Airport Facilities Maintenance Technician

About the role

At the Durango-La Plata County Airport (DRO), you’ll maintain the systems that keep the airport running—HVAC, electrical, plumbing, heavy equipment, and snow removal operations. This permanent afternoon/evening position has a base schedule of Monday–Friday, 2:00 p.m.–10:30 p.m., extending maintenance coverage into the afternoon and evening hours. During non-winter months, four 10-hour shifts may be available. Weekend work is required during snow removal events and maintenance emergencies.

This role is ideal for someone who thrives in a high-energy environment with varied technical demands and no two workdays alike.

Responsibilities

• Keep airport facilities, buildings, and grounds safe, clean, and fully operational.
• Perform preventative maintenance and repairs on building systems, including HVAC, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical components.
• Operate light and heavy equipment, such as forklifts, graders, backhoes, heavy plow trucks, high-speed brooms, and rotary snow blowers.
• Maintain and troubleshoot high-voltage runway and taxiway lighting systems and other airfield navigation aids.
• Conduct pavement maintenance on runways, taxiways, roadways, and parking areas, including crack sealing, striping, and minor repairs.
• Ensure airfield and landside grounds comply with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) safety standards through mowing, fencing repairs, and sprinkler system maintenance.
• Perform skilled trades work, including carpentry, painting, welding, and basic fabrication.
• Repair and maintain airport fleet vehicles and equipment.
• Assist with custodial duties, such as cleaning restrooms and offices, vacuuming floors, removing trash, disinfecting surfaces, and washing windows.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED equivalent.
• Valid state driver’s license.
• Ability to pass a background check to work in a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) secured area.
• One to two years of experience in building and grounds maintenance.
• Strong understanding of building trades, including proper use of tools, materials, and safety practices.
• Ability to follow technical documents such as safety rules, maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals.
• Availability to work allocated hours, which may include evenings, weekends, holidays, overtime, and on-call shifts for snow removal.

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Ample personal time off (PTO) and 11 paid holidays.
• 401(a) retirement plan and optional deferred compensation plan.
• Basic life insurance and accidental death & dismemberment (AD&D) coverage.
• Long-term disability coverage.
• Paid Family and Medical Leave (FMLA).
• Access to Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
• Free access to the Durango Community Recreation Center and Chapman Hill Ice Rink & Ski Area.
• Holistic Employee Wellness Program addressing physical, mental, financial, and professional well-being.
• Free transit pass and family member discounts.
• Reimbursement for job-related classes to foster continuous learning.
• Sixteen hours of volunteer time off per year to support local non-profit organizations.
• $560 monthly bonus for snow removal from December through March.
• Pay-for-certification program with wage increases for earned professional certifications.

Schedule

• Base schedule: Monday–Friday, 2:00 p.m.–10:30 p.m.
• During non-winter months, four 10-hour shifts may be available.
• Weekend work required during snow removal events and maintenance emergencies.

About the employer

The City of Durango is a purpose-driven organization with over 400 full-time and 300 part-time/seasonal employees across 15 departments. The city’s Trail to Excellence (T2E) initiative focuses on continual improvement in service delivery, with every employee contributing to the mission of providing excellent service and achieving the city’s vision of being a multigenerational community that is authentic, diverse, engaged, thriving, and environmentally responsible.

Core values include teamwork, dependability, professionalism, service, respect, innovation, and well-being. The city is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate based on age, color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, military or veteran status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or any other protected status.