State of Iowa - Executive Branch is hiring: Mechanic in Iowa

Overview

Join to apply for the Mechanic role at State of Iowa - Executive Branch.

The Iowa Department of Transportation is seeking a diesel-driven professional who lives the craft and keeps engines, heavy equipment, and vehicles running at their best. This role supports road safety, economic activity, and community connectivity through skilled diesel maintenance and repair.

What You’ll Do

• Diagnose, repair, and maintain diesel engines, transmissions, hydraulics, brakes, and electrical systems on DOT trucks and heavy equipment.
• Perform preventative maintenance on snowplows, dump trucks, loaders, and other specialized vehicles.
• Troubleshoot breakdowns quickly to restore equipment in service.
• Maintain detailed maintenance and repair records.
• Conduct diesel emissions testing and compliance checks to meet state and federal environmental standards.
• Use diagnostic software and tools to identify and resolve complex diesel engine issues, including fuel injection systems, turbochargers, and aftertreatment systems (DEF, DPF, SCR).
• Perform cold-weather diesel system preparation and maintenance for reliability in winter.
• Collaborate with team members to share knowledge and stay current on emerging diesel technologies and best practices.
• Maintain a clean, safe, and organized work environment in accordance with DOT safety protocols.

Schedule & Location

We are seeking four mechanics to join our team in Central Iowa, with positions available in Boone, Iowa Falls, Marshalltown, and Williams. Candidates must establish residence within a 45-minute commute of their work location within five months of hire. This position follows a Monday–Friday schedule from 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., with on-call responsibilities during emergencies or weather events.

CDL Requirement

A Class A Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) is required for this role. If you don’t have one yet, you’ll need a CDL permit to start, and Iowa DOT-provided training will help you earn your Class A CDL within 5 months, including online courses, road training, and hands-on instruction that meets state and federal requirements.

Minimum Qualification Requirements

• Three years of full-time work experience in automotive or heavy equipment mechanic work.
• A total of three years of education and/or full-time experience (as described above), where 30 semester hours of post-high-school education in automotive or heavy equipment mechanics equals one year of full-time experience.
• Current, continuous experience in the state executive branch that includes eighteen months of full-time work as a Mechanic Helper.

Additional Qualification Requirements

• Positions in this job class in the Department of Public Defense – Military Division must possess at the time of hire, or be able to obtain within six months of hire, a valid Class A Commercial Driver’s License with air brake endorsements.
• All of the following apply to Department of Transportation positions only: possession of a valid Commercial Learner's Permit upon hire; ability to obtain and maintain a CDL with required endorsements; pre-employment drug screen and ongoing random drug/alcohol testing; post-offer, pre-employment physical; travel requirements; emergency response duties; knowledge of winter maintenance operations and calibration of electronic/hydraulic controls; ability to work up to 16 consecutive hours.

Seniority level

• Entry level

Employment type

• Full-time

Job function

• Management and Manufacturing

Industries

• Government Administration

The Iowa Department of Transportation is an equal opportunity employer. If you require a reasonable accommodation in completing any screening, interviewing, pre-employment testing, or otherwise participating in the selection process, please contact the AA/EEO Officer at: aa-eeo@iowadot.us