Heavy Equipment Mechanic III - Grand Junction

This position is only open to Colorado state residents. New employees to the State will be paid biweekly, with 26 biweekly pay periods in a year. The role is located in Glenwood Springs and is eligible for a housing stipend.

About CDOT

CDOT employees make a difference by providing freedom, connection, and experience to the traveling public while keeping them safe. The State of Colorado offers a comprehensive benefits package, including:

• Competitive medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Life and disability insurance
• Flexible spending and health savings accounts
• PERA retirement with optional 401K plans
• Generous paid time off (annual, sick, holiday, and other leave)
• Career growth opportunities, tuition reimbursement, and professional development
• Colorado Employee Assistance Program (CSEAP) counseling
• Wellness programs, credit union membership, and employee discounts
• Potential eligibility for Public Service Loan Forgiveness

CDOT is committed to creating a supportive workplace where everyone, regardless of identity, has the opportunity to thrive.

About the Role

This Journey-level Equipment Mechanic position inspects, diagnoses, troubleshoots, modifies, and repairs light and heavy trucks and specialized snow, ice, and road repair equipment. The goal is to ensure the entire fleet operates safely in compliance with Federal DOT and CDOT rules and policies. The role involves servicing systems such as transmissions, brake systems, electrical systems, ignition systems, fuel systems, and hydraulic systems.

Vehicles and equipment include, but are not limited to:

• 10-ton tandem snowplows
• Tractor-trailers
• Bulldozers
• Motor graders
• Paving machines
• 6X6 and 4X4 trucks
• Snow blowers
• Mower tractors with tow-behind and side-arm mower decks

CDOT provides all necessary tools for mechanics.

Responsibilities

• Diagnose problems, disassemble units, inspect components, analyze failures, replace or repair failed parts, and reassemble units in systems such as brakes, drive, electrical, hydraulic, air, steering, suspension, engines, computer-controlled sanders, de-icing systems, and AVL systems.
• Perform preventive maintenance, including:
  • Routine maintenance checks
  • Inspections and adjustments of fluid levels, hoses, belts, brakes, tires, and clutches
  • Changing filters and oil
  • Lubricating vehicles and motor-driven equipment
  • Tuning gas and diesel engines
  • Servicing valves, fuel filters, and turbochargers
  • Pressure-checking fuel filters
  • Adjusting injector heights, fuel racks, governors, etc.
• Maintain service logs and records of maintenance on vehicles and equipment.
• Complete annual DOT safety inspections on the vehicle fleet and certify vehicles for 49 CFR 396 DOT compliance.
• Complete preventive maintenance work orders.
• Diagnose equipment components for defects or malfunctions using scan tools and diagnostic computers.
• Visually inspect equipment for defects or leaking fluids.
• Test-drive vehicles and test the operation of equipment and components.
• Fabricate, modify, and install special equipment or replacement parts, including mounting brackets and special tooling.
• Design and fabricate parts and special tools for unique or emergency situations using machining, arc welding, oxygen-acetylene cutting and welding, plasma cutters, MIG, and TIG.
• Set up and install new equipment by fabricating or modifying to CDOT specifications.
• Perform record-keeping and documentation on all assigned units, tracking equipment maintenance and repairs, and maintaining Federal DOT Inspection records.
• Order and procure parts, supplies, and materials to keep equipment functional.
• Prepare work orders in SAP and materials estimates.
• Prioritize safety over production for self, co-workers, and the traveling public.
• Maintain technical knowledge of safety procedures and guidance materials, including the Safety Manual, Job Safety Analysis (JSA), equipment manufacturer safety guides, and OSHA publications.
• Abide by all safety laws, regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Attend safety training and participate in tailgate safety talks.
• Continuously learn and develop job knowledge and skills through on-the-job training and courses.
• Participate in regional trainings, work unit meetings, informal exchanges, committees, and task forces.
• Attend new equipment commissioning trainings held by equipment vendors.
• Maintain technical knowledge of equipment, tools, and materials, adapting to changes and technology improvements.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Work Environment

• Expected work schedule: 4 ten-hour days per week.
• Approximately 40% of time spent in the field and 60% in the equipment shop.
• Required to respond to emergencies outside regular work hours, including weekends and holidays, with some on-call time.
• Must provide a telephone number for emergency contact.
• Required to lift up to 70 lbs.
• Must bend, kneel, and climb in/out of trucks during maintenance and repairs.
• Required to operate CDOT vehicles.
• Must read, understand, follow, and give oral and written instructions.
• Frequent travel during the workday for field repairs, trainings, and meetings.
• Required to work in extreme temperatures and weather conditions for long periods.
• Exposure to loud noises, fumes, odors, gases, dust, and high voltage (over 600V).
• Must communicate via cell phone and state radio for field calls.
• Required to use computers for diagnosing, data input, record-keeping, and email.

Requirements

• Must obtain a Commercial Driver’s License Class A or B with air brakes within 6 months of hire.
• Must pass a pre-employment screening, which may include a social security number trace, criminal records check, public court records check, educational records, and driving records checks.
• May be required to pass a controlled substance test and DOT physical.
• Must be willing to respond to emergencies outside regular work hours, including weekends and holidays.
• New employees must complete two weeks of maintenance training; veteran CDOT employees must complete one week of training annually (held in Aurora).

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

• Four years of progressively responsible experience in automotive and heavy equipment repair, including at least one year of experience diagnosing and repairing heavy diesel equipment such as 10-ton double axle snowplows, tractor-trailers, bulldozers, motor graders, paving machines, and/or 15' mower tractors, with current proficiency at the journey level.
• OR a combination of related education, formalized apprenticeship program, and/or relevant experience totaling four years, including at least one year of experience with heavy diesel equipment as described above.
• Satisfactory completion of a formalized apprenticeship program or higher-level non-correspondence coursework from an accredited college or technical school in automotive and diesel equipment mechanics or heavy equipment mechanics may substitute on a year-for-year basis. Unofficial transcripts or a certificate of completion are required if using education toward qualifications.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Demonstrated success with the duties listed in the job description.
• Years of State service experience related to the duties of this position.
• Highest work/personal ethics and integrity.
• Commercial Driver’s License Class A with no air brake restrictions.
• Extensive experience troubleshooting, diagnosing, and repairing automotive and heavy-duty diesel vehicles and equipment up to 10 tons.
• Extensive experience designing and fabricating parts and special tools for unique or emergency situations.
• Medium/Heavy truck ASE Certifications in Diesel Engine, Drive Trains, Brakes, Suspension and Steering, Electrical/Electronic Systems, Heating, Ventilation, and A/C.
• Effective interpersonal, relationship-building, and oral communication skills.
• Strong attention to detail, accuracy, reasoning, analytic thinking, troubleshooting, and problem-solving skills.
• Use of innovative approaches for repairs, considering resources, budget, time, efficiency, and safety.
• Flexibility in adapting to changing circumstances.
• Strong commitment to safety and a positive, can-do attitude.
• Self-starter with motivation to accomplish assigned tasks.
• Conscientious, organized, and reliable in maintaining the shop and completing duties.
• Ability to quickly learn with minimal direction and adapt to changes in work assignments and environments.
• Ability to work effectively both independently and in team situations.
• Knowledge and ability to use computers for vehicle diagnosing, data input, record-keeping, email, and learning new software.

Pay

Starting base pay is typically $64,428–$67,848 per year.