Automotive Mechanic

Automotive Mechanic

SALARY: $23.11/hr Starting

TYPE OF EMPLOYMENT: Full Time

ISSUE DATE: 10/30/25

THE FINAL DATE TO FILE APPLICATIONS: 12/31/25

DATE THAT THIS ANNOUNCEMENT SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM POSTING: 01/01/26

RESIDENCY: Candidates must have been legal residents of Tompkins County or one of the six adjoining counties (Cayuga,

Chemung, Cortland, Schuyler, Seneca, Tioga) for at least one month immediately preceding the date of application and maintain

residency. For Examinations: The eligible list resulting from the examination will be established in accordance with the final

earned numerical ratings of passing candidates regardless of residence. A municipality or district may exercise its right under

section 23-4-a. of Civil Service Law to request a certification of eligible candidates who have been residents of that municipality

or district for at least one month prior to appointment. After the names of residents have been exhausted, Tompkins County must

then certify the names of non-residents on the list.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Two years of satisfactory experience as a skilled automotive mechanic.

Tompkins County is Committed to Equity and Inclusion. We encourage those with similar values to apply.

• NOTE: Full-time automotive mechanic training may be substituted for the experience required above on a year-for-year basis.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

If required to operate a school bus, the applicant must be eligible for the appropriate New York State operator's license at the time

of application, possess such license at the time of appointment and maintain the license throughout the life of employment.

Applicants must satisfy requirements for Bus Drivers set forth in the rules and regulations of the New York State Commissioner

of Education.

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OF THE CLASS:

An Automotive Mechanic is responsible for servicing, repairing and maintaining all of the automotive and other equipment of a

civil division. This is skilled work involving responsibility for the maintenance and repair, including major repair, of all

automotive equipment owned by a Town, Village or School District. The work is performed under general direction with

considerable leeway allowed for the exercise of independent judgement when bringing equipment up to approved standards of

safety and operation. Supervision may be exercised over the work of school monitors, helpers, school bus attendants, bus drivers,

automotive mechanic assistants and other employees as appropriate.

When responsible for the transportation program (for jurisdictions that do not employ a Transportation Program Supervisor or

Administrator), an employee in this class is responsible for laying out and amending bus routes, calling in substitute drivers,

maintaining transportation records, and generally supervising pupil transportation. The incumbent will perform all related duties

as required.

TYPICAL WORK ACTIVITIES:

• Performs a variety of repairs to buses, automobiles, trucks, tractors and other machinery and equipment;
• Lays out and supervises the work of helpers, assistants and any maintenance tasks done by bus drivers;
• Schedules maintenance work to insure proper servicing of vehicles;
• Repairs or replaces springs, axles, wheel bearings, transmissions, clutches, heater cores, brake systems, pumps and

carburetors;

• Repairs ignition systems, generators, regulators, etc;
• Adjusts steering mechanisms and aligns wheels;
• Makes minor welding repairs to bodies and chassis;
• Maintains records of parts and supplies used and prepares requisitions;
• May paint bus bodies and repair interiors including seats and windows;
• May perform major engine overhauls;
• May be required to sweep and maintain the cleanliness of bus interiors;
• May be required to wash bus exterior and add gas and oil.

WHEN RESPONSIBLE FOR THE TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM:

• Annually assists in laying out school bus routes;
• Makes minor changes in bus routes to meet needs of district;
• Maintains records and prepares transportation reports;
• Instructs bus drivers concerning safety rules and regulations;
• Interviews and recommends hiring of new bus drivers;
• Arranges for substitute bus drivers and special bus trips;
• Assists in the preparation of the annual budget.
• The incumbent may be required to drive a school bus on a regular basis or substitute as needed.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES AND PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS:

• Thorough knowledge of standard automotive repair methods and of the tools and terminology of the trade;
• Skill in making repairs to automotive and other mechanical equipment; Ability to lay out work for self and others;
• Familiarity with welding techniques;
• Ability to maintain simple records and prepare reports;
• Good motor skills, hand and eye coordination;
• The employee's physical condition shall be commensurate with the demands of the position.

Originally created 06/79

FURTHER INFORMATION AND INSTRUCTIONS

Falsification of any part of the "Application for Employment" will result in disqualification.

Accepted candidates will be notified when and where to appear for the examination. If you do not receive your notice to appear at least three days before the

date of the written examination, call Tompkins County Department of Human Resources at If an application is disapproved, due notice will be

sent. This department does not make formal acknowledgment of the receipt of an application or take responsibility for non-delivery or postal delay.

Applicants must answer every question on the application form and make sure that the application is complete in all respects. Incomplete applications will

be disapproved.

