Lead Mechanic

County of Santa Barbara•Santa Barbara, CA

9d•Onsite

About The Position

The Lead Mechanic works under the general direction of a fleet supervisor, leads mechanics in a fleet maintenance shop, and assists with the shop’s day-to-day operations. The role supports adequate training, work oversight, and accountability among Vehicle Operations Shop maintenance staff, and assists division assistant managers with assigning tasks, planning and scheduling workloads, and controlling work quality. The position may be based in Santa Barbara and may require time in both North and South County; work schedule and location depend on department needs. The Lead Mechanic performs journey-level Equipment Mechanic II or Automotive Mechanic II work, including inspection, diagnosis, maintenance, repair, modification, fabrication, and overhaul of vehicles and equipment. The role also provides technical support and quality control, coordinates shop workload, communicates with fleet customers, maintains repair and billing records, contributes to hiring and performance evaluation, and supports shop safety programs. The employee may assist the fleet supervisor and act in that supervisor’s absence. Employees may work in inclement weather and be exposed to dust, loud noise, heat, wind, chemicals, moving machinery, vehicles and equipment, fumes, gases, petroleum products, fire and electrical hazards, and confined spaces. Appropriate safety clothing and equipment are required. A one-year probationary period applies. County employees are designated disaster service workers.

Requirements

At least six ASE certifications and five years of experience repairing a broad range of vehicles or heavy equipment, including experience using electronic diagnostic equipment; or two years performing duties equivalent to Santa Barbara County Auto Mechanic II or Equipment Mechanic II; or an equivalent combination of training, education, and experience providing the required knowledge and abilities.
Valid California Class C Driver’s License at appointment.
If required for assigned duties, obtain additional special licenses, such as a smog license or Class B Driver’s License, by the end of the 12-month probationary period as a condition of continued employment.
If assigned duties requiring a Class B Driver’s License after obtaining that license, comply with mandatory drug testing before assignment and drug and/or alcohol testing on a random, reasonable-suspicion, post-accident, return-to-duty, and follow-up basis.
Knowledge of gas, diesel, and alternative-fuel internal combustion engines; vehicle and equipment servicing, maintenance, and repair; relevant materials, parts, supplies, equipment, and tools; electronic diagnostic equipment; safe work practices; applicable smog, fleet-operation, and safety rules and regulations; fleet repair data; welding and fabrication methods; lead-work principles; and basic recordkeeping and office procedures and equipment.
Ability to diagnose mechanical defects; understand diagnostic flow charts, specifications, mechanical information, and wiring schematics; interpret and apply technical, administrative, and operational regulations and standards; estimate labor and materials; make sound decisions; perform basic math; plan, coordinate, assign, organize, prioritize, delegate, and evaluate work; communicate effectively verbally and in writing; build effective working relationships; and use standard office equipment and computerized fleet management systems.

Nice To Haves

Master ASE certifications in Automobile, Medium-Heavy Truck, and Truck Equipment.

Responsibilities

Perform journey-level mechanic duties, including repair, modification, fabrication, maintenance, inspection, diagnosis, major repair, and overhaul of gas, diesel, and alternative-fuel vehicles and equipment, engines, transmissions, differentials, fuel systems, hydraulic systems, and electrical systems.
Install and repair auxiliary equipment on police vehicles, automobiles, and light trucks.
Read and interpret blueprints, specifications, and manufacturers’ catalogues; drive fleet and other vehicles for road tests and diagnostic purposes.
Train, monitor, and assist in evaluating mechanics, and act as lead worker in the shop’s daily operations.
Assess workload and recommend staffing-assignment changes to meet shop demands and account for mechanics’ abilities.
Provide technical assistance to mechanics diagnosing vehicles and performing complex vehicle and equipment repairs.
Review work for quality and conduct safety inspections to ensure work meets service standards.
Serve as the primary contact for County employees delivering vehicles or equipment for service; understand reported problems, estimate repair time and materials, and explain technical information in lay terms.
Create and maintain repair records, work orders, and time records; prepare servicing schedules; enter fleet billing data into maintenance software and prepare reports.
Assist with interviewing applicants and make hiring recommendations.
Help assess staff training needs and recommend training to the assistant fleet supervisor.
Provide input to the fleet supervisor on employee performance evaluations.
Help develop, implement, and enforce shop safety requirements, policies, practices, and procedures; develop safety-program implementation plans and conduct safety meetings.
Prepare workers’ compensation paperwork.
Assist the fleet supervisor and act as supervisor in the supervisor’s absence.