Salary : $82,249.44 - $98,712.64 Annually
Location : County of Santa Barbara - All locations, CA
Job Type: Full-time
Job Number: 26-3352-02 (O/GS)
Department: General Services
Opening Date: 10/15/2026
Closing Date: 10/30/2026 5:00 PM Pacific
DescriptionSalary: $82,249 - $98,712 AnnuallyWe are accepting applications to fill a
full-time Lead Mechanic vacancy in
Santa Barbara for the
General Services Department. This position is located in Santa Barbara however, may need to split time between both North and South County.
The work schedule and location for this position will depend upon the needs of the Department. TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THIS POSITION as well as for future Full-Time and 1414* vacancies, regular employees that apply
must check "All Locations" in the location section of the application.
*1414 vacancies may occur as a result of a leave of absence (Civil Service Rule 1414) and the duration of the appointment shall be subject to the return of the individual who is on leave. A person who is appointed to a position under Civil Service Rule 1414
may be able to transition into a regular position in the classification without re-application or re-testing, depending on the performance of the appointee and the needs of the department.
THE POSITION: Under general direction of a fleet supervisor, the selected candidate leads the work of mechanics in a fleet maintenance shop and assists with the day-to-day operations of the shop; and performs other duties as assigned.
The Lead Mechanic will help ensure adequate, training, work oversight and accountability within the Vehicle Operations Shop maintenance staff. They will assist the Division's Assistant Managers with the delegation of work tasks, planning\schedule of workload and work quality control. They will also create additional growth opportunities and ensure succession planning within Vehicle Operations.
Examples of Duties Performs the job duties of a journey-level Equipment Mechanic II or Automotive Mechanic II including:
Performs repairs, modifications, fabrications, maintenance, inspection, diagnosis, major repair and overhaul of gas, diesel, and alternative-fuel vehicles and equipment, engines, transmissions, differentials, fuel systems, hydraulic systems and electrical systems;
Installs and repairs auxiliary equipment on police vehicles, automobiles and light trucks;
Reads and interprets blueprints, specifications and manufacturers' catalogues;
Drives fleet and other vehicles for road tests and diagnostic purposes.
Trains, monitors and assists in evaluating performance of mechanics;
Acts as lead worker in day-to-day operations of the shop;
Assesses workload and recommends changes in staffing assignments as necessary to meet the shop's workload demands and ability of each mechanic;
Provides technical assistance to mechanics when they are performing vehicle repair diagnoses and complex vehicle\equipment repairs;
Provides quality control review and safety inspections of work performed by subordinate employees and ensures work performed meets service standards.
Serves as the primary contact for County employees who deliver vehicles\equipment to the shop for service or repair;
Confers with customers in order to understand vehicle repair problems;
Estimates time and materials required for repairs;
Communicates technical information in layman's terms to fleet customers.
Creates and maintains records of repairs made, work orders and time worked;
Prepares servicing schedules, enters fleet billing data into and prepares reports from fleet maintenance software.
Assists with interviewing job applicants and makes recommendations for hire;
Assists with assessing staff training needs and makes training recommendations to the assistant fleet supervisor;
Provides input on employee performance for staff evaluations to fleet supervisor.
Assists with developing, implementing and enforcing shop safety laws, standards, policies, practices, and procedures; develops implementation plans for shop safety programs; conducts safety meetings.
Prepares workers compensation paperwork;
Provides assistance to the fleet supervisor and acts as the supervisor in his/her absence.
Employment Standards - Possess a minimum of "6" ASE certifications and five (5) years of experience in the repair of a broad range of vehicles or heavy equipment including experience using electronic diagnostic equipment; OR,
- Two (2) years of experience performing duties equivalent to the class of Auto Mechanic II or Equipment Mechanic II with Santa Barbara County; Or,
- A combination of training, education, and experience that is equivalent to one of the employment standards listed above and that provides the required knowledge and abilities.
Additional Qualifications:- Possession of a valid California Class C Driver's License is required at the time of appointment.
