Machinist

This examination is open to all candidates, both internal and external, who meet the minimum requirements.

Applications will be accepted only during the designated filing period for this examination.  The opening and closing dates of the filing period are listed in this announcement.  Applications must be filed by the following method:

Submitted online through the District's Online Employment Center at www.districtjobs.org.  Applications must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. Central Time on the closing date in order to be considered.

The deadline for filing an application will not be extended due to any unavailability of the District's Online Employment Center.  The District will not be liable for the Online Employment Center being unavailable for any period of time, and it is the sole responsibility of the applicant to ensure that the application form is completed and submitted in a timely manner.  Therefore, it is recommended that applications be submitted early in the filing period.

It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that the application form is completed and submitted in a timely manner by the method described above. 

Descriptions and dates of education, experience and any required license or certification should be very clear so that it is understood exactly how the applicant meets the minimum requirements. Prospective employees will be required to provide documentation of the required education, experience and licensure/certification upon employment. Falsification of a material statement in an application may constitute grounds for rejection of the application, exclusion from the examination, removal from the eligible list, or discharge of an employee from his or her position in the Classified Service.

Minimum Requirement Date: The minimum requirements for this examination must be met by the qualification date listed in this announcement.

Residency Requirement: There is no residency requirement to participate in the examination; however, all District employees must be domiciled within the boundaries of the District within six months of successful completion of probation. (The District is in Cook County, Illinois, covering approximately 90% of the county area.)

Veterans' Preference: In Original Entrance examinations, five points for Veterans' Preference will be added, in accordance with the District statute, to the scores of those candidates who attain a passing score in all phases of the examination. Information regarding the periods of eligible service, the documentation needed to file a claim and Veterans' Preference claim forms can be obtained through the District's website, by clicking here, or requested at the test site.

Probationary Period: The probationary period for this classification is one year (250 days worked).

Hiring and Employment Objectives: The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago is committed to hiring and employment practices that base employee selection on a candidate's knowledge, skill and ability to perform effectively on the job; provide equal employment opportunity to all applicants; prohibit the entry of political reasons or factors and other improper considerations into any stage of the selection and hiring processes; and create a transparent, honest and fair hiring system.

An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/D

Reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities will be made in accordance with applicable laws.  Requests for testing accommodations are to be made within one week after the close of the filing period.  For information regarding accommodation for individuals with disabilities, phone (312) 751-5170 (voice) or (312) 751-5916 (TTY).

Duties: Under supervision, performs skilled manual work in connection with the operation of precision machine tools used in fabricating metal parts. Installs, repairs and maintains mechanical equipment in the shop and in the field.

Minimum Requirements: Graduation from a standard senior high school or the equivalent and completion of an approved apprentice training program in machining, or an equivalent combination of experience and training. Substitution: Additional experience may substitute for the required education on a year-for-year basis.

Examination: The examination will consist of a written test weighted 40% and a performance test weighted 60%. The minimum passing score on each test will be 70% unless determined otherwise by the Director of Human Resources. Candidates must achieve a passing score on each test to be eligible to compete in each subsequent test and to have their names placed on the eligible list. In accordance with the Illinois Compiled Statutes (70 ILCS 2605/4.13), twenty points shall be added to the final passing scores of graduates of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District apprenticeship program for the machinist trade. 

The written test will assess candidates' knowledge, skill and ability in areas such as the general principles, practices and techniques of the machinist trade including the care and preventative maintenance of various machinery, tools and equipment; engine types and their associated mechanical components; safety practices and procedures; precision machine tools such as lathes, milling machines, grinders, drill presses and other standard metal working machines; hand tools, gears and other power tools; machining and welding properties of materials used by machinists; basic mathematics; troubleshooting mechanical problems; reading and interpreting sketches and blueprints and following written instructions.

The performance test will assess candidates' skill in performing machinist tasks.

Examination Process: All applicants will be advised by email if they have been admitted to the examination process. Applicants who do not receive a response to their application by Friday, January 3, 2025 should contact the Employee Selection Office at (312) 751-5100.

WRITTEN TEST: The written test will be administered on Saturday, January 11, 2025 at Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences, 3857 W 111th Street, Chicago, IL 60655. Candidates should report at 9:00 a.m. with the approved admission letter and driver's license or other form of photo identification. Calculators will be provided. The use of books, study guides, cell phones, tablets, smartwatches, laptops or other aids during the test is prohibited.

PERFORMANCE TEST: Candidates who pass the written test will be informed by email regarding the date, time and place of the performance test.