Heavy Equipment Mechanic
Skilled Trades
Diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul mobile mechanical, hydraulic, and pneumatic equipment, such as cranes, bulldozers, graders, and conveyors, used in construction, logging, and mining.
You can enter this career straight after SPM. A degree is optional, not required.
What you'd do all day
The tasks that matter most in this job, most important first.
- 1Repair and replace damaged or worn parts.
- 2Test mechanical products and equipment after repair or assembly to ensure proper performance and compliance with manufacturers' specifications.
- 3Operate and inspect machines or heavy equipment to diagnose defects.
- 4Read and understand operating manuals, blueprints, and technical drawings.
- 5Dismantle and reassemble heavy equipment using hoists and hand tools.
- 6Overhaul and test machines or equipment to ensure operating efficiency.
- 7Adjust, maintain, and repair or replace subassemblies, such as transmissions and crawler heads, using hand tools, jacks, and cranes.
- 8Repair, rewire, and troubleshoot electrical systems.
- 9Diagnose faults or malfunctions to determine required repairs, using engine diagnostic equipment such as computerized test equipment and calibration devices.
- 10Examine parts for damage or excessive wear, using micrometers and gauges.
- 11Weld or solder broken parts and structural members, using electric or gas welders and soldering tools.
- 12Research, order, and maintain parts inventory for services and repairs.
- 13Schedule maintenance for industrial machines and equipment, and keep equipment service records.
- 14Fit bearings to adjust, repair, or overhaul mobile mechanical, hydraulic, and pneumatic equipment.
- 15Clean, lubricate, and perform other routine maintenance work on equipment and vehicles.
- 16Assemble gear systems, and align frames and gears.
- 17Clean parts by spraying them with grease solvent or immersing them in tanks of solvent.
- 18Adjust and maintain industrial machinery, using control and regulating devices.
- 19Fabricate needed parts or items from sheet metal.
- 20Direct workers who are assembling or disassembling equipment or cleaning parts.
Also known as
What this job is called on JobStreet, LinkedIn and in job ads. Search these too.
- Mechanic
- Shop Tech
- Trucksmith
- Brake Mechanic
- Crane Mechanic
- Field Mechanic
- Hoist Mechanic
- Hydraulic Tech
- Hydro Mechanic
- Truck Mechanic
How far is this from you?
Roughly how much preparation this job usually takes. In Malaysia your UPU route and the programme's syarat still decide entry, so treat this as a guide, not a gate.
1
Entry straight after SPM
2
SPM + sijil / short TVET course
Typical entry
Diploma / TVET (sijil–diploma)
4
Degree (ijazah sarjana muda)
5
Postgrad (sarjana / PhD) or professional route
Subjects that matter here
The SPM subjects worth your effort for this career, with the reason for each.
What you'd need to know
The subject areas this job leans on most, and the SPM subjects that build them.
- Mechanical95%
Mechanical Engineering StudiesPhysicsDesign & Technology (RBT)
- Customer and Personal Service66%
- Mathematics65%
Additional MathematicsMathematics
- Computers and Electronics61%
Computer Science / ICTElectrical & Electronic Eng. Studies
- Public Safety and Security60%
- Building and Construction60%
Civil Engineering StudiesEngineering DrawingDesign & Technology (RBT)
Tools you'd use
Software and equipment that show up in this job, worth learning early.
What the work feels like
Day-to-day working conditions, so you can tell whether the job suits how you like to work.
- Face-to-face discussionsEvery day
- Contact with other peopleConstant contact
- Dealing with customers or the publicVery high
- Handling conflict situationsAlmost never
- Indoors, air-conditionedAlmost never
- Outdoors, in all weatherEvery day
- Noisy environmentEvery day
- Time spent sittingA little
AI and demand for this job
A few real, dated data points — not a single score. AI making some tasks faster usually means a job changes, not that it disappears.
Share of everyday tasks today's AI can already help with (2023)
This estimate is from 2023 — already out of date, since AI moves fast. Treat it as a rough, aging starting point, not the current picture.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics data, not Malaysian. Shown because it's the only forward-looking demand estimate we have for this job.
Pay in Malaysia
We don't have a sourced Malaysian salary range for this job yet, and we'd rather show nothing than a number we can't stand behind.
Where to check:
- JobStreet and Hiredly job ads for this title
- DOSM Salaries & Wages Survey
- SSPA scheme tables, if you're aiming for a government post
Check what you may qualify for
Enter your SPM grades and see which routes and programmes you may qualify for. An estimate to plan with, not an offer.
How to get here
Post-SPM pathways with programmes in this career's fields. Tap one to see real programmes and entry requirements.
Related careers
If this interests you, these are worth a look too.
About this information
This describes what the job involves. Pay, demand and entry routes differ in Malaysia, so check the Pathways and Programmes pages for local requirements.
O*NET occupation: Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines
Job responsibilities, knowledge areas and work context from O*NET 30.3, US Department of Labor, used under CC BY 4.0. onetcenter.org