, and CWEA certification pathways.

The full-time position offers a structured training path, supportive supervision, and opportunities to advance as

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED; CWEA Mechanical Technologist certification above Grade I may be substituted.
• Mechanical Technician Trainee – some related work experience desirable.
• Mechanical Technician I – able to obtain CWEA Grade I MT within 18 months or already have MT Grade I plus 1 year of maintenance experience.
• Mechanical Technician II – CWEA Grade II MT or 3+ years maintenance experience.
• Mechanical Technician III – CWEA Grade III MT or 6+ years maintenance experience.

Responsibilities

• Inspect stationary and mobile mechanical equipment, buildings, grounds, and appurtenances.
• Utilize electronic devices (computers, tablets, cell phones) in daily work activities.
• Install, repair, replace, and perform preventive maintenance on equipment.
• Troubleshoot problems and estimate time, equipment, and materials for repairs; perform emergency repairs as needed.
• Repair, overhaul, or replace malfunctioning parts, materials, and equipment.
• Clean, service, and paint equipment, machinery, vehicles, structures, pipelines, and tanks.
• Service, adjust, and tune engines, motors, pumps, valves, controls, boilers, heat exchangers, and chemical feed systems.
• Use plasma, gas, and arc welding to cut, heat, weld, or braze.
• Use and maintain hand and power tools and safety equipment if certified.

Job description

Job Description

JOB TITLE: MECHANICAL TECHNICIAN (Trainee, I/II/III)

AGENCY: Central Marin Sanitation Agency (CMSA)

LOCATION: San Rafael, CA

FILING DEADLINE: October 9, 2026

SALARY RANGE: $85,059.12 to $145,560.48 annually

THE OPPORTUNITY

Under supervision by the Maintenance Supervisor, Assistant Maintenance Supervisor, or a Lead Mechanical Technician, learns and performs preventive, corrective, and unscheduled maintenance; repairs and replaces a variety of equipment or components in various facilities on stationary and mobile equipment, found in water, wastewater, or similar industrial businesses; and performs related work as required.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Inspects a variety of stationary and mobile mechanical equipment, buildings and grounds, and appurtenances
• Utilizes electronic devices such as computers, laptops, data tablets, and cellular phones in the performance of daily work activities
• Installs, repairs, replaces, and performs preventive maintenance on equipment.
• Troubleshoots equipment problems, and recommends time, equipment, and materials required to make repairs; performs emergency repairs as required.
• Repairs, overhauls, or replaces malfunctioning, damaged or worn parts, materials, and equipment.
• Cleans, services, and paints equipment, machinery, vehicles, structures, buildings, pipelines, storage tanks, and any additional items.
• Services, adjusts, and tunes a variety of equipment such as engines, motors, pumps, valves, control systems, boilers, heat exchangers, and chemical feed systems.
• Uses plasma, gas, and/or arc welding equipment to cut, heat, weld, or braze.
• Uses and performs maintenance on a variety of hand and power tools, and safety equipment, if certified to do so.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

• High school diploma or general education degree (GED). The Agency recognizes that there are various avenues for obtaining qualifying experience to meet Mechanical Technician eligibility requirements. An equivalent combination of experience may be substituted for California Water Environment Association (CWEA) Mechanical Technologist certification above the Grade I Mechanical Technologist certification level.
• Mechanical Technician Trainee - Some related work experience desirable
• Mechanical Technician I - Possession of a Grade I Mechanical Technologist (MT) certificate issued by CWEA at date of hire, OR ability to obtain a Grade I MT certificate within 18 months of hire, and a minimum of one year of facilities maintenance experience making repairs on a variety of mechanical equipment, structures, and appurtenances.
• Mechanical Technician II - EITHER possession of a Grade II Mechanical Technologist certificate issued by CWEA, OR a minimum of three years of facilities maintenance experience making repairs on a variety of mechanical equipment, structures, and appurtenances.
• Mechanical Technician III - EITHER possession of a Grade III Mechanical Technologist certificate issued by CWEA, OR a minimum of six years of facilities maintenance experience making repairs on a variety of mechanical equipment, structures, and appurtenances.

CENTRAL MARIN SANITATION AGENCY

CMSA operates a wastewater facility in Marin County which treats and disposes wastewater as clean effluent into the San Francisco Bay, consistently meeting and exceeding federal and state regulatory requirements. We also beneficially use recycled water, reuse biosolids and biogas, and produce renewable power.