Heavy Equipment Mechanic / Welder

Job Title

Under general supervision, establishes and maintains a program for preventive maintenance, repair, or rebuild of department vehicles, and heavy equipment while minimizing costs and downtime.

Special Duties & Responsibilities

The duties and responsibilities listed below are intended to provide a representative summary of the major duties and responsibilities performed by incumbents of this job and are not intended to reflect all duties performed within the job.

• Establishes and maintains an effective program for preventive maintenance and repair of vehicles, and heavy equipment; identifies maintenance/repair priorities, taking into consideration factors such as safety and equipment down time; works to minimize repair/maintenance costs and length of down time.
• Ensures compliance of repair/maintenance work with all applicable laws, rules, regulations, standards, policies and procedures; ensures adherence to established safety procedures; monitors work environment and use of safety equipment to ensure safety of employees, vehicle/equipment drivers, and other individuals; initiates any actions necessary to correct deviations or violations.
• Provides cost analysis for equipment repair versus replacement, based on life expectancy and usage; researches and recommends alternative solutions when appropriate; assists in developing creative solutions for temporary continuation of equipment operation pending permanent repair, without jeopardizing employee safety or risking further damage to equipment.
• Performs mechanical repair and maintenance work on department vehicles, heavy equipment, and other equipment, which may include a roll-off truck, dump truck, tractor/attachments, track loader, wheel loader, pan, landfill compactor, backhoe, sludge trailer, utility trailer, diesel engine, tub grinder, engine, water pumps, lawnmower, weed-eater, or other equipment.
• Inspects equipment following mechanical failure, breakdown, accident, or damage; diagnoses heavy equipment mechanical problems, including water pumps, electrical systems, hydraulic pumps, or motors; diagnoses vehicle failures, brakes, clutches, transmissions, electrical systems, or power steering; conducts safety inspections of trucks and equipment; conducts diagnostic testing of engines and systems to determine mechanical problems; assesses extent of damage, nature of necessary repairs, and economic feasibility of performing repairs.
• Repairs, maintains, and tests engine components and systems, such as ignition systems, steering systems, electrical systems, suspension systems, hydraulic systems, brake systems, drive train systems, engine cooling systems, fuel systems, charging systems, starting systems, exhaust systems, heating/air conditioning systems, lighting systems, or horns; removes, installs, and replaces various parts and components; assembles engines, hydraulic cylinders, exhaust systems, or other systems.
• Performs routine servicing and preventive maintenance on vehicles and equipment, which may include pumping fuel into vehicles, checking/replacing fluid levels, draining/replacing oil, changing/replacing filters, lubricating mechanical parts, rotating tires, replacing tires/belts/hoses, checking batteries, greasing equipment, flushing radiators, or performing tune-ups.
• Performs welding and fabrication work, which may include cutting metal, fabricating components, or soldering metal components.
• Operates a variety of machinery, equipment, and tools associated with repairing, maintaining, testing, or driving trucks/equipment, which may include standard trucks/vehicles, heavy/light equipment, vehicle lift, tire changer, battery charger, hydraulic jack, air compressor, pressure washer, generator, drill, drill press, water pump, welder, oxygen torch, acetylene torch, torque wrench, transmission/hydraulics test boxes, depth micrometer, digital VOM, gauges, meters, testing instruments, mechanic tools, power tools, or air impact tools.
• Tests trucks, machinery, equipment, and parts for proper operations; makes necessary adjustments.
• Performs general/preventive maintenance tasks necessary to keep trucks, equipment and tools in operable condition, which may include inspecting equipment, refueling vehicles, checking fluid levels, replacing fluids, greasing equipment, replacing parts, washing/cleaning equipment, cleaning shop, or emptying trash containers; monitors equipment operations to maintain efficiency and safety; reports faulty equipment.
• Responds to emergency breakdowns or makes service calls to work sites, or other locations as needed; hauls, transports, loads, unloads, and/or moves various trucks, equipment, or other materials associated with department projects and work activities.
• Maintains inventory of department parts, tools, equipment, or other materials; ensures adequate inventory levels to conduct work activities; initiates requests for new/replacement parts/materials; picks up or delivers parts as needed.
• Maintains cost records pertaining to maintenance/repair of each vehicle and item of equipment; receives invoices for incoming parts/materials, reviews for accuracy, and researches discrepancies; assigns proper budget code to each invoice and forwards for payment; records expenditures for future budgetary reference; provides budgetary information/input concerning parts/supplies relating to area of assignment.
• Maintains records and logs of inspections, repair activities, warranty records, and other documentation.
• Prepares or completes various forms, reports, correspondence, log books, service maintenance board, inspection reports, maintenance records, purchase requisitions, cost records, or other documents.
• Receives various forms, reports, correspondence, equipment operations sheets, oil sample reports, invoices, receipts, inventory records, service/maintenance records, dealer part/product improvement publications, vehicle/equipment service manuals, air conditioning manuals, schematics, specifications, policies, procedures, reference materials, catalogs, manuals, or other documentation; reviews, completes, processes, forwards or retains as appropriate.
• Communicates with supervisor, employees, other departments, drivers/operators, customers, vendors, dealers, the public, and other individuals as needed to coordinate work activities, review status of work, exchange information, or resolve problems.
• Maintains an awareness of new parts, procedures, trends, and advances in the profession; reads professional literature; attends workshops and training sessions as appropriate.
• Operation of roll off and front loader collection trucks as needed in support of collections operations.
• Repairs sewer lift stations as needed.
• Performs other repair work or provides assistance to other employees or departments as needed.
• Performs other related duties as required.