ACTIVE MILITARY PERSONNEL, VETERANS OR DISABLED VETERANS desiring to claim additional credit will request the Veterans Credits

application form, at any time between the date of application for examination(s) and the date of the establishment of the resulting eligible list. You must

meet the requirements set by NYS for these credits and they may be used only once. YOU MAY NOT CLAIM ADDITIONAL CREDITS AFTER THE

ELIGIBLE LIST HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED. IT IS THE CANDIDATE'S RESPONSIBILITY TO REQUEST THE VETERANS CREDIT

APPLICATION FORMS AND TO SUBMIT THESE FORMS AND ANY SUPPORTING PAPERWORK BEFORE THE ELIGIBLE LIST IS

ESTABLISHED.

Tompkins County's written examinations are prepared and rated by the New York State Department of Civil Service in accordance with Section 23-2 of

Civil Service Law. The provisions of the New York State Civil Service Rules and Regulations, which deal with the rating and review of the examinations

apply.

The duration of the eligible lists may be fixed for a minimum of one and a maximum of four years and may be extended beyond four years if there has been

a restriction against the filling of vacancies in that title.

The candidates must complete a separate "Application for Employment" for each open-competitive and/or promotional examination that the candidate is

eligible to take.

All experience required meeting the acceptable training and experience is full-time experience. (Part-time experience will be credited on a prorated basis).

Appointment from an eligible list must be made from the top three candidates willing to accept the appointment.

Tompkins County is an Equal Opportunity Employer. As part of its efforts to provide employment opportunities to the physically handicapped, Tompkins

County Civil Service has adopted a rule permitting the employment of qualified physically handicapped persons without competitive examination (pursuant

to Section 55 of Civil Service Law). If you meet the minimum qualifications for this position and wish to know more about this rule, please contact the

Tompkins County Department of Human Resources Office.

Unless otherwise notified, candidates are permitted to use quiet, hand-held, and solar or battery powered calculators. Devices with Typewriter Keyboards,

Spell Checkers, Personal Digital Assistants, Address Books, Language Translators, Dictionaries or any similar devices are prohibited. You may not bring

books or other reference materials.

CROSS-FILING - APPLYING FOR CIVIL SERVICE EXAMINATIONS IN MULTIPLE JURISDICTIONS WHEN EXAMINATIONS ARE

SCHEDULED ON THE SAME DATE: When applying for examinations across multiple jurisdictions - all of which are scheduled on the same day - you

must submit a Tompkins County Cross-Filing Form. This form must be submitted no later than 4:30 PM on the final filing date of the examination. On this

form, list each examination that you are taking and then tell us where you would like to sit. The purpose is to ensure that all of the test materials for the

various examinations that you are taking will be available in one location. If you do not provide the cross-filing form to us by the final filing date, we cannot

ensure that we can accommodate your desire to cross-file. If any of the examinations are State level examinations, you must sit at the State test center. You

will still need to complete the Tompkins County cross-filing form. If sitting at the State site, the State will notify you of when and where to report for your

examination(s) and you should bring all admittance letters to the State site. If you are not taking a State examination, bring all admittance letters to your

chosen testing site. If you have any question please call Tompkins County Department of Human Resources Department The Cross File

form is located at http://www.tompkins-

FOR RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION AND HANDICAPPED PERSONS: If special arrangements for testing are required, please indicate this on

your application.

ALL CANDIDATES FOR EMPLOYMENT FOR POSITIONS IN SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND BOCES GOVERNED BY TOMPKINS COUNTY

CIVIL SERVICE MAY HAVE THE FOLLOWING SPECIAL REQUIREMENT. PER CHAPTER 180 OF THE LAWS OF 2000, AND BY

REGULATIONS OF THE COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION, TO BE EMPLOYED IN A POSITION DESIGNATED BY A SCHOOL

DISTRICT OR BOCES AS INVOLVING DIRECT CONTACT WITH STUDENTS, A CLEARANCE FOR EMPLOYMENT FROM THE

STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT IS REQUIRED.

In conformance with Section 85-a of the Civil Service Law, children of firefighters and police officers killed in the line of duties shall be entitled to receive

an additional ten points in a competitive examination for original appointment in the same municipality in which his or her parent has served. If you are

qualified to participate in this examination and are a child of firefighter or police officer killed in the line of duties in this municipality, please inform this

office of this matter when you submit your application for examination. A candidate claiming such credit has a minimum of two months from the

application deadline to provide the necessary documentation to verify additional credit eligibility. However, no credit may be added after the eligible list has

been established."

BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION: Applicants may be required to undergo a State and national criminal history background investigation, which will

include a fingerprint check, to determine suitability for appointment. Failure to meet the standards for the background investigation may result in

disqualification.

TOMPKINS COUNTY PERSONNEL DEPARTMENT, 125 EAST COURT STREET, ITHACA, NY 14850