School Bus Systems Technician​

• ​​
• ​​

School Bus Systems

Technician

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Mission

The

School Bus Systems

Technician provides specialized technical support for transportation technology systems to ensure safe and efficient student transportation across IDEA's yellow bus fleet. This role focuses on troubleshooting and

maintaining

tablets used for student ID scanning, pre/post trip inspections via

Transfinder's

RouteFinder

and

WayFinder

• applications, as well as
• maintaining
• camera systems for safety and security monitoring. Working with advanced telematics systems from

Zonar

, the Technology Technician coordinates with suppliers for warranty claims,

maintains

inventory of spare equipment and parts, ensures proper installation and cabling of technology systems, and supports training initiatives and safety audits. Under the general supervision of the Safety Manager or Regional Transportation Manager, this position is essential to

maintaining

operational excellence and

supporting

our mission of safely transporting students to achieve college for all.

Supervisory Responsibilities

None

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Location

RGV

Travel Expectations

• ​​
• Up to 30%
• ​

What We Offer

Compensation

• Compensation for this role is set at an hourly rate ranging between
• $
• 19.50
• for 0 years of experience

and

• $
• 24.46.
• This role is also eligible for a performance bonus based on team performance and
• goal attainment.

Other Benefits

• We offer a comprehensive benefits plan, covering
• the majority of
• the employee premium for the base medical plan and subsidizing
• the majority of
• costs for a spouse/domestic partner and children.

Some of the special benefits we offer at IDEA include

Paid Family Leave

• Eligible staff may receive up to
• 8 weeks
• of paid leave for the birth or adoption of a child, based on their tenure with the organization and caregiver designation.

Tuition Reimbursement

• Staff members may apply for up to
• ​
• 50% of tuition paid toward a qualifying degree program, up to $5,250 maximum per year subject to manager discretion and budget availability.

Employer-Paid Mental/Behavioral Health

• 5 face-to-face counseling sessions within a year, unlimited 24/7 telephonic counseling, and other work-life services available at no cost.
• Other benefits include dental and vision plans, disability, life insurance, parenting benefits, generous vacation time, referral
• bonuses
• and professional development. IDEA may offer a relocation allowance to defray the cost of moving for this role, if applicable.

What

You’ll

Do

–

Accountabilities

Essential Duties

• ​​
• Monitor and analyze student ID scanning data through

RouteFinder

and

WayFinder

• systems across all transportation campuses to
• identify
• trends and opportunities for improvement.
• ​
• ​
• Troubleshoot tablet functionality issues and

Transfinder

• application problems that may
• impact
• scanning performance and resolve technical barriers promptly
• ​
• ​​
• Provide training and technical support to drivers and transportation staff on proper scanning procedures, tablet operation, and

Transfinder

• software usage.
• ​
• ​​
• Coordinate with Regional Transportation Managers and campus transportation staff to implement best practices and ensure consistent scanning protocols.
• ​
• ​​
• Generate regular reports on scanning performance using

RouteFinder

• analytics and provide data-driven recommendations for improvement.
• ​
• ​​
• Maintain tablet software updates, application configurations, and

Transfinder

• integrations to
• optimize
• scanning efficiency and system reliability.
• ​
• ​​
• Conduct routine preventive maintenance on all tablets across the transportation fleet using industry-standard diagnostic tools and procedures.

Additional Duties and Responsibilities

• Respond promptly to tablet malfunctions, hardware failures, and software issues to restore functionality within service level agreements.
• Maintain

adequate inventory of spare tablets, charging cables, mounting hardware, and replacement parts to support immediate repairs and minimize downtime.

• Coordinate with suppliers and vendors (including

Transfinder

) for warranty repairs, replacements, and technical support escalations as needed.

• Document all maintenance activities, track tablet performance metrics, and

• maintain
• comprehensive service records for fleet management reporting.

• Implement proactive monitoring systems and diagnostic protocols to

• identify
• potential issues before they
• cause operational downtime.

• Train transportation staff on basic tablet troubleshooting, proper handling procedures, and preventive care to reduce service calls.

Support safety audit activities by ensuring all technology systems including tablets, cameras, and

Zonar

• telematics are functioning properly during inspections.
• Provide technical
• expertise
• during audits to verify proper installation, operation, and compliance

of

tablets, cameras, and telematics systems with state and federal regulations.

Assist

• in training programs for drivers and transportation staff on technology-related safety protocols, inspection procedures, and regulatory compliance requirements.
• Maintain comprehensive documentation of all technology installations, configurations, and compliance records for audit purposes and regulatory reporting.
• Collaborate with safety team and RTMs to address any technology-related audit findings promptly and implement corrective action plans.
• Ensure camera systems are operational and recording properly to support safety compliance requirements and incident documentation.
• Support electronic inspection processes through

Zonar

• EVIR systems and
• maintain
• digital inspection records.
• Support route optimization by ensuring tablets
• are
• properly configured for

RouteFinder

and

WayFinder

• routing functionality and GPS accuracy.
• Troubleshoot routing software issues, GPS connectivity problems, and telematics integration challenges that may
• impact
• efficient route planning and execution.
• Provide technical support for

Zonar

• telematics systems that track bus
• utilization, route efficiency, and performance analytics.
• Collaborate with transportation managers to analyze
• utilization
• data from

Zonar

• Ground Traffic Control platform and
• identify
• improvement opportunities through technology optimization.
• Ensure GPS tracking systems, route navigation, and telematics are accurately recording bus movements, stops, and operational data for
• utilization
• analysis.
• Maintain backup systems and redundancies to prevent technology failures that could
• impact
• route efficiency or
• utilization
• tracking accuracy.
• Support mobile device management (MDM) systems to ensure consistent software deployment and configuration across the tablet fleet.

