Equipment Technician

27.65 - 27.65 US per hour

Job
Agency:
Department of Transportation / Operations

Location:

Mitchell, SDSalary:$27.65 per hour, depending on experience
Pay Grade:

H
Closing Date: 10/02/2026

This is a full-time position with the Department of Transportation. For more information on the Department of Transportation, please visit (Use the "Apply for this Job" box below). .

This position installs, diagnoses, and repairs computer, mechanical, hydraulic, and electrical systems on vehicles and equipment and sets up new equipment in a Department of Transportation shop. Duties may include, but are not limited to, assembling, setting up, and making adjustments and/or adaptations to new equipment vehicles (e.g., lights, radios/antenna, signs and numbers, license plates, and permanent attachments, etc.); transporting equipment/vehicles to obtain repairs, parts, and/or service;

diagnosing mechanical/electrical systems on equipment/vehicles; diagnosing computer system(s) on equipment/vehicles; performing minor and major repairs (e.g., engine, transmission, and differential rebuilding, mechanical system components, brakes, belts, cooling system, suspension, electrical, computer, etc.); fabricating new equipment/components and modifying/rebuilding existing equipment/components; performing welding on a wide variety of equipment/components; installing, maintaining, and repairing winter maintenance equipment systems; performing preventive maintenance and repair to power and hand tools;

and evaluating and recommending acquisition of applicable tools and materials.

The incumbent will work indoors and outside with occasional exposure to extreme weather conditions to include exposure to various operating equipment and moving mechanical parts (e.g., high-pressure hoses and connections, power presses, cutting torches), exposure to fumes (e.g., welding, exhaust systems, solvents, gasoline, paints), and may occasionally require work at heights above the ground.

From approximately May 1 to September 30, the anticipated work schedule for this position is 10-hour days, 4 days per week. From approximately October 1
- April 30, the anticipated work schedule for this position is eight-hour days, Monday through Friday.

The successful candidate will be required to supply his/her own basic personal hand and air tools to do repairs. A tool allowance may be available.

Incumbent must have a valid driver's license and be able to obtain a Class A commercial driver's license (CDL) with no transmission restrictions within 120 days of hire date to retain employment. Employee will be subject to pre-employment, random, reasonable-suspicion, post-accident, follow up, and return-to-duty drug and alcohol testing.

Incumbent must be willing and able to report to work for inclement weather conditions and other highway emergencies and must be able to report to their home station within 30 minutes, under normal driving conditions, from the time of notification.

Pursuant to SDCL 32-12A, applicants will be required to authorize the Department of Transportation to obtain a complete driving record. Applicants living outside of South Dakota may be asked to provide a motor vehicle record from their state of residence.

What the SDDOT Offers:

• Health insurance (low and high deductible plans which include a $0 premium employee-only coverage plan)
• Employee assistance program
• Dental and Vision
• Health savings account
• Free basic life insurance policy
• Membership in the South Dakota Retirement System with partial state match
• Paid leave (15 vacation days per year)
• Sick leave (14 days per year)
• Paid family leave (12 weeks for birth and adoption of child, equivalent to 40 hours per week)
• Military leave (15 days per year)
• 11 paid holidays
• Longevity pay
• Semimonthly pay periods
• Eligibility for meal per diems

The total compensation of Hourly Wage + State/Federal Benefits for a typical year for entry level Equipment Technician is approximately $78,819.00 annually.

The Ideal Candidate Will Have:
An associate's degree in automotive technology, auto mechanics, diesel mechanics, or completion of a formal post-secondary technical training program in automobile or heavy equipment-related repair (of at least 30 credit hours and one school year in duration) and one year of experience in automotive or heavy equipment repair is preferred.

Knowledge of:

• principles, methods, tools, and equipment of the diesel and automotive technology trade;
• principles of electronic diesel engine computer technology, diagnostics, and repair;
• principles of internal…