Job Description

Fleet Maintenance Group - School To Employment Program (STEP)

Colorado Springs Utilities is looking for a motivated and engaged high school student to join the Fleet Maintenance Group at Colorado Springs Utilities. This experience will provide a valuable opportunity for a motivated individual to gain hands-on experience in corrective maintenance, preventative maintenance and the day-to-day operations required to manage internal fleet vehicles and equipment across the organization. This role will help develop future talent while supporting our mission to reliably and effectively serve the customers of Colorado Springs.

Colorado Springs Utilities offers the School To Employment Program (STEP) for talented high school students. STEP is a partnership with local high schools which focuses on high school students, 16 years or older, interested in gaining exposure to Colorado Springs Utilities and the roles and services it offers. STEP allows students to gain work-related training in order to prepare for the workplace after graduation.

• This position will begin on June 8th and will be an 8-9 week commitment
• You must be available to work 32 hours per week, with 30 being the minimum; some flexibility available for existing commitments. A minimum of 8 weeks of commitment is required
• Work schedule is 10:30am-7:00 PM Monday through Thursday

In this role, the student will gain hands on exposure to the full fleet maintenance lifecycle—from initial diagnosis to repair, inspection, documentation, and return-to-service—while also learning how Colorado Springs Utilities’ fleet operations function daily. This includes observing how vehicle and equipment issues are identified and prioritized, how preventive maintenance programs are executed, and how reliable fleet operations support employee safety, productivity, and service delivery to our customers. Through this experience, the student will develop a practical understanding of how fleet maintenance, repair operations, and shop management work together to support a growing utility. Additionally, the student will comply with all safety and health programs in support of an incident- and injury free workplace.

In this student-based role, and in conjunction with a mentor and the fleet team, the student will gain familiarity with the following automotive and fleet processes:

Vehicle Diagnostics & Inspection

• Observing and assisting with multi point inspections on light, medium, and heavy duty vehicles
• Learning diagnostic procedures for engine performance, drivability issues, and emissions systems
• Identifying maintenance needs through vehicle history, operator input, and electronic diagnostic tools

Preventive Maintenance & Service Operations

• Supporting preventive maintenance (PM) workflows, including fluid checks, filter replacements, lubrication, tire rotations, and inspections
• Understanding how PM schedules are built, prioritized, and tracked across a diverse utility fleet

Automotive Systems (ASE General Areas)
Exposure to tasks that align with major ASE certification categories, including:

• A1 – Engine Repair
• A2 – Automatic Transmission/Transaxle
• A3 – Manual Drive Train & Axles
• A4 – Suspension & Steering
• A5 – Brakes
• A6 – Automotive Electrical/Electronic Systems
• A7 – Heating & Air Conditioning
• A8 – Engine Performance
• A9 – Light Vehicle Diesel Engines
• T1–T8 (Truck Series) – Diesel engines, drivetrains, brakes, HVAC, electrical, preventive maintenance, and more

(Note: Students will not be expected to perform advanced repairs but will observe and assist.)

• Technical Skills & Shop Operations
  • Working with technicians to understand repair orders, parts requirements, shop safety, and workflow coordination
  • Observing how repair scope, parts needs, estimates, labor hours, and work priorities are determined
  • Assisting with shop equipment, basic hand tools, and safety practices
• Fleet Documentation & Recordkeeping
  • Learning how fleet service data is maintained, including inspections, photos, diagnostic reports, and repair summaries
  • Managing shop documents such as work orders, PM records, parts usage, warranty documentation, and vendor correspondence
• Vendor & Contract Interaction
  • Observing how outside vendors are sourced for specialized repairs, parts procurement, tires, and upfitting
  • Learning the basics of parts sourcing, quotes, warranties, and service approval processes
• Regulatory Compliance
  • Understanding DOT, OSHA, and industry regulations that apply to utility fleet operations
  • Observing emissions compliance checks, annual inspections, and safety protocols

The Fleet Mechanic Student Will Learn the Following Skills:

