Sheriff Helicopter Maintenance Technician

Under direction, the Sheriff’s Helicopter Maintenance Technician rebuilds, repairs, and maintains helicopters in the Sheriff's Aviation Unit to ensure airworthiness and safe flight operation in support of law enforcement, search and rescue, and fire suppression activities. 

WHAT WE OFFER
The County of Ventura offers an attractive compensation and benefits package that includes:

• A general salary increase of 3.5% effective January 19, 2025.
• Educational Incentive - An educational incentive of 2.5% for completion of an associate's degree, 3.5% for completion of a bachelor's degree, OR 5% for completion of a graduate's degree.
• Bilingual Incentive - Based on agency need, proficiency levels by exam are $ .65 per hour (Level I), $.80 per hour (Level II), or $1.10 per hour (Level III).
• Vacation Accrual Rate - Initially 14 days per year; after approximately 5 years of service increasing to 19 days a year; after approximately 11 years increasing to 20 days per year and then increasing 1 day a year through 15 years of service; topping out at 26 days per year after approximately 20 years of service with a maximum accumulation of 440 hours.
• Vacation Leave Redemption – After 14,560 hours (equivalent to 7 years) of continuous County service the ability to "cash in" or redeem up to 80 hours of vacation accrued in the same year after using 80 hours of vacation in the preceding 12 months.  
• Deferred Compensation - Eligible to participate in the County's 401(k) Shared Savings Plan and/or the Section 457 Plan. This position is eligible for up to a 3.00% match on your 401(k) contributions.
• Health Plans – Full-time employees are given a flexible credit allowance to offset the purchase of medical, dental, and/or vision insurance for you and their dependents. 
  • Employee only - $502 per biweekly pay period
  • Employee plus one dependent - $730 per biweekly pay period
  • Employee plus family - $905 per biweekly pay period
• Flexible Spending Accounts - Choice of participation in pre-tax benefits for IRS-approved dependent care and health care expenses.
• Pension Plan - Both the County and employees contribute to the County's Retirement Plan. If eligible, reciprocity may be established with other public retirement systems, such as PERS. 
• Holidays - 12 paid days per year which includes a scheduled floating holiday.
• Additional Benefits - Tuition Reimbursement, Disability Plans, Employee Assistance Program, Life Insurance, Wellness Program.

THE COUNTY COMMUNITY

Ventura County is located on California's "Gold Coast," approximately 35 miles northwest of Los Angeles and 20 miles southeast of Santa Barbara. Residents enjoy rolling hills and sweeping ocean views in a nearly perfect Mediterranean climate with an average annual temperature of 74.2 degrees. The beauty and weather combined with a wonderful quality of life are among the many reasons our residents choose to call Ventura County "home." 

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS:

It is distinguished from the Chief-Helicopter Maintenance Technician by the Chief's responsibility for scheduling and overseeing the work performed.

Duties may include but are not limited to the following:

• Repairs, replaces, engineers, or fabricates parts or components to rebuild or maintain airframes, flight controls, and drive trains
• Maintains and repairs the helicopters and related accessories, including inspection and diagnosis of mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, and structural integrity and malfunctions
• Rebuilds military surplus or damaged civilian aircraft, including designing and manufacturing parts, utilizing parts from other helicopters and diverse manufacturers, and designing modifications to assist with firefighting, search-and-rescue, medical evacuation, as well as law enforcement duties.
• Performs both ground and in-flight testing of helicopters, systems, and components
• Records all maintenance work performed on each helicopter to comply with FAA mandates and the manufacturer installations
• Operates specialized shop equipment and tools including lathe, hydraulic press, drill press, grinders, milling machine, saws, welding apparatus, electrical test equipment, hydraulic power supply (hydraulic mule), and related hydraulic and electrical equipment
• Daily inspects helicopters to diagnose malfunctions and make repairs. Consults with pilots, crew chiefs, and chief helicopter technicians to identify and isolate mechanical/electrical malfunctions;
• Keeps work area clean
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

These are entrance requirements to the examination process and assure neither continuance in the process nor placement on an eligible list.

EDUCATION, TRAINING, and EXPERIENCE:

Considerable experience in helicopter maintenance which has led to the acquisition of the required knowledge, skills, and abilities. The required knowledge, skills, and abilities can also be obtained by three (3) or more years of progressively responsible experience in the maintenance of turbine-powered helicopters which has included two (2) years in an FAA-approved helicopter maintenance services program.
 
NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Must obtain and maintain an FAA Airframe and Power Plant Mechanic's (A & P) Certificate by date of hire.
• Must be able to perform in-flight testing of repairs on helicopters.
• Must obtain and maintain a valid California driver's license at the time of appointment.
• Must have a wide range of physical motion, able to work in confined spaces, lift more than 50 pounds, and be able to use all safety gear. 
• Must be able to obtain a Department of the Interior Mechanic qualification and Department of Agriculture and Forest Service licenses/certificates for specific helicopters.

DESIRED: 

• Experience maintaining and repairing helicopters with Lycoming/Honeywell T53 series engine, Allison/Rolls Royce 250 series engine, and Pratt & Whitney PT6T3, General Electric T701D engine series gas turbine, and accessories
• Experience working with sheet metal fabrication
• Formal job-related training

• Thorough knowledge of the maintenance and repair of the Bell 205, 206, 212, UH1, UH-60, and any other helicopters the County purchases; gas turbine engines, accessories, and fuel control; helicopter electrical systems.
• Working knowledge of helicopter aerodynamics, vibrations, and flight characteristics.
• Working ability to: diagnose mechanical malfunctions and identify maintenance and repair needs; read, understand, interpret, and cross-reference helicopter maintenance manuals, charts, graphs, and blueprints; engineer, fabricate, and install systems; maintain repair records according to FAA guidelines; identify and solve problems; completely strip and rebuild helicopters; maintain effective working relationships with co-workers.
• Thoroughly skilled in the operation of specialized shop equipment and tools.

Recruitment Process

FINAL FILING DATE:

This is a continuous recruitment and may close at any time; therefore, apply as soon as possible if you are interested in it. Your application must be received by the County of Ventura Human Resources in Ventura, California, no later than 5:00 p.m. on the closing date.

To apply online, please refer to our website at www.ventura.org/jobs. If you prefer to fill out a paper application form, please call (805) 654-5129 for application materials and submit them to the County of Ventura Human Resources, 800 South Victoria Avenue Loc-1970, Ventura, CA 93009.

Note to Applicants: It is essential that you complete all sections of your application and supplemental questionnaire thoroughly and accurately to demonstrate your qualifications. A resume and/or other related documents may be attached to supplement the information in your application and supplemental questionnaire; however, it/they may not be submitted in lieu of the application. 

NOTE: If presently permanently employed in another "merit" or "civil service" public agency/entity in the same or substantively similar position as is advertised, and if appointed to that position by successful performance in a "merit" or "civil service" style examination, then appointment by "Lateral Transfer" may be possible.  If interested, please click here  (Download PDF reader)for additional information.

SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE - qualifying:

All applicants are required to complete and submit the questionnaire for this exam. The supplemental questionnaire may be used throughout the exam process to assist in determining qualifications for the position. Failure to complete and submit the questionnaire may result in removal of the application from further consideration.