Love getting your hands dirty and fixing things that roar, rumble, or roll? We’re on the hunt for a skilled technician with at least one year of wrench-turning experience to join our Public Works Fleet team! If you’ve got a knack for diagnosing and repairing gas or diesel-powered equipment, even better! Bring your skills as the next Heavy Equipment Mechanic to a team that keeps the city running strong.

Upcoming Salary Increases and Incentives:

3% COLA effective July 1, 2026

2.5% Education Incentive (bachelor's degree)

5% Education Incentive (master's degree)

The Heavy Equipment Mechanic is responsible to maintain and make minor and major mechanical repairs to the City's transit buses, gasoline or diesel powered automotive, heavy construction, fire apparatus, and other power-driven equipment; to diagnose and repair vehicle components and control systems; and to perform related duties as assigned.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Applicants will be assessed on the application submitted. It is the applicant's responsibility to fill out the "Education" and "Work Experience" sections of the application with complete information and adequate detail. Applications will be screened to the most qualified. Please do not substitute any part of the application with the words "see resume".

The following information is provided for use as a reference and as a planning tool. Human Resources is unable to schedule make-up examinations. Applicants considered to be the most qualified will be invited to continue in the testing process. The Human Resources Department reserves the right to revise the testing process to best meet the needs of the City.

Tentative Testing Schedule

Online exam

August 28, 2025 through September 3, 2025 at 5:00 pm

The City of Modesto is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to fostering, cultivating and preserving a culture of diversity, equity and inclusion. A City application is required, including Supplemental Questionnaire.

Essential and other important responsibilities and duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

Essential Functions:

Inspect, diagnose, and locate mechanical difficulties on City transit buses, automobiles, trucks, fire apparatus and a variety of other diesel, gasoline, electric, CNG and hydrogen powered maintenance and construction equipment.

Receive information from users, evaluate equipment problems, and determine action required for facilitating repair.

Weld, fabricate, and assemble parts and equipment for City transit buses and automotive and heavy equipment; weld, braze, cut, shape, and fasten metal parts; fabricate and weld vehicle frames, chassis, and exhaust systems.

Use welding equipment, drill presses, lathes, grinders, and a large assortment of other power and hand tools and measurement instruments required for journey level fabrication work.

Overhaul, repair, and adjust engines, transmissions, differentials, valves, clutches, and air and hydraulic systems.

Tune up engines, replacing electrical, electronic, and ignition parts and cleaning and adjusting carburetors and fuel injection systems.

Replace or repair faulty parts including wheel bearings, clutches, or oil seals, shock absorbers, exhaust systems, steering mechanisms, hydraulic systems, and related parts and equipment.

Diagnose and repair components, including generators, alternators, distributors, relays, lights, and switches.

Diagnose, maintain, and repair air conditioning systems, climate systems, computerized control systems, ignition systems, power steering, and cooling systems.

Repair, adjust, and replace brake systems including disc, hydraulic, and air brakes.

Make roadside repairs as required.

Assist in the purchasing of equipment maintenance parts and materials.

Maintain work, time, and material records.

Diagnose and repair various electronic and computer-controlled devices.

Diagnose and repair emissions systems.

Tests vehicle to ensure problem has been resolved.

Perform light building maintenance, shop equipment maintenance, tire work including mounting and dismounting tires by hand, utilizing tire machine, patching and plugging tires as required.

Build and maintain positive working relationships with co-workers, other City employees, and the public using principles of good customer service.

Observe and maintain a safe working environment in compliance with established safety programs and procedures.

Marginal Functions:

Assist other mechanics in the performance of mechanical repairs as required.

Perform related duties as assigned.

Heavy Equipment Mechanic I

Knowledge of:

Safe work practices pertaining to areas of assignment.

Office procedures, methods, and equipment including computers and applicable software applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, and databases.

Ability to:

Learn operating and repair characteristics of a wide variety of other light and heavy equipment.

Use a variety of tools, testers, and equipment with skill.

Maintain a variety of shop and repair records.

Understand and follow oral and written directions.

Perform heavy manual labor including occasional lifting and carrying up to 100 lbs.

Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.

Operate office equipment including computers and supporting word processing, spreadsheets, database applications, and fleet management systems.

Experience and Training Guidelines:

Any combination of experience and training that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

Experience:

One year experience diagnosing, troubleshooting, and/or repairing mechanical equipment of any type. Maintenance and automotive and heavy equipment repair experience desired.

Training:

High School diploma or GED equivalency desired.

Specialized training in the maintenance and repair of gas- and diesel-powered equipment desired.

License or Certificate:

Possession of, or the ability to obtain, a valid California driver's license.

Possession of a valid Class B Commercial California driver’s license is required within sixty (60) days of appointment.

In compliance with Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations, possession of an appropriate Motor Vehicle Air Conditioning Certification is required within one (1) year of appointment.

Failure to obtain any of the required licenses/certificates within the prescribed time may result in release from probation or termination.

Additional Requirements:

Possession of a complete set of mechanic hand tools through 1-1/2" and a toolbox.

Heavy Equipment Mechanic II

Knowledge of:

Tools, equipment, and procedures used in the overhaul, repair, and adjustment of transit buses and other gas, diesel, electric, CNG and hydrogen-powered equipment.

Operation and care of internal combustion engines and hydraulic equipment.

Methods, materials, equipment, and tools used in welding and fabrication work.

Operating and repair characteristics of City transit buses and a wide variety of on and off-road vehicles, emergency vehicles, transit vehicles, construction equipment and light and heavy municipal equipment.

Diagnostic methods.

Computers and electronics in vehicle applications.

Ability to:

Perform skilled welding and fabrication work.

Perform journey level equipment mechanical work, including the troubleshooting of equipment for both major and minor repair work.

Work independently in the absence of supervision.

Accurately determine appropriate mechanical repair needs and estimate the cost and time of repairs.

Assist in the training and supervision of less experienced staff.

Experience and Training Guidelines:

Any combination of experience and training that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

Experience:

Three years of increasingly responsible experience performing maintenance and automotive and heavy equipment repair duties.

Training:

High School diploma or GED equivalency desired.

Specialized training in the maintenance and repair of gas- and diesel-powered equipment desired.

License or Certificate:

Possession of a valid Class B Commercial California driver’s license.

Possession of, or the ability to obtain, a valid Vehicle Inspection Pollution Controls license.

In compliance with Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations, possession of an appropriate Motor Vehicle Air Conditioning Certification.

Possession of certifications in three (3) areas in heavy-duty class issued by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) is required within one (1) year of appointment.

Failure to obtain any of the required licenses/certificates within the prescribed time may result in release from probation or termination.

Additional Requirements:

Possession of a complete set of mechanic hand tools through 1-1/2" and a toolbox.

Mobility: frequent performance of heavy manual labor; frequent standing for long period of time; frequent bending and squatting. Lifting: frequent lifting up to 75 pounds; occasional lifting up to 100 pounds. Vision: constant use of overall vision. Dexterity: frequent grasping, holding, and reaching. Hearing/Talking: frequent hearing and talking in person. May be required to wear ear protection or hear in noisy conditions. Emotional/ Psychological: frequent coworker contact; occasional working alone. Environmental: frequent exposure to loud noise; frequent exposure to chemicals, fumes, and other environmental substances.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Work is performed in a mechanical shop environment on a year-round basis and includes exposure to loud equipment and machinery. Some work may occur at remote locations. Positions may require varying shifts, overtime, nights, and weekend work, as well as rotating shifts periodically and travel is rare.