Mechanic

Starting Salary: The starting salary is $35.2998 per hour.

Benefits: Paid vacation, sick, and personal leave; health, dental, vision and life insurance; 11 paid holidays per year; pension under IMRF and more. Visit champaignil.gov/hr/salaries-and-benefits/ and select Bargaining Units: AFSCME to learn more

Location: Champaign, IL

Work Arrangement: On‑site

Applications must be submitted online to champaignil.gov/jobs no later than Sunday, November 8, 2026. 

Are you looking for a Mechanic role where your expertise keeps essential City of Champaign vehicles and equipment running safely and reliably for the community? This position offers hands‑on, mission‑critical work that supports everything from emergency response to public works operations, ensuring the machinery our residents depend on is ready when it matters most.

Responsibilities of Position

As a Mechanic, you’ll play a vital role in keeping the City’s fleet of trucks, snow equipment, emergency vehicles, and heavy machinery in peak operating condition. Much of your work will focus on diagnosing, maintaining, and repairing diesel engines and the systems that support them. Your work directly supports community services by ensuring equipment is safe, reliable, and ready for use during daily operations and critical events. Due to the essential nature of this work, the position may require working up to 16-hour shifts and responding at all hours with little or no advance notice during emergencies or weather related events.

Your work could include:

-       Diagnosing and repairing complex mechanical issues on heavy duty vehicles, construction equipment, and fire apparatus.

-       Performing preventive maintenance.

-       Maintaining the essential tools and equipment that power City services.

-       Maintaining, diagnosing, and repairing electrical & hydraulic systems.

-       Working with the drivetrain, braking systems, and suspension systems.

-       Participating in Snow/Ice and other emergency response operations.

The City’s mission is to provide responsive, caring, and cost-effective service in partnership with our community. The following values guide our work: Personal Integrity, Responsibility, Respect, Teamwork, and Results. The City of Champaign is committed to promoting a work environment and a community that values and supports diversity and inclusion. The City of Champaign is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Women, minorities, and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

Required Qualifications

• Education equivalent to a high school diploma or equivalent. Completed coursework without a diploma will be considered. 
• Verifiable progressively responsible professional experience in diesel engine maintenance and repair work.
• A combination of training and experience that demonstrates the required knowledge, skills, and abilities will be considered.
• Ability to perform essential functions that require physical agility as noted in the job description, with or without accommodation.
• Current, valid driver’s license and good driving record.
• Possession of, or the ability to obtain within an approved timeframe:
  • Class B Commercial Driver’s License without air brakes restriction and with tanker endorsement.
  • Section 609 Technician certification from the Environmental Protection Agency.
  • Forklift certification.
• Possession of, or ability to obtain prior to first day of work, a complete set of mechanic’s hand tools necessary to perform essential functions of the position.

Preferred Qualifications

• Completion of a two (2) year training program in automotive, light truck, or heavy-duty truck maintenance and repair from an accredited trade or vocational school.
• Satisfactory completion of a qualifying co-op or apprenticeship program.
• National Institute for Automotive Services Excellence (ASE) Car or Truck or other equivalent relevant manufacturer specific certifications.
• Experience in a Fleet environment.
• Heavy duty (Class 7 or 8) and/or diesel truck maintenance experience.
• Possession of Emergency Vehicle Technician Certification that includes National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards.
• Experience with welding and metal repair and the use of cutting tools.
• Experience with upfitting and installation of aftermarket equipment.

Drug screening, driving record review, criminal background check, and ongoing random drug testing will be required. A valid Illinois driver’s license is required on Day One because this role involves driving between City facilities to service fleet vehicles and equipment, as well as operating and responding with City vehicles during snow, ice, and other emergency response operations. A City vehicle will be available; personal vehicle ownership is not required. Candidates must maintain a driving record that meets City standards.