FLEET TECHNICIAN

Salary : $74,731.59 - $103,414.74 Annually
Location : San Marcos, CA
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number: 2026 - 63
Department: Public Works
Opening Date: 09/18/2026
Closing Date: 10/11/2026 11:59 PM Pacific
FLSA: Non-Exempt

SUMMARY DESCRIPTION
The City of San Marcos is seeking a dynamic, high energy, self-starter for the Fleet Technician position. The ideal candidate will have a deep understanding of a wide range of fleet vehicles and be adept at using electronic diagnostic tools, troubleshooting electrical issues, and maintaining systems on emergency response vehicles, apparatus, and equipment while being able to perform work in a fast paced and challenging environment.

Strong attention to detail and excellent communication skills are essential, as the role involves close collaboration with the Fire and Sheriff's Departments while maintaining/servicing apparatus, vehicles, motorcycles, and other equipment.

Summary Description:
Under general direction supervision, performs various tasks relative to the repair and maintenance of vehicles and heavy/light equipment. Performs after-hours emergency response as required.

This is the journey-level class in the Mechanic series. In addition to the duties of the Mechanic Assistant, the Fleet Technician inspects, diagnoses and locates mechanical difficulties in City automobiles and a variety of diesel and gasoline powered maintenance and construction equipment. Maintains and repairs components and operating systems of vehicles and equipment. Incumbents perform independently, without technical supervisor and are responsible for maintaining and repairing high performance firefighting apparatus, emergency vehicles, vehicles, and equipment.

The Fleet Technician is a full journey-level class responsible for maintaining, repairing and servicing a wide variety of City owned and rental fleet. Some vehicles and/or equipment contain complex firefighting apparatus / equipment, generators, invertors, heating and cooling systems, plumbing fixtures and equipment, radios, FLIR, CAN communication networks, and pneumatic/hydraulic systems. Assignments vary, encompass a variety of tasks, seldom require detailed instructions, and require sound, independent judgement and initiative. Fleet Technicians are required to provide their own toolbox and hand tools.
The following items are negotiated through the San Marcos Classified Miscellaneous Employees' Association Memorandum of Understanding

• $300 Monthly tool allowance

• $500 Annual ASE Master T Series Stipend

• $500 Annual ASE Master A Series Stipend

• $500 - $1000 Annual EVT 1,2,3 Stipend (Doesn't Compound)

Basic Standard and Metric hands tools required, sizes up to and including 1 ¼ " and 36 mm.

Recruitment Timeline:
Applications Due: October 11, 2026
1st Interview: Week of October 26, 2026
2nd Round Interview: Week of November 2, 2026
REPRESENTATIVE DUTIES

The following duties are typical for this classification. Incumbents may not perform all of the listed duties and/or may be required to perform additional or different duties from those set forth below to address business needs and changing business practices.

• Monitors work sites and ensures adherence to safe work practices and procedures.
• Participates in the use, care, and operation of a variety of construction and maintenance equipment, chemicals and supplies including, but not limited to, various heavy and light equipment such as: frontend loaders, excavators, asphalt paving machine, rollers, dump trucks, painting and striping equipment, hand and small power tools; performs minor adjustments and emergency repairs to assigned equipment; cleans, maintains, and properly stores tools and equipment.
• Performs cleaning, procurement, organization, and welding/fabrication work as necessary.
• Performs after-hours emergency response as required. Responds to after-hours emergencies and callback when participating in the After Hours On-Call Program, while in a standby capacity or as emergency situations require.
• Exercises good judgment and initiative, works to maintain, diagnose, troubleshoot and repair the full range of the City's vehicle and equipment fleet including automotive, construction, landscaping, maintenance, transportation, and emergency services vehicles and equipment.
• Diagnoses, maintains, adjusts/tunes, and repairs a wide variety of vehicles and equipment and their components, systems, and computerized controls including, but not limited to engines, transmissions, drives, differentials, fuel systems, electrical systems, hydraulic systems, compressed air systems, lighting systems, and air conditioning systems.
• Performance safety inspections on vehicles/equipment to comply with relevant laws, codes, and regulations.
• Performs a variety of specialized electrical and electronic system installations and repairs including network communications, lighting and communications systems.
• Services, repairs, overhaul and replace specialized equipment on law-enforcement, firefighting and utility vehicles/equipment.
• Performs repair and maintenance of cranes.
• Diagnoses and performs 12-48 VDC & 120-240 VAC electrical repairs, including by not limited to, connections, breakers, cables, fuses, outlets, inverters and generators.
• Reads and interprets product information, manuals, schematics, and other related materials when performing work assignments to stay abreast of current technologies.
• Performs routine preventative maintenance on vehicles.
• Operates and maintains hand, power, diagnostic, shop tools, and equipment.
• Determines extent of necessary maintenance and repairs, orders parts and supplies, provides cost and scheduling estimates, updates status to others as necessary.
• Maintains work, time, material, and equipment logs and records; enters and/or retrieves data from computerized asset management/workflow system.
• Practices the principles of customer service; trains others regarding the methods and techniques of vehicle and equipment pre-operation and safety checks, lubrication checks, start up, operation, and shutdown procedures.
• Performs vehicle and/or equipment emission testing.
• Builds collaborative relationships with internal and external partners, responds to and resolves maintenance issues, inquiries, concerns and complaints in a timely and efficient manner, ensuring a high level or customer satisfaction.
• Provides budgetary input and recommendations within area of assignment, as required.
• Utilizes MS Word, MS Excel, MS Outlook, and/or asset management software that tracks work order and inventory or similar software.
• Performs other related work as required.

