Maintenance Mechanic II- Public Works, Bureau of Highways, Traffic Division

Howard County Government Position

Howard County Government is a leader in innovation, sustainability, and consistently ranked as one of the best places to live and work in the country. In 2025, Howard County Government received a record-breaking 83 Achievement Awards from the National Association of Counties (NACo) the highest number of annual NACo awards achieved in the history of the State of Maryland, and the highest number of awards out of any county in the State of Maryland which received a collective 136 awards. NACo is the leading organization representing county-level government operations. These awards recognize innovative and transformative programs that provide new services for county residents, improve existing programs, upgrade working conditions, and enhance citizen participation and public policymaking.

We are looking for outstanding individuals to join our team and contribute to excellence in Howard County operations. We are committed to workplace excellence in every area of County government. We have a highly talented, diverse, and inclusive workplace. Your input will not only be heard, but it will be encouraged! We offer competitive compensation and great benefits including medical, retirement, and wellness programs. As a member of the Howard County Government team, you'll be helping drive our culture and directly impact what makes us an amazing place to work.

Position Summary

This position involves the installation, maintenance, and repair of traffic signal control devices and systems throughout the County.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Electrical System Installation, Maintenance and Repair:

• Performs electrical work in the installation, maintenance, and repair of electrical systems, controls, and devices.
• Installs, cleans, and adjusts electrical fixtures and components such as ballasts, fuses, and switches.
• Installs under-floor wiring.
• Performs preventive maintenance on blades, contactors, circuit breakers, and similar components.
• Maintenance and replacement of backup power systems and batteries.

Traffic Signal and Control Device Maintenance:

• Performs inspections and cleaning of traffic signal equipment.
• Checks operation of equipment inside traffic signal cabinets.
• Replaces lamps in traffic signal heads.
• Performs overhead sign and signal head installations, removals, and repairs.
• Responds to reports of malfunctioning signals and other traffic control devices and performs necessary repairs.
• Operates a bucket truck to conduct overhead traffic signal maintenance.
• Assists with installation and maintenance of school flashers.
• Maintenance of hazard indication beacons.

Field Marking and Utility Coordination:

• Marks underground traffic signal equipment for MISS UTILITY stake-outs.

Reporting and Documentation:

• Completes maintenance reports.

Leadership and Other Duties:

• May supervise a work crew.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Minimum Required Education/Experience

Any combination of education and experience equivalent to completion of the 12th school grade and 3 years of progressively skilled experience in building/industrial maintenance and repair. Required certifications, licenses, and registrations: Valid Driver's License. Preferred education, knowledge, skills, and abilities:

• Considerable knowledge of the methods, practices, materials and tools used in traffic signal control device maintenance.
• Knowledge of the occupational hazard and safety precautions applicable to traffic signal maintenance work.
• CDL Class B license is desirable.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

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 accommodations 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. The employee frequently is required to stand; walk; sit; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and talk or hear. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. 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 is regularly exposed to outside weather conditions. The employee is occasionally exposed to high, precarious places; risk of electrical shock; and vibration. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate, but may become louder when working near road construction projects.

Benefits

The following is a summary of the benefits available to Howard County employees who hold full-time benefit-eligible positions. Employees in positions covered by a bargaining agreement should consult their union contract for other specific benefits. Additional details are also available in the Employee Manual and in summary plan descriptions which are available in the Office of Human Resources or at

Flexible Benefits Plan: Under the County's flexible benefits plan called CountyFlex, employees may elect to enroll in medical insurance plans, dental insurance plans, optional life insurance, dependent life insurance, and healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts. Employee contributions to these benefits are made on a pre-tax basis. Information concerning enrollment options, plan rates and a benefits comparison chart are available in the Office of Human Resources.

Group Term Life Insurance: Employees receive a group term life insurance benefit equal to 2 times their annual salary at no cost. Accidental death and dismemberment coverage is included. The County pays the entire cost for this benefit. Employees may purchase additional coverage under the CountyFlex benefits plan.

Paid Leave Benefits: Annual and Disability Leaves are accrued over 24 pay periods each year. Personal leave is credited on January 1st each year. Use of Annual, Disability and/or Personal Leave requires supervisory approval.

Annual Leave: During the first 5 years of employment, employees accrue the equivalent of 13 days per year. From years 6 through 10, the accrual is the equivalent of 16 days per year. From years 11 through 20, the accrual is the equivalent of 19 days per year. From year 21 on, the accrual is the equivalent of 21 days per year. Annual leave may not be used during the first 6 months of employment. A maximum of 40 days may be carried over from one fiscal year to the next.

Disability Leave: Employees accrue the equivalent of 1 day per month (12 days per year). There is no maximum accrual. This leave may be used for the disabling illness/injury of the employee, spouse or minor child or for a serious medical condition approved under F.M.L.A. Absences of over 3 days must be substantiated by a physician's certificate.

Personal Leave: Employees receive 6 personal leave days each calendar year to be taken during the calendar year. Employees hired after April 30th receive 4 days of personal leave that year; those hired after August 31st receive 2 days; and those hired after November 30th receive no personal leave for that year. Personal leave may not be carried over.

Holidays: Employees are paid for the following holidays: New Year's Day; Martin Luther King Day; President's Day; Good Friday; Memorial Day; Juneteenth; Independence Day; Labor Day; Columbus Day; Veteran's Day; Thanksgiving Day; Friday after Thanksgiving Day; Christmas Day.

Other Paid Leave: Other paid leave will be granted for approved jury duty, military leave, bereavement leave and official leave. Unpaid leave will be granted in accordance with the Family and Medical Leave Act.

Retirement: Howard County sponsors a defined benefit plan for its employees. Participation in the plan is mandatory. Employees are required to make contributions to the plan, which are taken on a pre-tax basis. Contribution rates are dependent upon the plan in which the employee participates (general plan, or police and fire plan). The County contributes an additional percentage sufficient to ensure that each plan is adequately funded. Complete details are available in the summary plan descriptions which are available in the Office of Human Resources. Howard County Retirement Plan: Employees contribute 3% of salary to the plan. Sheriff Deputies hired after 7/1/2021 contribute 8.5% of salary to the plan. All eligible Corrections Employees must enroll in the Corrections Employees Enhanced Benefit and must contribute 8.5% of salary to the plan. Howard County Police and Fire Employees' Retirement Plan: Sworn police officers and career firefighters must participate in this plan. Police employees contribute 11.6%