Heavy Equipment Technician

About Red Deer:
Red Deer sits at the heart of Central Alberta along the QEII corridor, perfectly positioned between Calgary and Edmonton. With more than 100,000 residents and a regional reach of over 300,000, it’s a growing hub for business, services, and opportunity.

Here, big-city amenities meet small-city ease. Enjoy abundant parks and trails, vibrant arts and culture, excellent recreation and education, and a strong sense of community.

With easy access to lakes, outdoor adventures, and the mountains, plus a thriving economy and high quality of life, Red Deer is an inviting place to live, work, and grow.

About The City of Red Deer Municipal Government:
The City of Red Deer is a dynamic municipal organization with a $480M operating budget, a $60M capital program, and a workforce of nearly 1,700 employees. It is focused on growing with purpose by attracting talented, community-minded people who want to make a difference.

Guided by the vision “Our City, One Voice,” Red Deer is building a thriving, inclusive, and connected community, with priorities centered on a vibrant economy, community wellbeing, and strong engagement.

At its core, the City values its people, embracing diverse perspectives and fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and shared success.

The Opportunity:
The City of Red Deer is currently recruiting for a Heavy Equipment Technician to fill a Regular (permanent) Full-time position. The Heavy Equipment Technician is responsible for the diagnose, repair, estimate, overhaul and maintenance of a variety of vehicles, equipment, machines, and tools to provide such items in good working order and a safe operating condition.

Top Key Responsibilities:

1. Diagnose mechanical, electrical, electronic, hydraulic, and computerized system issues using testing and diagnostic equipment.
2. Repair, overhaul, and maintain a wide range of City vehicles, equipment, and machinery, including light-duty vehicles, heavy equipment, transit and paratransit buses, and shop tools, both in the shop and in field conditions.
3. Perform preventative maintenance, inspections, road tests, and Alberta safety inspections, including certification of air brake–equipped vehicles and transit buses.
4. Estimate repair costs, parts, labour, and time requirements, and accurately document work completed using maintenance management systems.
5. Conduct routine welding and fabrication, including the design and fabrication of specialized tools as required.
6. Respond to field service calls using a service truck to perform minor repairs, boosts, and assist with disabled units.
7. Provide guidance to apprentices and collaborate with other mechanics to resolve complex mechanical issues efficiently.
8. Liaise with operators, equipment dealers, and parts suppliers to identify issues and obtain technical advice.
9. Maintain a clean, safe work environment and perform related duties as assigned.

As our preferred candidate, you will have:

• Grade 11 and an Alberta Heavy Equipment Technician Certificate with an additional year of experience working with hydraulic systems and diesel injection engines similar to those ones owned by The City of Red Deer.
• A high school diploma or equivalent is desirable.
• Additional courses in welding, metal stress and fatigue, air brakes, ABS brakes, hydraulics, computer components, electrical systems, and Government vehicle inspections.
• A valid Alberta Class three (3) Drivers’ License with Q endorsement.
• A full set of Mechanics tools as per Management's list.
• Knowledge of the principals and operation of the diesel and gasoline internal combustion engines, electrical systems for all vehicles and equipment and the ability to diagnose problems.
• Observe safety precautions, and handling procedures and techniques while working with hot engines, high pressure oils, fuels, gases, and dangerous chemicals.
• Knowledge of the operating and repair characteristics of large fleet vehicles.
• Knowledge of safety aspects and standard precautions. Must be willing to comply with all safety policies.
• Ability to read and understand complex electrical drawings, mechanical drawings, shop manuals and troubleshooting diagrams.
• Ability to perform accurate measurements and to complete complex calculations.
• Knowledge and ability to work with the technological changes in the trade.
• Ability to skillfully operate computerized diagnostic tools for engines, transmissions, anti-lock brakes, hydraulic systems, body control modules, etc. and to follow proper testing procedures and/or troubleshooting to repair these systems efficiently.
• Ability to work in conditions, which are dirty, wet, and greasy, and be able to work outside in all types of weather.
• Ability to follow directions from repair manuals explicitly.
• Ability to work independently and to ensure quality completion of a project.
• Ability to communicate to the Parts Technician and Fleet Services Clerk clearly so the parts necessary for a job are ordered correctly and promptly.
• Ability to provide close attention when working with small parts of complex equipment and to use good eyesight and hearing for diagnosing problems and inspecting work.
• Ability to exert moderate/high physical effort for lifting heavy parts, tires, brake drums, etc.
• Ability to work in fatiguing or awkward positions, including considerable bending, standing and laying throughout the workday.

Affiliation: Canadian Union of Public Employees, Local 417
Status: Regular Full-time
Remuneration: $46.04 to $48.46 per hour
**Dual ticketed (Heavy Equipment Tech and Automotive Tech) candidates may be eligible to receive the GGMC rates ($46.76 to $49.22).**

Hours of Work: 80 hours biweekly as scheduled; Sunday to Friday - 4 and 6 rotation, Monday to Thursday and then Sunday to Friday; evenings and weekend work is required when needed.

The City of Red Deer does not permit the use of unauthorized internet resources or Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools (for example, Copilot, ChatGPT or any other form of AI) during interviews or any supervised or timed assessments. Any violation may be investigated and result in serious consequences, including the rejection of your application.

We thank you for your application. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

We are a municipal government, eager to meet tomorrow's challenges. Our employees are the cornerstone of our organization. We are always seeking creative and skilled individuals with the ability and desire to lead in our dynamic workplace. Each of our employees brings diverse experiences and perspectives, as well as unique skills and talents to the job. Our diverse employee base ensures an environment where individual, team, and organizational successes are embraced and celebrated. We strive to ensure a supportive and respectful work environment for all. Employees are treated fairly and have equal opportunity within the organization to thrive and attain their highest potential. We welcome your application and look forward to discussing how The City of Red Deer can become your next career choice.