- Appointees may be required to obtain additional special licenses (i.e. smog, Class B Driver's License) If required, will need to complete by probationary period (12 months) and as a condition of continued employment.
Once an incumbent has obtained the Class B Driver's License and is assigned duties requiring a Class B Driver's License, he/she will be subject to mandatory testing for drugs prior to being assigned work requiring such a license; once assigned, incumbents will be subject to mandatory testing for drugs and/or alcohol on a random, reasonable suspicion, post-accident, return-to-duty, and follow-up basis.
Desirable Qualifications: Master ASE Automobile, Medium - Heavy Truck, and Truck Equipment.
Knowledge of: theory and operation of the gas, diesel, and alternative-fuel internal combustion engines used in automobiles, trucks, tractors, and other powered equipment; standard practices and techniques of servicing, maintaining, and repairing gas, diesel, and alternative-fuel vehicles and equipment; materials, parts, supplies, equipment, and tools used in the maintenance and repair of gas, diesel, and alternative-fuel vehicles and equipment; the use and operation of electronic diagnostic equipment in the maintenance and repair of vehicles and equipment; safe work practices; state and federal guidelines, regulations, rules, and laws regarding smog control devices and inspection procedures, fleet operations, and safety (OSHA, EPA, etc.); fleet repair data used to determine whether to make repairs; methods, materials, equipment and tools used in welding and fabrication work; principles of lead work, including organization, scheduling, training, and evaluation; basic recordkeeping and office procedures and equipment necessary to prepare, maintain, and retrieve routine reports and records.
Ability to: diagnose mechanical defects in automobiles, trucks, tractors, and other powered equipment; read and understand diagnostic flow charts, specifications, mechanical information and wiring schematics; read, interpret, and apply technical, administrative and operational regulations, policies, procedures, and standards; determine and estimate labor and material requirements; use available information to make sound decisions; perform basic math computations; plan, coordinate, assign, organize, prioritize, delegate, and evaluate work; communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, with mechanics and customers in order to provide instruction and customer service; establish and maintain effective and cooperative working relationships with customers, colleagues, subordinates, vendors, and other agencies; use standard office equipment and computerized fleet management systems.
Supplemental Information: Incumbents in this classification may be exposed to adverse conditions such as inclement weather, dust, loud noise, heat, and wind. Work in this classification may involve exposure to: chemicals; moving machinery, vehicles, and equipment; fumes; gases; petroleum products; fire and electrical hazards; and confined spaces. The use of appropriate safety clothing and equipment is required.
Supplemental InformationAPPLICATION & SELECTION PROCESS:- Review applications and supplemental questionnaire to determine those applicants who meet the employment standards.
- Supplemental Questionnaire Ranking: Applications that meet the employment standards will be evaluated and scored. Candidates' final score and rank on the eligibility list will be determined by the information provided on their supplemental questionnaire. This process may be eliminated if there are fewer than 11 qualified candidates.
Candidates must receive a percentage score of at least 70 on the Supplemental Questionnaire Ranking examination to be placed on an employment list. An adjustment may be made to raw scores based on factors listed in Civil Service Rule VI. Those candidates who are successful in the selection process will have their names placed on the employment list for a minimum of three months. At the time the employment list is established, all qualified candidates will receive an email notice of their score on the exam(s), rank on the employment list, and exact duration of the employment list.
Recruiters will communicate with applicants by e-mail during each step in the recruitment process. Applicants are reminded to
check spam filters continuously during the Recruitment & Selection Process steps listed above to ensure they do not miss required deadlines.
Conditional Job Offer: Once a conditional offer of employment has been made, candidates will be required to successfully complete a background check and Live Scan, which includes a conviction history check, and satisfactory reference checks. A Live Scan is electronic fingerprint scanning that is certified by the State Department of Justice. Further instructions about when and how to complete the Live Scan will be included in the offer letter.
The appointee may be subject to a post-offer medical evaluation or examination. The appointee must satisfactorily complete a one-year probationary period.