QUALIFICATIONS

The following generally describes the knowledge and ability required to enter the job and/or be learned within a short period of time in order to successfully perform the assigned duties.
Knowledge of:

Principles, practices, and procedures of preventative maintenance, troubleshooting and repair of gasoline, hydrogen, and diesel engines, electric vehicles (EV's), fuel systems, ignition systems, electrical systems, cooling systems, braking systems and suspension systems; current methods, terminology, equipment, tools and materials used in the overhaul, repair, maintenance and adjustment of vehicles, emergency vehicles, and equipment that may be within the City's owned and rental fleet; Occupational safety practices and hazards of the trade; computer applications applicable to assigned work responsibilities; towing and transporting vehicles and/or equipment; and principles and practices of customer service.
Ability to:

Perform automotive and heavy/light equipment repair; work independently with little or no direct supervisor, plan, coordinate, schedule and estimate repair and maintenance work; maintain a clean, neat and safe work environment, use shop tools, including drills, presses, grinders, reamers, and use a brake lathe to resurface brake drums and rotors; use gas and electric welding and cutting apparatus; use good judgment in the scope of assigned authority; operate office, shop and field equipment; understand and follow oral and written directions; communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing; maintain accurate and concise records; establish and maintain effective relations with City employees, the public, and other agencies; read and interpret product information, manuals, schematics and other related materials when performing work assignment and in order to stay abreast of current technologies; perform journey-level, skilled and emergency repairs to vehicles and equipment; and demonstrate an awareness and appreciation of the cultural diversity of the community.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:
Education/Training

High School graduation or equivalent. A combination of experience and/or training providing the knowledge, ability and aptitude to successfully perform the essential duties outlined above.
Experience

Four (4) years of experience with increasingly responsible advanced journey-level experience performing vehicle and equipment maintenance and repair duties.

License or Certificate:
Possession of an appropriate, valid driver's license with satisfactory driving record. A Commercial driver's license with a tank endorsement may be required of some positions or to participate in the after-hours program.
Within six (6) months of appointment, the Fleet Technician level in the series MUST have possession of a Class A or B California Commercial Driver License.
Emergency Vehicles Technician, ASE Master Technician, 49 CFR Part 396.19, 609, and other professional certifications and/or license and accreditations are highly desirable.
Special Requirements:
Due to safety regulations, when utilizing certain tools and/or working with certain chemicals, incumbents may be required to wear a respirator and may be prohibited from wearing contact lenses and/or glasses and beards or other facial hair which may prevent a proper fit.
Employees may be required to: serve on an on-call or stand-by basis; work on assigned shifts, on weekends and work overtime.
Holidays - The City observes fourteen (14) paid holidays that include eleven (11) specifically designated days as recognized by the State of California and three (3) floating holidays.
Vacation Leave - A new employee will accrue eighty (80) hours of vacation per calendar year for the first two years of service, one hundred, twenty (120) hours for years three through five, one hundred, sixty (160) hours for years six through ten and two hundred (200) hours after eleven years. Vacation accrual begins immediately; however, a new employee is not eligible to take vacation leave until the completion of six (6) months of service with the City.
Sick Leave- A new employee will earn ninety-six (96) hours of sick leave each year.
Bereavement Leave - Employees are eligible to use up to 40 hours of bereavement leave per fiscal year.
Group Health Insurance Program - A new employee will become a member of one of the City's group health plans (Aetna HMO, Aetna AWH HMO, Aetna PPO, or Kaiser HMO) effective the first day of the month following their date of hire. The City will pay 90% of the health care premium and employees will pick up 10% of the premiums of the plan they select.
Voluntary Dental/Vision Insurance Programs - The City offers two voluntary dental insurance programs, an HMO program and a PPO Program, as well as a voluntary vision insurance program.
Section 125 Flexible Spending Account - All employees are eligible to participate in the City's Section 125 Flexible Spending Account plan administered by Benefit Coordinators Corporation (BCC). This is an IRS-approved plan which enables you to have withheld from your paycheck an amount to cover eligible dependent care, and certain eligible medical expenses without being subject to federal income or social security tax on the income used to pay for these benefits.
Retirement - The City participates in both the Social Security (FICA) and the California Public Employees' Retirement Systems (CalPERS). The City currently contracts with CalPERS for the 2% at 55 benefit formula, Post-Retirement Survivor Allowance, and 3 year average final pay for CLASSIC members and 2% at 62, Post-Retirement Survivor Allowance, and 3 year average final pay for PEPRA (new) members. Employees will contribute 7% or 6.5% towards CalPERS, depending whether a classic or new member.
Retiree Health Savings (RHS) - All employees participate in a Retiree Health Savings plan through the ICMA Retirement Corporation.
Deferred Compensation Employer Match Program - The City offers a Deferred Compensation Employer Match Program, matching employee contributions up to 2%
Bilingual Pay: A stipend of $100 per month will be paid to those employees utiliz