Senior School Bus Technician

Chesterfield County • Chesterfield, VA

8d • Onsite

About The Position

The Senior School Bus Technician performs advanced inspection, diagnosis, maintenance, and repair of diesel-engine school buses and related equipment. The position works under the general supervision of the Automotive Maintenance Supervisor and uses technical references and computerized diagnostic tools to identify faults, plan repairs, and verify vehicle operation. Work includes routine preventive maintenance, state safety inspections, road service calls, testing vehicles, and preparing and maintaining repair records. The role requires advanced knowledge of diesel engines, vehicle systems, and school bus equipment, as well as the ability to perform complex repairs such as engine and transmission replacement and steering repairs.

The position is part of an approved Career Development Plan offering potential career progression and salary incentives, as funding permits, based on performance, qualifications, and experience. The schedule is Monday through Friday, 6:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., with rotating after-hours on-call duties in the evenings and on weekends. Work may occasionally take place in adverse weather or extreme temperatures. The employee must provide their own tools. Uniforms, a quarterly tool allowance, and technical training are provided.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED and three to five years of experience maintaining, repairing, and computer-diagnosing medium-heavy truck faults at a journeyman technician rating; or an associate degree in automotive technology from an accredited college plus three years of hands-on automotive experience; or an equivalent combination of training and experience.
• Graduation from an accredited automotive trade school or apprenticeship program may substitute for two years of experience.
• Advanced working knowledge of internal combustion engine operation; electricity, electronics, computer systems, sensors and actuators; engine and emissions controls; dashboard instrumentation; climate control; door and window locking and alarm systems; mobile air conditioning; anti-lock brakes and traction control; and wheelchair lift and restraint systems.
• Ability to perform complex vehicle repairs, including engine replacement, transmission replacement, king pin and steering repair, turbocharger replacement, and fuel tank replacement.
• Ability to diagnose equipment using high-technology diagnostic tools and test equipment, operational tests, and road tests.
• Ability to use and maintain hand tools, diagnostic equipment, and machine tools used in automotive repair and maintenance.
• Ability to read, interpret, and apply technical manuals, service manuals (including electronic manuals), schematic diagrams, diagnostic aids, flow charts, and graphs.
• Ability to use a maintenance management computer system to review vehicle repair history and enter work order information.
• Knowledge of standard practices, methods, materials, and tools used in school bus repair.
• Familiarity with the design, operation, and repair of heavy-duty diesel engines and diesel equipment.
• Ability to perform physically demanding work, including prolonged standing and walking, stair use, squatting, stooping, bending, twisting, stretching, crawling, overhead reaching, and working in awkward positions.
• Ability to lift items up to 50 pounds and stand for prolonged periods.
• Current valid driver's license and good driving record. Under the Virginia DMV point system, records must not show six or more demerit points in the 24 months before the anticipated hire date or one major violation worth six demerit points in the preceding 36 months.
• Applicants with out-of-state driving records must obtain and present records at interview. Records must show at least three years of history and be dated within 30 days of the interview.
• Must provide own tools.
• Must possess or be able to obtain a Virginia State Inspection Certificate, valid Commercial Driver's License (CDL), and EPA-Approved Section 609 Refrigerant and Recovery Certification within nine months of employment.
• Pre-employment drug testing, FBI criminal background check, and education or degree verification are required.
• This is a federally regulated DOT position subject to random drug and alcohol testing; medical marijuana use is prohibited.

Nice To Haves

• Current Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certifications are preferred.

Responsibilities

• Examine vehicles and communicate the nature and extent of damage or malfunction.
• Diagnose bus problems and plan work procedures using charts, technical manuals, and computerized diagnostic equipment.
• Perform state safety inspections, including 45-day inspections.
• Conduct road service calls, test vehicles, and prepare and maintain repair records and reports.
• Perform daily and monthly preventive maintenance and repair of diesel-engine school buses to ensure compliance with state and federal safety guidelines and regulations.
• Repair diesel engine, fuel, electrical and electronic, power train, suspension, air brake, steering, heating and cooling, and exhaust systems.
• Repair and replace school bus lighting systems, wheelchair lift equipment, tires, and seats.
• Perform complex repairs, including engine and transmission replacement, king pin and steering repair, turbocharger replacement, fuel tank replacement, and major engine repairs.
• Perform other work as required.

Benefits

• Uniforms
• Quarterly tool allowance
• Technical training
• Career progression opportunities and salary incentives, as funding permits, based on performance, qualifications, and experience

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: High school or GED