Automotive Technician I

Salary : $83,902.44 - $107,505.36 Annually
Location : 1500 Warburton Ave., Santa Clara, CA
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 44-26-248
Department: Public Works/Automotive Services
Opening Date: 08/14/2026
Closing Date: 9/4/2026 4:00 PM Pacific
FLSA: Non-Exempt
Bargaining Unit: 6
Weighting Plan: 50% Oral, 50% Performance


Description
The Department:

The Department of Public Works (DPW) constructs, maintains and improves various components of the City's infrastructure providing quality, cost-effective, and timely services for the residents and businesses of Santa Clara. This also includes support of other City Departments providing services to the community. DPW support includes managing more than 750 fleet assets essential in delivering quality public safety, power, water, sewer, parks, and streets maintenance services to the City.
The Position:

This classification is the entry level of the City's Automotive Technician series and reports to the Public Works Supervisor, Automotive Technician II/III, or higher-level classification as assigned. Incumbents in this classification perform routine safety and preventative maintenance inspections of motorized vehicles and equipment.
Additional Information:

Applications must be filled out completely (e.g. do not write "see resume, NA, or personnel file."). Years of experience are considered on the basis of full-time-equivalent experience (2080 hours per year). To receive consideration for the screening process, candidates must submit a 1) Cover Letter, and 2) Resume. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
Application packets may be submitted online through the "Apply Now" feature on the job announcement at Applications must be submitted by the filing deadline of September 4, 2026 at 4:00 PM.
THIS RECRUITMENT MAY BE USED TO FILL MULTIPLE POSITIONS IN THIS, OR OTHER DIVISIONS OR DEPARTMENTS BESIDES THE POSITIONS LISTED ABOVE. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN EMPLOYMENT IN THIS CLASSIFICATION, YOU SHOULD APPLY TO ENSURE YOU ARE CONSIDERED FOR ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES THAT MAY UTILIZE THE APPLICANTS FROM THIS RECRUITMENT.MEETING THE MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS DOES NOT GUARANTEE ADMITTANCE INTO THE EXAMINATION PROCESS. ONLY THE MOST QUALIFIED CANDIDATES WHO DEMONSTRATE THE BEST COMBINATION OF QUALIFICATIONS IN RELATION TO THE REQUIREMENTS AND DUTIES OF THE POSITION WILL BE INVITED TO TEST OR INTERVIEW. APPLICANTS WILL BE CONSIDERED FOR POSITIONS ADHERING TO ALL APPLICABLE CITY POLICIES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO CMD 033- EMPLOYMENT OF RELATIVES.
The annual salary range for this position is $83,902.44 - $107,505.36. This position may be filled at or near the minimum of the salary range. The current vacancy being recruited for is a limited term position, which ends on 6/30/2028.

Minimum Qualifications
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Minimum Education Requirements:

Graduation from high school or equivalent
Minimum Experience Requirements:

One (1) year of automotive or heavy equipment (truck or construction equipment) servicing work.
Possible Substitution:

Course completion from an accredited institution or an appropriate trade school, or technical coursework from an accredited institution, in diesel or gasoline-powered mechanics leading to an Associate degree or journey level certification may be substituted for up to one (1) year of the required experience.
License/Certifications:

• Possession of an appropriate, valid California class C driver's license is required at time of appointment.
• Possession and maintenance of the following State of California Licenses and Certificates is required prior to completion of the probationary period:
  • Class A California driver's license with air brake test
  • ASE Certifications-A1,A4,A5,A6,A7,A8 and A9 or L1 or L3
• Incumbents shall be required to obtain and maintain any other license(s) and/or certificate(s) that may be required by future regulation for the performance of listed typical tasks.

Desirable Qualifications:

Possession of a valid California Class A driver's license with Air Brake Test is highly desirable
Other Requirements:

• Must be able to perform all of the essential functions of the job assignment
• Incumbents of this class may be required to work on a shift basis, and/or work unusual hours in emergency situations
• Incumbents of this classification may be subject to drug and /or alcohol testing as mandated by federal regulations
• Incumbents of this classification are required to provide tools for the automotive trade, based on job assignment and fleet composition

