TDY Heavy Equipment Technician (Levels I, II & III)

Position Responsibilities:

All Heavy Equipment Technicians:

• Diagnoses, troubleshoots, repairs, and maintains some and/or all of the following: construction, agricultural and heavy equipment.
• Corrects deficiencies in components and ancillary equipment. 
• Performs service, maintenance, repairs and overhauls in accordance with manufacturers’ recommendations.
• Performs extremely complex repairs on a broad range of equipment in the shop and in the field.
• Uses diagnostic procedures and test equipment to identify and correct equipment faults.
• Analyzes and diagnoses mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, electric, and electronic faults.
• Operates some and/or all of the following shop equipment including overhead cranes, welders, compressors, presses, grinders, hand tools, and tire servicing equipment.
• Lifts, moves and/or installs heavy parts and assemblies safely, using basic tooling and PPE.  May be required to perform work outside in severe weather conditions.
• Complies with all ASC Environmental Health & Safety and Quality Assurance requirements and goals.  Provides documentation as necessary to ensure adequate and legal documentation.
• May work days, nights or swing shifts depending on operational needs.
• Assists other mechanics and members of the Traverse, Field Camp and/or VMF team as required.
• Documents all work performed including diagnosis, root cause, labor and parts. Conducts parts and repair requirements research and maintains records.  Prepares reports as required.
• Maintains a clean and safe workplace and ensures that safety is the highest priority in the workplace.
• Performs other duties as required.

South Pole Traverse (SPoT) only:

• Operates heavy equipment on assigned traverse for no less than a 50-day duration to the South Pole and back at least once, max twice. 
• Live and work in close quarters with up to 10 people for the duration to the traverse. 

Field Camps only:

• Diagnoses, troubleshoots, repairs and maintains small engines and diesel fired heaters in a remote field camp or traverse setting
• Live and work in close quarters with coworkers for the duration of the remote field camp or traverse season.
• Operates heavy equipment for assigned traverse or camp

Required Education, Experience, Certificates and Licenses:

• High School diploma or GED
• Technician Level I:
  • A minimum of two years’ experience in heavy equipment maintenance and repair required; or one years’ experience with heavy equipment maintenance and repair, in addition to one summer or winter Antarctic deployment working as a heavy equipment technician. 

• Technician Level II:
  • A minimum of four years’ experience in heavy equipment maintenance and repair required; or a minimum of three years’ experience with heavy equipment maintenance and repair, in addition to one summer or winter Antarctic deployment working as a heavy equipment technician I. 

• Technician Level III:
  • minimum of seven years’ experience in heavy equipment maintenance and repair required.
  • Must be able to pass an oral examination consisting of 10+ questions pertaining to mechanical systems, electrical and computer systems, as well as other facets of equipment repair. 

Expected Skills and Competencies:

• Must have strong written and verbal communication skills. 
• Proficiency in lifting and bracing large and heavy parts/equipment with jacks, cranes, floor lift and cribbing
• Team player and group dynamics are of the utmost importance.  
• Must be able to live and work with as a productive member of a high functioning team.

Preferred:

• Knowledge of sound mechanical practices as applied to commercial and special-purpose equipment, to include electrical, pneumatic, and hydraulic systems
• Experience on a broad range of construction equipment, specifically Caterpillar tractors

• Two years training at a technical school is highly desirable.
• A minimum of one season experience working on vehicles in Antarctica
• ASE certifications, and dealership certifications
• Experience with generators, mobile cranes, light plants, compaction, ski resort grooming, waste management and firefighting equipment
• Welding experience is preferred
• Previous experience with remote polar operations

Physical and/or Other Requirements:

• Willingness and ability to deploy to Antarctica for extended periods
• Successful completion of Medical and Dental examinations required by the NSF for deployment to Antarctica
• Successful completion of drug screening and backgr