Establish and

• maintain
• an efficient digital ticketing system for all technology-related service requests with proper prioritization protocols.
• Prioritize service tickets based on operational urgency, safety impact, and effect on transportation services to ensure critical issues receive immediate attention.
• Communicate regularly with requestors
• regarding
• ticket status, expected resolution times, and progress updates through established communication channels.
• Maintain detailed digital records of all service activities, resolution methods, parts used, and time-to-resolution for performance analysis and improvement.
• Develop and implement preventive maintenance schedules for tablets, cameras, and associated hardware to reduce the frequency of reactive service requests.
• Coordinate with external vendors,

Transfinder

support,

Zonar

• technical services, and suppliers when specialized repairs or advanced technical support are
• required.
• Continuously improve response processes, troubleshooting procedures, and resolution workflows to exceed the 3-day average resolution target while
• maintaining
• quality standards.

Knowledge and Skills

–

Competencies

Make Strategic

Decisions

• This individual
• is able to
• gather relevant information, consider
• various options, and make choices that are in line with their current responsibilities and the team’s goals.

Manage Work and Teams

This individual

is responsible for

managing their own work as well as supporting others. They focus on delegation, performance management, and coaching to help others achieve their work goals and develop professionally.

Grow Self and Others

This individual actively seeks feedback, embraces challenges as learning opportunities, and engages in professional development activities to enhance their own skills and performance.

Build

a Culture of

Trust

This individual focuses on awareness of their own emotional states and biases. They practice transparency and honesty in their interactions, contributing positively to team morale and trust.

Communicate Deliberately

• This individual can express ideas clearly and listen actively. They have
• developing
• skills in empathetic listening and responsive speaking, with ability to tailor messages for individual direct reports or peers with the aim
• to build
• stronger, more effective relationships.

Additional Skills

• ​​
• •
• Believes and is committed to our mission and being an agent of change: that all students are capable of getting to and through college

• Has demonstrated effective outcomes and results, and wants to be held accountable for them
• Has a propensity for action, willing to make mistakes by doing in order to learn and improve quickly
• Works with urgency and purpose to drive student outcomes

​

Required

experience

• ​​
• •
• High School Diploma or GED minimum

• Valid driver's license with clean driving record and ability to travel between multiple campus locations
• Experience with tablet devices, mobile technology platforms, and troubleshooting consumer electronics
• Knowledge of GPS systems, telematics hardware, camera systems, and basic networking concepts
• Experience with mobile device management (MDM) platforms and enterprise software deployment
• Ability to read and interpret technical manuals, wiring diagrams, and installation specifications
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and ability to generate technical reports and documentation
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with attention to detail and systematic troubleshooting approach
• Excellent communication and customer service skills with ability to train non-technical users
• Ability to work independently, manage multiple priorities, and adapt to changing technology requirements
• Physical capability to work in various environments including bus maintenance facilities and outdoor conditions

Preferred

Education and Experience

• ​​
• •
• Associate's degree in Information Technology, Electronics, Computer Science, or related technical field preferred

• Industry certifications such as CompTIA A+, Network+, or mobile device management certifications preferred
• Two to three years of experience in technical support, electronics troubleshooting, or IT support role

​

• Familiarity with fleet management software, transportation routing systems, or similar enterprise applications preferred
• Experience with mobile device management, tablet deployment, or consumer electronics support preferred
• Background in fleet management, transportation technology, or automotive electronics highly preferred
• Previous experience in educational or transportation environments desired
• Experience with inventory management, vendor relations, and warranty claim processes preferred
• Demonstrated experience with enterprise software applications and database systems preferred

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Physical Requirements

• ​​
• •
• Sitting, standing, and walking for extended periods of time during troubleshooting and installation activities

• Climbing in and out of buses and working in confined spaces for equipment installation and repair work
• Lifting, carrying, pushing, and pulling objects weighing up to 40 pounds including equipment, tablets, and replacement parts
• Continuous use of hands, fingers, and wrists for technical work, typing, and detailed electronic component handling
• Repeated stooping, bending, and kneeling while working on bus-mounted equipment and under-dash installations
• Reaching overhead and into tight spaces for equipment installation, cable routing, and system access
• Fine motor skills required for handling small electronic components, connectors, and precision technical work
• Verbal, auditory, and written capabilities to effectively communicate technical information to diverse audiences
• Clear vision for detailed technical work, reading schematics, and color distinction for wiring systems and status indicators

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