Heavy Equipment Mechanic Helper

DESCRIPTION

THE AGENCY

Public services provided by the Alameda County Public Works Agency include flood and storm water pollution control, transportation planning and design, roadway and flood control maintenance and inspection, and construction and building inspections.

The goals of the Agency are to keep roads safe and well maintained, provide the highest level of flood protection, provide service levels that optimize infrastructure life cycles, minimize deferred maintenance, ensure that development and construction adhere to applicable State and County rules, optimize disaster preparedness, response and recover, ensure that the Agencys operations and services minimize negative impacts on the environment, and sustain and advance County and Agency programs through a vital business and administrative support system.

For more information about the Alameda County Public Works Agency, please visit their website at THE POSITION

Under direction, assists in the inspection, servicing, maintenance and repair of passenger vehicles, gasoline and diesel-powered heavy equipment, trucks and buses; and performs related work as required.

This is the entry-level class in the Heavy Equipment Mechanic series. This class is distinguished from the Heavy Equipment Mechanic position in that the higher-level class is a journey-level position that works independently and under general supervision. Heavy Equipment Mechanic Helpers normally work under close supervision when assisting Heavy Equipment Mechanics in the servicing, maintenance and repair of passenger vehicles, trucks and heavy equipment such as street sweepers, motor graders, tractors, mowers, backhoes, generators, pumps, trailers and paving equipment. Incumbents in this classification may work independently when performing semi-skilled tasks such as servicing and lubricating equipment and vehicles. Incumbents of this class are not normally required to perform diagnostic work, or to perform mechanical repair work independently. Although repair work may occasionally be performed without close supervision, it will usually consist of parts replacement, or some other phase of total repair process, and will be undertaken only after receiving specific instructions as to the nature of the work required.

For more detailed information about the job classification, visit:

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

Graduation from high school or possession of an acceptable equivalency certificate, such as the General Educational Development Certificate (State of California).

AND

Experience:

The equivalent of one (1) year of recent full-time, paid experience in automotive or heavy equipment maintenance, repair or servicing.

OR

Experience:

Completion of a one (1) year accredited vocational training program in automotive mechanics (certificate required).

Licenses and Certifications:

Possession of a valid State of California Class A Commercial Drivers permit with no moving violations for the past eighteen (18) months.
Acquisition and maintenance of a valid State of California Class A Commercial Drivers License with all endorsements (except Hazardous Materials) within 120 days of employment.
Candidate must submit evidence from the DMV showing either their State of California Class A Commercial Drivers permit, or the current status of their State of California Class A Commercial Drivers License with all endorsements (except Hazardous Materials), at the time of application.
Acquisition of an OSHA-recognized Forklift Operator Certificate within 180 days of employment.
National Institute of Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) Certification is highly desirable.

Special Requirements:

Federal law and County policy requires that positions in the class of Heavy Equipment Mechanic Helper are subject to post-offer/pre-placement/pre-duty, reasonable suspicion, post-accident, random, return-to-duty and follow-up drug and alcohol testing.

Possession of a set of common automotive hand tools typically used in the maintenance and repair of automotive and heavy equipment. This will include, but not be limited to: screwdrivers, Torx drivers, hex keys, various types of pliers, wire cutter/stripper, standard and metric combination wrenches from 5/16 1 (8mm 25mm), ¼, 3/8 and ½ drive standard and metric socket sets, file set, air blow gun, inspection mirror, magnetic pickup tool, hacksaw, hammers, scrapers, punches, chisels and pry bars. Incumbents will provide their own tool storage in the form of a lockable roll-around tool cabinet.

Working Conditions:

Incumbents are subject to 24-hour call out and must actively participate in the program.
Work is performed primarily indoors in a shop environment. Incumbents may occasionally be required to work outdoors, in all weather conditions
Work involves exposure to machinery and equipment, traffic hazards, fumes, dusts, grease, allergens, chemical irritants, toxic or caustic substances, high temperatures, hot surfaces, electrical hazards, unpleasant odors, and high noise levels.
Incumbents may be required to work on uneven surfaces, to climb ladders, and work from heights. The work requires standing for long periods, walking, bending, stooping, squatting, lifting and pushing heavy objects, and working overhead.

NOTE: The Civil Service Commission may modify the above Minimum Qualifications in the announcement of an examination.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

The most suitably qualified candidates will possess the following competencies:

Knowledge of:
Automotive and heavy equipment nomenclature.
Basic safety practices and procedures.
The functions of the major component parts of gasoline and diesel-powered vehicles and equipment.
Tools, devices and equipment commonly used in repairing gasoline and diesel-powered vehicles and equipment.

Ability to:
Utilize the hand tools listed in the Special Requirements section above, as well as common power tools used in the maintenance and repair of automotive and heavy equipment. This will include, but not limited to: impact wrenches, air ratchets, power drills, grinders and sanders.
Utilize personal computer systems.
Maintain computerized and paper records, and to provide concise written descriptions of work performed.
Read and interpret service manuals and other technical information.
Work effectively with others.
Lift and carry weights of up to 45 pounds.
Stand for extended periods of time and operate assigned equipment and vehicles.
Communicate with others, and to follow verbal and written directions.
Make sound decisions.

