JC-532248 - Heavy Equipment Mechanic- Santa Rosa
- California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
- Santa Rosa, CA, USA
- Sep 21, 2026
Job Description
Heavy Equipment Mechanic (6834)
California State Personnel Board Specification
-
Schematic Code: QJ70
-
Class Code: 6834
-
Established: 1931
-
Revised: 11/03/1987
-
Title Changed: --
Definition
Under direction, to construct, repair and maintain automotive and heavy maintenance and construction equipment; may instruct and lead or direct the work of apprentices, helpers, Service Assistants (Automotive) or other employees, inmates, wards or resident workers; and to do other related work.
Job Characteristics
Although the majority of duties assigned to positions in this class involve heavy maintenance and construction equipment, assignments may include some work on automotive equipment.
Typical Tasks
Inspects equipment to locate and determine the extent of necessary repairs and the corrective action necessary; maintains and repairs automobiles, trucks, tractors, power shovels, graders, snowplows, pumps, air compressors, diesel and gasoline engines and similar equipment; constructs new special equipment or modifies existing equipment including body frames and running gear; makes installation of or repairs to special equipment; operates and maintains tools and machinery used in the repair and maintenance of heavy maintenance and construction equipment; advises in the selection of parts and equipment; estimates repair costs; instructs operators in the proper operation and servicing of equipment; performs minor welding and brazing work; keeps simple records and makes reports; instructs and leads or directs the work of helpers, apprentices, Service Assistants (Automotive), other employees, inmates, wards or resident workers.
Minimum Qualifications
Possession of a valid California Class 3 driver license. (Applicants who do not possess the license will be allowed to compete in the examination, but the license must be obtained prior to appointment.) and Either I Completion of a recognized apprenticeship as a gas and diesel-powered truck mechanic, or a heavy construction equipment mechanic. (Apprentices who are within six months of completing their apprenticeship program may be admitted to the examination, but they must present evidence of completion of a recognized apprenticeship before they may be appointed.)
Or II
Four years of varied mechanical experience on gas and diesel powered trucks or heavy construction equipment. An Associate of Arts Degree in Heavy Equipment Maintenance, Diesel Mechanics, or Heavy Equipment Mechanics or a certificate of completion from an accredited community college or equivalent degree or certificate approved by the California Superintendent of Public Instruction under the provisions of California Education Code Section 94310(b) may be substituted for two years of the required experience. (Students who are within six months of completing their degree will be admitted to the examination but must present evidence of completion prior to appointment.)
Or III
Three years performing the duties of a Heavy Equipment Mechanic Apprentice in the California state service, at least two years of which shall have included experience on gasoline and diesel-powered heavy construction or highway maintenance equipment.
Knowledge, Abilities, and Skills
Knowledge of: Methods, materials, tools and equipment used in construction, assembly, overhaul, repair and adjustment of gas and diesel powered trucks, heavy construction and maintenance equipment; operating characteristics of heavy construction and maintenance equipment and gas and diesel powered trucks; safety, regulations and practices.
Ability to: Read and write English at a level required for successful job performance; fabricate, repair and make adjustments to various equipment and systems (i.e., heavy construction and maintenance equipment, gas and diesel powered trucks, etc.); install and test pumps, motors and similar equipment; perform welding; communicate effectively; estimate repair costs; work from drawings and sketches and make sketches of broken parts for replacement; and make repairs in the field without supervision.
Skill in: Mechanical repair, adjustment, and fabrication of special equipment.
Additional Desirable Qualifications
Possession of a valid California Class 2 or Class 1 driver license.
Chuck Callahan.
Qualifications
State
Immediate Fill
The men and women of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) are dedicated to the fire protection and stewardship of over 31 million acres of California's privately-owned wildlands. In addition, the Department provides varied emergency services in 36 of the State's 58 counties via contracts with local governments.
Preventing wildfires in the State Responsibility Area (SRA) is a vital part of CAL FIRE's mission. While these efforts have occurred since the early days of the Department, CAL FIRE has adapted to the evolving destructive wildfires and succeeded in significantly increasing its efforts in fire prevention. The Department's Fire Prevention Program consists of multiple activities including wildland pre-fire engineering, vegetation management, fire planning, education and law enforcement. Typical fire prevention projects include brush clearance, prescribed fire, defensible space inspections, emergency evacuation planning, fire prevention education, fire hazard severity mapping, and fire-related law enforcement activities.
Beyond its wildland firefighting role, CAL FIRE is an "all-risk" department. It may very well be a CAL FIRE engine and crew that is dispatched to the scene of an auto accident, or to a home where a child has become the victim of a drowning incident. The Department is always ready to respond - medical aids; hazardous material spills; swift water rescues; search and rescue missions; civil disturbances; train wrecks; floods, earthquakes and more.
Because of the Department's size and major incident management experience, it is often asked to assist or take the lead in disasters, including the Northern and Central California floods of 1997, 1998, and 2006; the 1991 Cantara train derailment and toxic spill; 1994 Northridge earthquake; 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake; the 1991 Tunnel Fire in the Oakland/Berkeley Hills; and the 2003 Southern California Fire Siege.
As part of the CAL FIRE team since 1995, the Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM) supports the CAL FIRE mission to protect life and property through fire prevention engineering programs, law and code enforcement and education. The OSFM provides for fire prevention by enforcing fire-related laws in state-owned or operated buildings, investigating arson fires in California, licensing those who inspect and service fire protection systems, approving fireworks as safe and sane for use in California, regulating the use of chemical flame retardants, evaluating building materials against fire safety standards, regulating hazardous liquid pipelines, and tracking incident statistics for local and state government emergency response agencies.
The OSFM, State Fire Training, and CAL FIRE Academy programs provide training education and certification programs for the California Fire Service. Through practical training exercises and classroom courses, every California firefighter is exposed to training standards that have been approved by CAL FIRE and OSFM, each among the best institutions in the nation for fire training education.
CAL FIRE's mission emphasizes the management and protection of California's natural resources; a goal that is accomplished through ongoing assessment and study of the State's natural resources and an extensive CAL FIRE Resource Management Program. CAL FIRE oversees enforcement of California's forest practice regulations, which guide timber harvesting on private lands. Reviews and inspections ensure protection of watershed and wildlife, as well as renewal of timber resources. Department foresters and fire personnel work closely to encourage and implement fuels management projects to reduce the threat of uncontrolled wildfires. CAL FIRE Foresters promote conservation and the importance of our trees and forests to Californians of all ages.
CAL FIRE manages eight Demonstration State Forests that provide for commercial timber production, public recreation, and research and demonstration of good forest management practices. Additional forestry programs include urban forestry, archaeology, pest management, etc.
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) is California's fire department and resource management agency. The organization is comprised of nearly 8,000 permanent and seasonal employees. The mission of the Department is to serve and safeguard the people and protect the property and resources of California.
CAL FIRE is an equal opportunity employer, providing equal opportunity to all regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex, marital status, disability, religious or political affiliation, age or sexual orientation. CAL FIRE offers well-paying careers and opportunities for advancement.
When you join CAL FIRE, you join a family of employees that function as a team. You will build trust and friendship with your co-workers, as together you respond to emergencies and challenging situations. CAL FIRE provides employees with a variety of career choices and opportunities. We hope that you will consider a rewarding and challenging career with CAL FIRE!
http://calfire.ca.gov/about/about_careers_vacancies