Diesel Technician — Build Your Career in East Hartford, CT

First Student | Serving CREC Schools

$31.28 per hour | Monday–Friday Day Shift | Full-Time, Year-Round
Earn up to $2.00 more per hour for qualifying ASE School Bus Series certifications

A Shop Where You Can Keep Learning—and Build a Future

You’ve started building your mechanical skills. Now find a place where you can put them to work, keep learning, and grow your career.

First Student is hiring a Diesel Technician in East Hartford, CT,

supporting the buses that transport CREC students. This is steady, year-round fleet maintenance with hourly pay—not flat rate, a weekday day shift, and company-paid training to help you develop.

Whether your experience comes from an automotive shop, diesel maintenance, military service, or technical school, we’d like to hear from you.

What Makes This a Career Opportunity?

Get paid for your time.

Earn $31.28 per hour, as set by the union contract, rather than relying on flat-rate work.

Build skills without paying for every next step yourself.
We provide company-paid ASE testing and study materials, along with CDL Class B training and licensing.

Earn more as you develop.
Qualifying ASE School Bus Series certifications passed and maintained can add up to $2.00 per hour to your pay.

Keep a consistent weekday schedule.
Work a Monday–Friday day shift in a full-time position that continues throughout the year—not just during the school year.

Have somewhere to go next.

Develop your technical skills and explore future opportunities in senior technician, shop leadership, and maintenance management roles across First Student.

Benefits That Support You Beyond the Shop

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage
• 401(k) retirement savings plan with company match
• Paid holidays and paid vacation
• Access to earned wages before payday through Chime® MyPay at Work*
• Salt® Rewards Program for employee savings and rewards
• Annual boot allowance
• Annual prescription safety glasses allowance
• Employee Assistance Program offering confidential counseling and support
• PerkSpot discounts on cell phone plans, vehicles, electronics, and more

Benefits, allowances, incentives, and programs are subject to eligibility and applicable terms.

The Work

You’ll inspect, maintain, diagnose, and repair school buses, helping keep the fleet safe and ready for service.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Preventive maintenance, safety inspections, and annual maintenance inspections
• Diagnosing vehicle concerns and completing repairs
• Brake and brake-system inspection and repair
• Engine tune-ups and repairs to suspension, drivetrains, transmissions, clutches, and related systems
• Accurate work orders and repair documentation
• Mobile emergency repairs when needed
• Working with the shop team to maintain vehicle availability and a safe, organized work environment

Every repair supports students, drivers, and local schools that depend on these buses.

What You Need to Get Started

• At least one year of diesel or automotive maintenance and repair experience, or an equivalent combination of technical school education and experience
• A valid driver’s license
• CDL Class B, or the ability to obtain one within 60 days of employment, with company-paid training provided
• A mechanic’s tool set suitable for assigned duties
• Diagnostic and problem-solving skills
• Computer skills for work orders and maintenance information
• Willingness to learn, participate in ASE certification, and follow safe repair procedures

Automotive experience counts. You do not need to come from a school bus shop to apply.

Apply Today

If you’re looking for a place to stay, develop your skills, and build a long-term career, join First Student’s maintenance team in East Hartford, CT.

Bring your experience. We’ll help you build on it.

This position is subject to DOT drug testing and a physical. DOT Regulation 49 CFR Part 40 does not authorize the use of Schedule I drugs, including marijuana, for any reason.

First Student is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic. First Student is committed to providing a drug-free workplace.

Language Requirement
This role requires English proficiency. Federal, state, and local requirements, including U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations, require training, safety communications, company policies, employment documents, and other job-related communications be conducted in English.

First for a reason:

At First Student, we are a family of 60,000+ employees who take pride in safely transporting more than 5 million students and passengers to and from their destinations each day! Our family of brands include Transco, Total Transportation, Maggies Paratransit, and GVC II. Our employees are at the forefront of safety and innovation; they create and implement the most advanced training and technology the transportation industry has to offer.

In the state of Washington, all technician and driving positions, including but not limited to van drivers and any other position requiring employees to drive a company-owned vehicle, are considered safety-sensitive and are therefore subject to drug and alcohol testing, including cannabis.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status. First is also committed to providing a drug-free workplace. First will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories consistent with the requirements of the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, Los Angeles Fair Chance Ordinance, and any other fair chance law. Philadelphia’s Fair Criminal Record Screening Standards Ordinance Poster is at this link or upon request https://www.phila.gov/media/20210423160847/Fair-Chance-Hiring-law-poster.pdf.