Heavy Equipment Field Mechanic

Heavy Equipment Field Mechanic

Merritt Contracting is looking for an experienced Heavy Equipment Field Mechanic to maintain, diagnose, and repair the equipment our crews depend on every day.

This position primarily supports equipment at active jobsites within approximately a 60-mile radius of our Lebanon shop. The mechanic will also complete repairs, inspections, and preventive maintenance in the shop as needed.

Our general fleet includes excavators, dozers, articulated dump trucks, tractors, loaders, skid steers, compact track loaders, rollers, compactors, trucks, trailers, and other equipment used in civil construction.

We need someone who can do more than basic maintenance or replace parts. The right person can listen to an operator's complaint, troubleshoot the problem, identify the root cause, determine the parts and tools needed, and complete the repair safely and efficiently.

When equipment goes down, production can stop. This position requires someone who understands the urgency of getting equipment back to work without cutting corners on safety or repair quality.

Saturday work is a regular part of this position. Candidates must be available to support scheduled maintenance, repairs, equipment preparation, and field needs on Saturdays based on workload and production demands.

Equipment Diagnostics and Repairs

• Diagnose and repair diesel, hydraulic, electrical, mechanical, drivetrain, steering, braking, cooling, and aftertreatment systems.
• Use diagnostic software, multimeters, hydraulic pressure gauges, service manuals, electrical schematics, and hydraulic diagrams to identify equipment problems.
• Diagnose the root cause of equipment failures instead of only replacing the visibly damaged part.
• Complete minor welding and fabrication when needed.
• Determine when repairs can be completed internally and when dealer or specialty support is required.
• Test equipment after repairs to confirm it is safe and ready to return to service.

Preventive Maintenance

• Complete scheduled preventive maintenance, inspections, lubrication, fluid changes, filter changes, and regular equipment services.
• Inspect tracks, undercarriages, cutting edges, buckets, pins, bushings, hoses, belts, cooling systems, attachments, tires, and other wear components.
• Identify small problems before they become major equipment failures.
• Prepare and inspect equipment before it is mobilized to a jobsite.
• Monitor equipment hours and service intervals.
• Help improve preventive-maintenance schedules based on machine hours, operating conditions, service history, and recurring problems.
• Communicate maintenance needs before equipment becomes unsafe or unreliable.
• Support scheduled Saturday maintenance and equipment-readiness work.

Field Support

• Respond to equipment breakdowns at active jobsites within approximately a 60-mile radius of Merritt's Lebanon shop.
• Speak directly with operators and foremen to understand what the equipment was doing when the problem occurred.
• Diagnose mechanical, hydraulic, electrical, diesel, and aftertreatment problems in the field.
• Complete safe field repairs when jobsite conditions allow.
• Clearly communicate the diagnosis, repair plan, parts needed, and expected downtime.
• Place unsafe equipment out of service when necessary.
• Confirm repairs before returning equipment to production.
• Coordinate with foremen and operations leadership to minimize downtime and disruption to the job.
• Return equipment to the shop when repairs cannot be completed safely or effectively in the field.
• Maintain a safe work area while completing repairs around active crews and moving equipment.

Documentation and Shop Support

• Complete work orders and service reports accurately and on time.
• Record labor, parts, equipment hours, repairs, inspections, and preventive maintenance completed.
• Use equipment serial numbers, service manuals, and parts diagrams to identify and order the correct parts.
• Track incomplete repairs and follow up until the equipment is ready for service.
• Maintain an organized service vehicle, work area, tools, fluids, and commonly used parts.
• Communicate recurring equipment problems to fleet and operations leadership.
• Help maintain inventory levels for filters, fluids, hoses, fittings, and other commonly used repair items.
• Follow proper safety procedures for lockout, blocking, lifting, supporting, and working around heavy equipment.
• Perform other equipment, shop, and operational duties as assigned.

What We're Looking For

• Five or more years of heavy-equipment mechanic experience preferred.
• Experience working in a heavy-equipment dealership, manufacturer-authorized service center, construction-equipment rental operation, large fleet-maintenance shop, independent heavy-equipment repair facility, or similar equipment-service environment.
• CAT equipment experience is required.
• John Deere equipment experience is preferred.
• Strong working knowledge of diesel engines, hydraulic systems, electrical diagnostics, drive trains, undercarriages, cooling systems, and aftertreatment systems.
• Ability to…