FIRE EQUIPMENT WELDER

Recruitment #1807-0826-001

Introduction

Located on the western shore of Lake Michigan, Milwaukee is an urban hub bursting with energy. Milwaukee provides a casual sophistication – big city appeal without the big city hassles. We are accessible and affordable, and our residents are welcoming. Milwaukee has evolved through the years, bringing together its unsurpassed old world charm with a breathtaking Art Museum, top-flight arts and cultural attractions, professional sports, lakefront festivals, recreational opportunities, and great restaurants.

Purpose

Under the direction of the Fire Fleet and Equipment Manager, the Fire Equipment Welder designs, fabricates, installs, maintains, and repairs apparatus and equipment related to Milwaukee Fire Department (MFD) operations using tungsten inert gas (TIG) welding, metal inert gas (MIG) welding, stick welding, brazing, and soldering, including custom equipment and mountings on fire apparatus and in engine houses.

Essential Functions

  • Make apparatus body repairs and work with sheet metal, copper, aluminum, and stainless steel in various shapes and sizes to fabricate custom products used by the MFD in emergency and non-emergency situations. Braze or solder heater cores and radiators on fire vehicles. Weld in flat, vertical, or overhead positions.
  • Plan, fabricate, install, and weld brackets, boxes, trays, dividers, and shelves that securely hold expensive, often electrically-charged, equipment onto fire engines, ladder trucks, and paramedic units, which can then be easily removed in emergency situations. Confer with officers from department divisions regarding custom fabrication of items for special needs, frequently working without previous designs.
  • Weld and repair equipment constructed of steel, aluminum, and other alloys when beams and rungs are damaged. Perform serviceability testing of same prior to returning ladder equipment to fire service to meet UL standards. Test ladders annually to assure they are structurally sound and repair as needed. Splice halyard ropes on ladders, and repair specialized tools unique to the fire service, such as shingle stripping forks, rams, and drag forks.
  • Make simple sketches and drawings to aid in repairs, order materials, and weld various equipment using TIG welding, MIG welding, stick welding, brazing, and soldering.
  • Respond to emergent incidents as directed.
  • Design, fabricate, install, maintain, and calculate flow for heating and ventilating equipment. Prepare and read job-related drawings and blueprints. Order, install, and maintain pre-engineered, European-style roll-up doors for fire engines, ladder trucks, and special apparatus.
  • Adhere to all federal, state, departmental, and welding industry safety laws, rules, practices, and procedures.
  • Maintain and submit forms, reports, and records. Order stock materials, and maintain electronic inventory.
  • Participate in professional development activities to keep current with new developments in welding and fabricating. Recognize and use the most economical and efficient methods in making repairs or fabricating components, consistent with the demands of the fire service.

Reasonable accommodations requested by qualified individuals with disabilities will be made in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, as amended by the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act (ADAAA) of 2008.

Conditions of Employment

The Fire Equipment Welder must be able to do the following:

  • Be subject to recall for emergencies.
  • Perform heavy physical labor (exerting up to 100 lbs. of force occasionally, moving equipment up to 50 lbs. unassisted, and transferring objects weighing 10-20 lbs. frequently).
  • Walk, stand, climb stairs, stoop and bend, and perform tasks that require repetitive motion.
  • Wear a respirator and personal protective equipment (PPE) (i.e., welding helmet, hand-held shield, or goggles; respirator; fire-resistant clothing; ear muffs or ear plugs; boots; and gloves).
  • Maintain keen awareness to avoid hazards such as moving mechanical parts, electrical current, scaffolding, fumes, oil, and dust.
  • Drive departmental apparatus.
  • Provide basic hand tools needed to perform essential tasks.

Minimum Requirements

  1. Three years of welding experience.
  2. Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) Registered Welder credential within one year of appointment and throughout employment.
  3. Valid driver’s license at time of appointment and throughout employment.

Equivalent combinations of education and experience may also be considered.

Knowledges, Skills, Abilities & Other Characteristics

  • Knowledge of the procedures, processes, methods, materials, tools, and equipment used in welding, fabrication, brazing, and soldering.
  • Operational knowledge of tools such as grinders, drill presses, brakes, shears, and rollers.
  • Knowledge of the causes of and techniques for reducing metal stress.
  • Skill in performing TIG, MIG, and stick welding with aluminum and steel.
  • Ability to read and understand work-related documents such as manuals, policies, procedures, drawings, and blueprints.
  • Ability to understand and follow oral and written instructions.
  • Knowledge of mathematics, especially decimals, fractions, geometry, and measurement, to be able to accurately size, cut, and fit metal.
  • Manual dexterity and mechanical imagination to conceptualize and fabricate products.
  • Knowledge of safe repair shop work procedures and the ability to use tools and equipment safely.
  • Knowledge of automotive design and functionality and ability to safely operate departmental vehicles.
  • Ability to learn and use job-specific computer programs.
  • Interpersonal and customer service skills to be able to interact effectively with departmental personnel.
  • Ability to work cooperatively in a team-oriented, collaborative environment with people whose backgrounds may differ from one’s own.
  • Ability to work well independently.
  • Analytical and problem-solving skills to be able to diagnose and make repairs.
  • Ability to produce high quality work products to exacting standards and accomplish work within deadlines.
  • Ability to maintain accurate work records.
  • Honesty and ability to safeguard all departmental property.

Current Salary

The current salary range (Pay Range 7HN) for City of Milwaukee residents is $41,774-$52,049 annually, and the non-resident salary range is $40,749-$50,772. Appointment will be made in accordance with the City of Milwaukee Salary Ordinance.

The City of Milwaukee provides a comprehensive benefit program that includes the following:

  • Defined Benefit Pension Plan
  • 457 Deferred Compensation Plan
  • Health and Dental Insurance
  • Comprehensive Wellness Program
  • Onsite Clinic Services
  • Onsite Employee Assistance Program
  • Long Term Disability Insurance
  • Group Life Insurance
  • Tuition Benefits
  • Paid Vacation
  • 11 Paid Holidays
  • Paid Sick Leave and other paid leaves
  • Flexible Spending Arrangement
  • Commuter Value Pass

For full details of the benefits offered by the City of Milwaukee, please visit http://city.milwaukee.gov/Benefits2018.

Selection Process

THE SELECTION PROCESS will be job related and will consist of one or more of the following: education and experience evaluation; written, oral, or performance tests, or other assessment methods. The Department of Employee Relations and the Milwaukee Fire Department reserve the right to call only the most qualified candidates to oral and performance examinations. Oral examinations may include written exercises. Selection process component weights will be determined by further analysis of the job.

INITIAL FILING DATE: The examination will be held as soon as practical after Friday, November 9, 2018 Extended through Friday, November 16, 2018 (FINAL DEADLINE). Receipt of applications may be discontinued at any time after this date without prior notice. However, recruitment may continue until the needs of the City have been met. Qualified applicants will be notified of the date, time, and place of the examination. Unless otherwise required by law, the City of Milwaukee will not provide alternative test administration. The applicant is responsible for attending all phases of the job selection process at the time and place designated by the City of Milwaukee.

Additional Information

  • Applications and further information may be accessed by visiting, http://city.milwaukee.gov/jobs.
  • If you would like assistance completing an application, please contact the Department of Employee Relations at (414) 286-3751 or staffinginfo@milwaukee.gov.
  • The Department of Employee Relations is located at City Hall, 200 E. Wells St., Room 706, Milwaukee, WI 53202.

Conclusion

EEO 702

The City of Milwaukee values and encourages diversity and is an equal opportunity employer.