Minimum Training & Experience

Vocational/Technical degree with training emphasis in mechanics, automotive/mechanical repair/maintenance, welding, and heavy equipment operation; supplemented by a minimum of three (3) years of previous experience as a supervisory mechanic on heavy equipment and trucks, and/or training that includes mechanics or automotive/mechanical maintenance, automotive/mechanical diagnostics, rebuilding of automotive/mechanical systems, welding/fabrication, and heavy equipment operation; or any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience which provides the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities for this job.

Must possess and maintain at minimum a valid Virginia Commercial Driver's License (CDL) Class B including appropriate endorsement(s).

ASE Certification as a Master Medium/Heavy Vehicle Technician is preferred.

ASE Certification in Refrigerant Recovery is also preferred.

Special Requirements

Knowledge of the policies, procedures, and activities of the County and of department practices as they pertain to the performance of duties relating to the position of Heavy Equipment Mechanic/Welder.

Knowledge of the principles, practices, procedures, and methods associated with automotive and mechanical diagnosis, repair, rebuilding, and maintenance of vehicles, heavy equipment, and other equipment associated with department projects.

Knowledge of the various systems and components associated with vehicles/equipment.

Knowledge of the safe operation and maintenance of equipment, tools, and diagnostic instruments associated with the position.

Knowledge of occupational hazards and safety practices/procedures.

Knowledge of the laws, standards, and regulations pertaining to the essential duties and responsibilities of the position.

Knowledge of the terminology, principles, and methods utilized within the department.

Ability to comprehend, interpret, and apply regulations, procedures, and related information.

Ability to keep abreast of any changes in policy, methods, equipment needs, policies, etc., as they pertain to departmental operations and activities.

Ability to use independent judgment and work with little direct supervision as situations warrant.

Ability to detect, identify, and diagnose mechanical problems and to use appropriate judgment in determining feasibility of performing needed repairs within reasonable cost constraints and timeframes.

Ability to effectively communicate and interact with supervisors, members of the general public, and all other groups involved in the activities of the department.

Ability to assemble information and make written reports and documents in a concise, clear and effective manner.

Ability to exhibit mathematical ability to handle required calculations.

Ability to read, understand, and interpret mechanical diagrams, automotive service records, and related materials.

Ability to review, classify, categorize, prioritize, and/or analyze data. Includes exercising discretion in determining data classification