Follow this link to view the entire Class Specification, which includes more information on Typical Duties and Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities.
Candidates must attain a passing score on each phase of the examination process to qualify for the Eligible List. A department interview may be required prior to appointment.
Federal law requires all employees to provide verification of their eligibility to work in this country. Please be informed that the City of Santa Clara will not sponsor, represent, or sign documents related to visa applications/transfers for H1B or any other type of visa which requires an employer application.
VETERAN'S PREFERENCE POINTS: This position qualifies for Veteran's Preference Points. Applicants who have separated from service (Active Duty Status) must submit proof of honorable discharge (Form DD214) with their application at time of filing or will be ineligible to have points added to their final score.
The City of Santa Clara is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants for all job openings will be considered without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status or any other consideration made unlawful under any federal, state or local laws. The City of Santa Clara is committed to offering reasonable accommodations to job applicants with disabilities. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please contact us at View phone number on click.appcast.io or
City of Santa Clara Benefit Summary Overview for Bargaining Unit #6
American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME)
This summary provides a brief overview of the City of Santa Clara's benefits available to Bargaining Unit #6 employees in 2026. In the event of any conflict between the information in this summary and the applicable official plan documents, City Manager's Directives (CMDs), Personnel and Salary Resolution, or Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), the applicable official plan documents, CMDs, Personnel and Salary Resolution, or MOU will prevail over this summary. Benefits are subject to change.
Retirement:

• Membership in the California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS)
  • Classic Employees: 2.7% @ age 55 formula - employee pays 8.00% of gross pay, minus $61 bi-weekly
  • New Employees: 2.0% @ age 62 formula - employee pays 7.00% of gross pay
• Medicare and Social Security (FICA)
  • Employee pays 6.20% up to $11,439 (Social Security) and 1.45% (Medicare) of gross pay

Health Insurance:

• The City contributes up to 100% of the premium of the Kaiser (Region 1) plan for Employee Only and Employee + 1 Dependent plans, and up to 90% of the premium of the Kaiser (Region 1) plan of the Employee + 2 or More Dependents plan
• Employees electing health coverage with premiums above the City health contribution will pay additional premium costs from salary on a pre-tax basis
• No cash difference is paid if an employee elects a plan cheaper than the max City contribution
• To be eligible for the City's contribution toward health, employees must be on a paid status for at least 80 hours in the month prior to the month of coverage
• Coverage is effective as early as the first day of the month after date of hire
• Employees hired on or after 1/1/2023 who opt-out of City-offered health insurance and provide annual attestation and acceptable proof of alternative required coverage for themselves and their tax family, if applicable, are eligible for a cash-in-lieu amount of $250/month. Contact Human Resources for more details

Dental Insurance:

• Choice of two Delta Dental plans; enrollment is mandatory
• City pays lowest cost employee only plan; additional cost is paid by employee
• Coverage is effective as early as the first day of the month after date of hire

Vision Insurance:

• Choice of two VSP plans
• City pays lowest cost employee only plan; additional cost is paid by employee
• Coverage is effective as early as the first day of the month after date of hire

Voluntary Employee Beneficiary Association (VEBA):

• City contributes $50.00 a month toward employee's VEBA account
• Account funds may be used to pay for qualified medical expenses after separation from the City and after age 50 (pre-tax)

Life Insurance:

• City pays for $20,000 of Basic Life Insurance coverage
• Coverage is effective the first of the month after one calendar month of employment
• Additional optional insurance may be purchased by the employee for the employee, spouse, domestic partner, and/or dependent children

State Disability Insurance (SDI):

• Employee pays 1.3% of gross pay (includes Paid Family Leave)
• 7 day waiting period. Weekly paid leave for absences due to non-work related injuries/illnesses. Benefit is based on past earnings. Refer to edd.ca.gov for more information

Paid Family Leave (PFL):

• Up to 8 weeks of benefits within a 12-month period to care for a family member or to bond with a new child
• No waiting period. Weekly paid leave benefit. Benefit is based on past earnings. Refer to edd.ca.gov for more information

Long Term Disability (LTD) Insurance:

• Benefit is 60% of basic wage up to $7,500; max of $4,500/month
• Enrollment is mandatory. Employee pays $.446/$100 of insured earnings
• 60 calendar day waiting period
• Coverage is effective the first of the month after one calendar month of employment

Deferred Compensation:

• Voluntary plan through Nationwide Retirement Solutions
• Employee may contribute up to the lesser of the IRS maximum or 100% of gross compensation into a pre-tax 457(b) account or a post-tax Roth 457(b) account (or a combination of the two accounts) subject to IRS rules

Flexible Spending Account (IRS Section 125 Plan):

• Employee may contribute up to $3,400 per year in pre-tax dollars to a health care spending account
• Employee may contribute up to $7,500 per year in pre-tax dollars to a dependent care spending account
• Employee may contribute up to $340 per month in pre-tax dollars to a commuter benefit plan

Vacation:

• Vacation is accrued bi-weekly, cannot use vacation during first 6 months of City service
  • For 1 - 4 years of service: 10 days (80 hours)/year
  • For 5 - 9 years of service: 15 days (120 hours)/year
  • For 10 - 15 years of service: 20 days (160 hours)/year
  • For 16 - 20 years of service: 22 days (176 hours)/year
  • For 21+ years of service: 24 days (192 hours)/year
• Maximum vacation accrual is 400 hours
• Once per year, employees can elect to convert up to 40 hours of accrued vacation to cash to be paid out the following calendar year

