Mechanical Technician III

Department Contact: Samantha Lish, 575-646-1726, slish@nmsu.edu

This is a bargaining unit position with American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees (AFSCME). Position is contingent upon external funding and is a one-year appointment which may be extended.

About the Role

The Jornada Experimental Range is seeking a Mechanical Technician III to support Range Staff and faculty/staff managing field sites by maintaining vehicles, equipment (including research equipment), range facilities, and tools.

Responsibilities

• Performs general maintenance and repair of facilities supporting livestock research, including corrals, fences, wells, pipelines, troughs, and solar pumping systems.
• Conducts rangeland management practices and repairs ranch livestock facilities, including pens, corrals, and barbed wire fencing.
• Designs and fabricates tools and equipment tailored to project and field study needs.
• Maintains and repairs vehicles and equipment, including small air-cooled engines, trucks, ATVs/UTVs, and heavy equipment with diesel engines and hydraulics.
• Manages inventory of parts and supplies to ensure availability for faculty and staff.
• Performs routine facility and building maintenance, including carpentry, plumbing, painting, and basic electrical work.
• Maintains several miles of dirt and gravel roads using motor graders and other heavy equipment.
• Assists with maintenance and repairs of water wells across the Jornada Experimental Range.
• Operates hand tools, power tools, and heavy equipment such as bobcats, backhoes, trenchers, tractors, and road graders.
• Maintains fleet fuel distribution equipment, calculates fuel needs and storage, and completes fuel usage records.

Requirements

• High School diploma + 4 years of relevant experience or Associate’s Degree + 2 years of relevant experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with range/ranch maintenance tasks.
• Knowledge of vehicles and heavy equipment, including operation, preventive maintenance, and repair.
• Knowledge of maintenance and repair for buildings, corrals, roads, and fences.
• Knowledge of routine electrical repair and plumbing.
• Knowledge of welding, metal working, and fabrication.
• Experience handling livestock in small areas, including feeding and proper methods of moving livestock.
• Ability to motivate, train, and work effectively with subordinates.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to plan and organize work activities effectively.
• Ability to read and interpret construction and field research plans.
• Ability to adjust work operations to meet emergencies without compromising quality.
• Willingness and ability to learn and attend training courses.
• Ability to work outdoors in hot, cold, or windy weather.

Special Certification/Licensure

Valid driver’s license may be required for operation of university vehicles.

Working Conditions and Physical Effort

• Work involves almost constant exposure to unusual elements, including extreme temperatures, toxic chemicals, biohazardous materials, dirt, dust, fumes, smoke, loud noises, and other potentially dangerous situations requiring safety precautions and protective equipment.
• Considerable physical activity; physical work constitutes more than 70% of the job.
• Requires heavy lifting, pushing, or pulling of objects up to 50 pounds.
• Work environment involves exposure to potentially dangerous materials and situations; extensive safety precautions and protective equipment are required.

Pay

$25.56 per hour

Schedule

Full-time, non-exempt position with a standard work schedule of 7:00 AM – 3:30 PM.