Maintenance Mechanic

Summary

You will serve as a Maintenance Mechanic in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, located at the Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge. In this role, you will perform construction, rehabilitation, and maintenance work across buildings, facilities, vehicles, and heavy equipment to support refuge operations and land management. You will use a wide range of trades skills and tools to ensure safe, effective, and reliable operation of infrastructure essential to the mission.

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Duties

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Some of the major duties you will perform include but are not limited to the following:

• Perform building and facility maintenance by troubleshooting and repairing electrical, plumbing, carpentry, roofing, masonry, and heating and cooling systems.
• Maintain and repair vehicles, heavy equipment, and small engines by diagnosing issues, replacing parts, and completing preventive maintenance.
• Operate heavy equipment such as bulldozers, excavators, graders, and loaders to support land management, road work, and construction projects.
• Train and mentor employees and volunteers while ensuring safe work practices and proper use of tools, equipment, and protective gear.
• Maintain accurate maintenance and equipment records by updating logs and entering data into approved systems.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• Must provide proof of U.S. citizenship.
• Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication.
• Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service.
• Direct Deposit participation required.
• Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more, visit
• Must have and maintain a valid driver's license throughout employment.
• Must have or obtain, within twelve (12) months of appointment date, a valid Class A Commercial Driver's License (CDL) and can couple/uncouple vehicles and connect/disconnect the air brakes and electrical lines.
• Pre-employment and random alcohol and drug testing are required. You will not be appointed to the position if a verified positive test is received.
• May be required to obtain and maintain a Pesticide Applicators License.
• You are required to wear a uniform and comply with the uniform standards. A uniform allowance will be provided.
• You are required to complete training, obtain and maintain a government credit card with travel and/or purchase authority.
• You must be at least (1)18 years old or (2) at least 16 years old and: (a) Have graduated from high school or been awarded a certificate equivalent to graduating from high school; or (b) Have completed a formal vocational training program; or (c) Have received a statement from school authorities agreeing with their preference for employment rather than continuing their education; or (d) Be currently enrolled in a secondary school and either work only during school vacation periods or work part-time during the school year under a formal student employment program.

*Additional Requirements located under qualifications*

Qualifications

Requirements Continued...

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest will be evaluated.

This probationary period is an extension of the appointment process and therefore requires the agency to determine if continued employment would advance the public interest, meet the organization goals and mission of the agency, and/or otherwise promote the efficiency of the service. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, the agency will consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Under applicable law, the employment of an individual serving a probationary or trial period automatically terminates when that period ends unless the agency affirmatively certifies, in writing, that the individual's employment should continue and that their appointment should be finalized. In the absence of agency action to affirmatively certify continued employment beyond the probationary or trial period, such appointments are terminated.

Upon completion of your probationary period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications:

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-07/23/2026-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement.

To qualify for this position, you must have sufficient knowledge and ability in the following job-related factors:

1. Ability to do the work of the position without more than normal supervision. (SCREEN OUT)
2. Knowledge of Equipment Assembly, Installation Repair, etc.
3. Technical Practices (theoretical precise, artistic)
4. Use of Measuring Instruments
5. Ability to Interpret Instructions, Specification, etc. ( includes blueprints reading)
6. Ability to Use and Maintain Tools and Equipment
7. Knowledge of Materials
8. Vehicle Operation

If your knowledge and ability in the SCREEN OUT factor above is not sufficient, you will receive no further consideration. In preparing your application, describe in detail the experience and training which you have had that specifically prepared you for this job and to perform the duties described for this job. Experience should be clearly described and documented in your resume. Your resume must support your response to the assessment questionnaire, and if it does not, your application will be marked as not eligible. The qualifications reviewer will not assume performance of such duties by Job Titles alone. Address your knowledge, skills and/or abilities in the areas shown in the job-related factors.

You must meet at least 2 points on the screen-out element(s) and obtain an average of at least 2 points on all of the job elements to be considered qualified for this position.

Volunteer Experience: Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Education

There is no substitution of education for experience for Federal Wage System (FWS) positions.

Additional information

Additional vacancies may be filled using this job announcement.

If otherwise eligible and qualified, you may be offered a recruitment or relocation incentive. The decision to offer an incentive will be made on a case-by-case basis and is neither promised nor guaranteed. For information visit: Recruitment Incentive or Relocation Incentive.

Related Non-Federal experience or related experience as retired members of the uniformed services may be credited towards computing entitlement to leave accrual, at managerial discretion, providing that experience meets certain criteria. This provision allows new employees to earn annual leave at a higher rate than would otherwise be allowed. (5 Code of Federal Regulations, 630).

Physical Demands: The work requires considerable physical effort in operating and maintaining facilities, equipment, and attachments. Duties involve working in confined spaces, elevated areas, and on rough or uneven surfaces. Tasks frequently require awkward or strained positions, including standing, bending, stooping, kneeling, climbing, and working in cramped spaces. The position requires lifting or handling 50-100 pounds unassisted, following proper lifting procedures. Routine work involves climbing ladders or scaffolding and performing physically tiring tasks throughout the day.

Working Conditions: Work is performed primarily outdoors (about 95%) in all types of weather, including exposure to temperature extremes, running water, fumes, dust, grease, dirt, and slippery or uneven terrain. The position involves exposure to moving equipment, energized circuits, electrical shock hazards, chemicals, and rotating machinery. Risks include cuts, abrasions, burns, falls, falling material, and injuries associated with heavy or power-driven equipment. Work near public roads may involve additional risk of vehicle collisions. Safety requirements include the use of personal protective equipment such as hardhats, gloves, goggles, safety glasses, hearing protection, steel-toe boots, respirators, and other protective gear as required.

All Department of Interior (DOI) employees, their spouses, and minor children may not acquire or retain any claim, permit, lease, small tract entry, or other rights granted by the Department in Federal lands, with limited exceptions. Additional ethics prohibitions can be found here,

Current surplus and current or former displaced Federal individuals who have special priority selection rights under the Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) must be well qualified for the position to receive consideration for special priority selection. Well qualified means that the applicant meets the following: OPM qualification standards for the position; all selective placement factors, where applicable; special qualifying conditions that OPM has approved for the position, where applicable; is physically qualified with reasonable accommodation, where appropriate to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position upon entry; and is rated by the organization at least at the well qualified level.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.