Sick Leave:

• Sick leave is accrued bi-weekly for equivalent of 96 hours per calendar year with no maximum accrual
  • Up to 48 hours/year of accumulated sick leave may be used for family illness
  • Up to 40 hours/year of accumulated sick leave may be used for personal leave
• Employee may convert sick leave to vacation once per calendar year (annual maximum conversion is 96 hours sick to 48 hours vacation)
• Partial sick leave payoff provision on retirement depending on years of service

Non-Management Leave:

• 40 hours of non-management leave credited to employees each January 1st
  • New employees hired between January 1st and June 30th receive 40 hours of non-management leave their first year
  • New employees hired between July 1st and December 31st receive 20 hours of non-management leave their first year
  • Unused non-management leave may not be carried over from one calendar year to the next

Compensatory Time Off (CTO):

• Employees may accrue CTO in lieu of overtime hours up to a maximum of 240 hours
• 16 hours of CTO is credited to employees each January 1st (prorated if hired after January 1st)

Holidays:

• Seventeen paid eight-hour holidays per year (13 & 4 holidays between 12/25 to 1/1 of following year)

Equipment Reimbursements/Allowances:

• $600 per fiscal year Personal Safety Equipment & Raingear Allowance
• Up to $750 per fiscal year for Automotive Technician Tools
• Reimbursement for Automotive Technician I/II/III (See MOU for details)

Night Differential Pay:

• Employees are eligible for 5.0% night differential pay for all continuous hours worked between 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. so long as such hours include a minimum of 2 continuous applicable hours between 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m.

Tuition Reimbursement Program:

• Up to $2,000 per fiscal year for tuition reimbursement

Employee Assistance Program:

• Confidential counseling to employees and dependents. Up to maximum of five (5) consultations per family member per incident per year
• City paid benefit

Retiree Medical Reimbursement Program:

• Employees who retire from the City with at least ten (10) years of service shall receive reimbursement to help cover retiree single health insurance premiums. The reimbursement maximum includes the PEMHCA minimum.
• Up to age 65, retirees are eligible for reimbursement up to $438/month in 2026 (amount adjusted annually)
• After age 65, retirees are eligible for reimbursement up to $262/month in 2026 (amount adjusted annually)

Alternate Work Schedule:

• Golden Friday Program: Employees in the Street Department, Water and Sewer Department, and Traffic Engineering Division work a 9/80 schedule.
• All other employees in Unit 6, including probationary employees, shall have the right to work a 9/80 alternative schedule, which 9/80 schedule may be modified temporarily or to a different 9/80 work schedule at the discretion of the Department Head or Department Head's designee

Certification Premium Pay:

• The City will pay employees in designated classifications Certificate Premium Pay of $100 per month for each qualified certification which the employee achieves and maintains, up to a maximum of $200 per month. See MOU for details.

Additional Paid Leave:

• 40 hours of Additional Paid Leave will be credited to employees after completing 20 years of service with the City.

01


Each applicant must complete this supplemental questionnaire as a part of the application screening and selection process. The information you provide will be reviewed and used to determine your eligibility to move forward in the selection process. Incomplete responses, omissions, stating "see resume" or partial information may result in disqualification from the selection process. Do you agree to answer each supplemental question completely, and in your own words (without the use of generative Artificial Intelligence tools, including but not limited to Chat GPT, Microsoft AI, or any other AI tool), and that your responses can be verified from information included within your application?

• Yes
• No

02


Please select the option below that best describes how you meet the minimum qualifications for Automotive Technician I.

• I possess at least a high school diploma or equivalent (GED) and at least one (1) year of automotive or heavy equipment (truck or construction equipment) servicing work.
• I possess at least a high school diploma or equivalent (GED) and I have completed a course completion from an accredited institution or an appropriate trade school, or technical coursework from an accredited institution, in diesel or gasoline-powered mechanics leading to an Associate degree or journey level certification.
• I do not meet the minimum qualifications.

03


Please describe how your education and/or experience meet the minimum qualifications of this position.
04


Please specify how you meet the Class C license requirement:

• I possess a valid California Class C driver's license and can maintain it for duration of employment.
• I do not possess a valid California Class C driver's license but can obtain one by the time of appointment.
• I do not possess the license requirement and cannot obtain one by the time of appointment.

05


I possess current ASE certifications listed below (check those that apply):

• A1
• A4
• A5
• A6
• A7
• A8
• A9
• L1
• L3
• I do not possess some or all of the ASE certifications listed above but can obtain in my first year of employment.

06


I understand that if assigned to the Public Works Department: Possession of a valid Class A California driver's license with air brake test will be required within the first year of appointment.

• Yes
• No

07


This position may require you to work odd and unusual hours in the performance of duties and in emergency situations and to be available on an on-call basis, as assigned. Are you able to work as needed?

• Yes
• No

Required Question