Mechanical Technician III

New Mexico State University•Las Cruces, NM

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Jornada Experimental Range is seeking applicants for a Mechanical Tech III to support Range Staff as well as faculty/staff managing field sites by maintaining vehicles, equipment (including research equipment), and range facilities and tools. This is a one-year appointment which may be extended, contingent upon external funding. The role involves general maintenance and repair of facilities supporting livestock research, rangeland management practices, and ranch livestock facility repair and maintenance. Responsibilities include maintaining pens, corrals, and fences, designing and fabricating tools, keeping vehicles and equipment operational through preventive maintenance and repairs, and managing inventory of parts and supplies. The position also entails general facility and building maintenance (carpentry, plumbing, painting, electrical), maintaining dirt and gravel roads, assisting with water well maintenance, operating various tools and equipment, and maintaining fleet fuel distribution equipment. The role requires working outdoors in various weather conditions and involves exposure to unusual elements and potentially dangerous materials.

Requirements

High School diploma + 4 years of relevant experience or an Associate's Degree + 2 years of relevant experience.
Knowledgeable in the equipment and tools required to perform these duties.
Ability to work outdoors during hot or cold, windy weather.

Nice To Haves

Experience with range/ranch maintenance tasks
Knowledge of vehicles and heavy equipment to include 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
Knowledge in handling livestock in small areas, feeding and proper methods of moving livestock.
Ability to motivate, train, and work effectively with subordinates.
Ability to communicate effectively with others both orally and in writing.
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 of work
Willingness and ability to learn and attend training courses.

Responsibilities

Performs general maintenance and repair of facilities that support livestock research including corrals, fences, wells, pipelines, troughs, solar pumping systems, etc.
Performs rangeland management practices, ranch livestock facility repair and maintenance.
Maintain and repair pens, corrals, and barbed wire fencing.
Design and fabricate tools and equipment together to have an item that fits in the projects/field study needs.
Keeps vehicles and equipment available for use by inspecting and completing preventive maintenance and performing repairs as needed. Vehicles and equipment include small, air-cooled engines, trucks, ATVs/UTVs, and heavy equipment with diesel engines and hydraulics.
Inventory maintenance of parts and supplies so faculty and staff are aware of what is being used and what is available.
Performs general facility and building maintenance such as carpentry, plumbing, painting, and electrical work carried out in this position are less than journeyman work and are concerned with the more routine maintenance and repair of the facility buildings and infrastructure.
Maintain several miles of dirt and gravel roads by use of a motor grader and other heavy road equipment and machinery.
Assist with the maintenance and repairs of water wells located in various areas of the Jornada Experimental Range.
Operates various hand tools and power tools.
Operates small and heavy equipment to include bobcat, backhoe, trencher, tractor, road grader, etc.
Maintenance of fleet fuel distribution equipment, calculating fuel needs and storage, and completing fuel usage records.