EXAMINATION COMPONENTS

THE EXAMINATION WILL CONSIST OF THE FOLLOWING STEPS:

1. A review of applicants' application to verify possession of minimum requirements. Those candidates who possess the minimum requirements for the class will move on to the next step in the examination process.

2. A review of the supplemental questionnaire to determine the best qualified. This is a pass/fail weighted exam component. Those candidates considered the best qualified will move on to the final step in the examination process.

3. An oral interview which will be weighted as 100% of the candidates' final examination score. The oral interview may contain situational exercises.

Candidates must attain a qualifying rating on each portion of this recruitment.

WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO MAKE CHANGES TO THE ANNOUNCED EXAMINATION STEPS.

Alameda County utilizes a Civil Service Selection System founded on merit. Such a system is competitive and based on broad recruitment efforts and equal opportunity for qualified applicants to test in an examination process designed to determine the qualifications, fitness and ability of competitors to perform duties of the vacant position. Many of our recruitments are targeted and specific to the needs of a current vacant position, in which case, the eligible list may be exclusively used for that current vacant position. Other recruitments may be more broadly used for both current and future vacancies, or for other alternate jobs with comparable scopes of work.

For more information on the Civil Service Selection process, please visit the What You Need to Know section of our website,

Applicants will be informed via email with reasonable notice in advance of any examination process which will require their attendance. The following dates are tentative and subject to change based on the needs of the Agency:

TENTATIVE RECRUITMENT PLAN

Deadline for Filing: 5:00:00 p.m., Monday, June 16, 2025

Review of Minimum Qualifications: June 18, 2025

Notification to non-qualified applicants ONLY: June 20, 2025

Review of Questionnaire for Best Qualified: Week of July 7, 2025

Civil Service Oral Examination: *Week of July 21, 2025

Notification of Exam Results: by August 1, 2025

TENTATIVE SELECTION PLAN

Department Selection Process: Mid-August 2025

*The combined oral examination/hiring interview, in addition to establishing an eligibility list, may serve as the final selection interview for vacancies in this classification. Candidates selected to participate in the oral exam will receive an email notification at least 10 business days in advance of the exam date.

WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO MAKE CHANGES TO THE ANNOUNCED RECRUITMENT & SELECTION PLAN

Alameda County and the Human Resource Services Department will make reasonable efforts in the examination and/or selection process to accommodate qualified individuals with disabilities and/or medical conditions in accordance/compliance with the State Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), Federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Alameda Countys Reasonable Accommodation Policy and applicable statutes. To request an accommodation due to a disability/medical condition during this or other phases of the examination/selection process, please contact the assigned Human Resources Representative listed on the job announcement before the last date of filing. Alameda County requires applicants to provide supporting documentation to substantiate a request for reasonable accommodation. In order to qualify for a reasonable accommodation, applicants must have a disability/medical condition pursuant to the ADA, FEHA and applicable statutes.

For more information regarding our Reasonable Accommodation procedures, please visit our website, Conclusion

All notices related to County recruitments for which you have applied will be sent/delivered via email. Please add @jobaps.com, acgov.org, ..., and ... as accepted addresses to any email blocking or spam filtering program you may use. If you do not do this, your email blocking or spam filtering program may block receipt of the notices regarding your application for recruitments. You are also strongly advised to regularly log into your County of Alameda online application account to check for notices that may have been sent to you. All email notices that will be sent to you will also be kept in your personal online application account. You will be able to view all of your notices in your online application account by clicking on the 'My applications' button on the Current Job Openings page.

Please take the steps recommended above to ensure you do not miss any notices about a recruitment for which you have applied. The County of Alameda is not responsible for notices that are not read, received or accessed by any applicant for a County recruitment.

NOTE: All notices are generated through an automated email notification system. Replies to the email box ... and ... are routed to an unmonitored mailbox. If you have questions, please go to our website at www.acgov.org/hrs. You may also contact the Human Resources Analyst listed on the job announcement for the recruitment for which you have applied.

Erika Beams, Human Resources Analyst
Human Resource Services Division, County of Alameda
Analyst Email Address Link: ... | Phone: ...
DISASTER SERVICE WORKER

All Alameda County employees are designated Disaster Service Workers through state and local law. Employment with the County requires the affirmation of a loyalty oath to this effect. Employees are required to report to work as ordered in the event of an emergency.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

Alameda County has a diverse workforce, that is representative of the communities we serve and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All aspects of employment are based on merit, competence, performance and business need. Alameda County does not discriminate in employment on the basis of, race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factors protected under federal, state and local law. Alameda County celebrates diversity and is committed to creating an inclusive, and welcoming workplace environment.