• Automotive Maintenance Skills
  • Hands on exposure to light, medium, and heavy duty vehicle systems, including diagnostics, inspections, basic repairs, and preventive maintenance tasks
• Technical & Mechanical Reasoning
  • Developing the foundational understanding needed to pursue ASE certifications or technical school training
• Shop Safety & Tool Use
  • Learning proper use of shop equipment, PPE, vehicle lifting systems, and standard mechanical tools
• Data & Documentation Practices
  • Understanding fleet service documentation and learning how data drives repair decisions, PM scheduling, and vehicle lifecycle planning
• Collaboration
  • Working with technicians, service writers, parts staff, and fleet supervisors to understand how daily operations support a reliable service fleet

What will it take to be successful? Prospective candidates must coordinate their application with their counselor and a written recommendation from the counselor MUST accompany your application attached with your resume as one document ONLY (The application system does not allow for multiple attachments, only one)

• You MUST be 16 years or older and currently enrolled in high school; students graduating in May of 2026 are also eligible
• Hourly pay is based on your enrollment status; current students - $16.78/hr and May 2026 graduates - $19.17/hr
• You must have and maintain at least a 2.5 GPA and are in good standing at your respective high school and a good attendance record and no disciplinary concerns
• Enrollment in an automotive, diesel, or Career and Technical Education (CTE) program preferred but not required
• This role does require a current, valid driver's license and your own transportation, as based on the role, the candidate will be working at different fleet facilities around the city

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS/WORKING CONDITIONS:
- Exerts up to 20 lbs. of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 lbs. of force frequently, and/or a small amount of force constantly to move objects. Physical demand requirements are in excess of those required for Sedentary Work. Even though the weight lifted may be only a small amount, a job should be rated Light Work when it requires walking or standing to a significant degree or when it requires sitting most of the time, but entails pushing and/or pulling of arm or leg controls and/or when the job requires working at a production rate pace entailing the constant pushing and/or pulling of materials even though the weight of those materials is small. NOTE: The constant stress and strain of maintaining a production rate pace, especially in an industrial setting, can be and is physically demanding work even though the amount of force exerted is negligible.
- Positions in this class typically require climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, reaching, standing, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting, grasping, talking, hearing, seeing and repetitive motions. Incumbents may be subjected to moving mechanical parts, vibrations, fumes, odors, dusts, gases, poor ventilation, chemicals, oils, extreme temperatures, workspace restrictions and intense noises.

Our Commitment to Our Employees…
Our people are the heart and soul of Colorado Springs Utilities. They keep the lights on, gas flowing, water coming in, and wastewater leaving. We don't just say people are important – we prove it! That’s why we are honored to invest in protecting the health and financial security of our employees and their families through our rich benefits program.

• Time Off to Recharge
• Vacation – Start with 13 days annually, increasing to 24 days with tenure
• Paid Holidays –12 paid holidays per year
• Sick Leave – 12 days per year for personal or family health needs
• Vacation Buy – Option to purchase up to 40 additional hours annually
• Health & Wellness – Benefits elected are effective the first of the following month
• Medical Plans: Three comprehensive options, including a $0 premium High-Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) with Health Savings Account (HSA) eligibility
• Zero Health: Access to hundreds of medical services at no cost
• Dental & Vision: Two dental plans and one vision plan
• Family Building-Benefits: Support for fertility, preservation, adoption, and surrogacy
• Wellness Program: A voluntary program that rewards you for prioritizing self-care! If you're enrolled in a our medical plan, you and your spouse can earn up to $600 in HRA or HSA contributions by completing healthy activities
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA): Pre-tax contributions for healthcare and dependent care expenses
• Health Savings Account (HSA): Available with HDHP
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP): Confidential support for mental health, stress, legal, financial, and work-life balance
• Financial & Retirement Security
• Pension Plan: Colorado PERA provides retirement benefits and peace of mind
• Supplemental Retirement Plans: PERAPlus 401(k), MissionSquare Roth IRA, and 457 plans
• Disability Coverage: Short-Term and Long-Term Disability insurance available
• Life Insurance: Employer-paid coverage with optional supplemental plans
• Long-Term Care Insurance: Available for purchase to support extended care needs