Jenny Keosaat after measuring the brake rotors and verifying they are within specifications. She sets up the brake lathe to resurface the rotors.
Mechanic for Muni Buses -- Meet Jenny Keosaat
Jenny Keosaat is a mechanic who keeps Muni buses safe and ready for the road. Learn how she built a career doing heavy-duty automotive repairs, and the key skills she applies now at the SFMTA. See what her typical workday looks like – and what she enjoys most about her job.
Coursework and jobs before current role:
Jenny’s story:
“I did my general learning in an automotive technology program at Fresno City College,” said Keosaat.
“We got to do hands-on repairs, like learning how to rebuild components such as engines and transmissions and brake calipers,” Keosaat said. This helped us understand how each component worked as a unit.”
Fresno City College is also where Keosaat learned about the electrical system that operates a vehicle. After completing a four-year program, she used these skills in a range of automotive roles.
Keosaat began her career working for parts stores, then in an apprenticeship at Carmax. That’s where she gained knowledge and experience with a variety of makes and models. Keosaat later applied these skills in mechanic roles at Toyota, Sam Trans and a company that repaired school buses. Then, she brought her automotive expertise to the SFMTA.
Coursework: Fresno City College – four-year program in Automotive Technology
Previous jobs:
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Apprentice at Carmax, gained automotive experience with a variety of makes and models
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Mechanic / Journeyman for Toyota, SamTrans and a company that repaired school buses
Focus areas:
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Inspected vehicles and repaired as needed. Developed expertise in heavy duty repairs. Systems included air brakes, air suspension, traction motors.
Resources:
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See the Fresno City College Automotive Technology webpage for Jenny’s program
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See the Skyline College Automotive Technology Program webpage for a similar option closer to San Francisco.
Keosaat loves the heavy-duty assignments at the SFMTA.
Key skills required for current role:
At the SFMTA, Keosaat works on Muni buses. Here are the skills she says are key for the role:
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Diagnosing problems
“A lot of the work as a mechanic is diagnosing issues. For example, with school buses, I sorted through a lot of electrical issues. I’d have to figure out which parts had failed and fix them properly. Now, at Muni, I usually work on heavy duty repairs, like brakes, suspension and air bags. I go in and figure out what needs to be replaced and how.”
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Repairing and replacing automotive parts systems
Heavy-duty assignments
“I really enjoy doing the heavy-duty work. For me, I find it fun taking things apart and putting them back together.”
Straightforward fixes:
“I also do simple things, too -- basic maintenance, filter replacements, oil changes and inspections.”
What a typical workday looks like:
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Safety checks
“When a coach comes in, we work as a team to do our safety inspections on it. We inspect everything from exterior lights and signs to air brakes. We also inspect the coaches for leaks -- air leaks, oil leaks, coolant leaks, etc. It’s important that we do these inspections to ensure our coaches are safe on the road for the public.”
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Document and make repairs
“Depending on the inspection performed on each coach, we do anything from brake valves to air dryers to alternators. Maybe we’ll find during an inspection that brake pads are low. That's when we’ll write the issue up and begin repairs.”
What she likes most about her job:
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Solving “puzzles” every day
“For me, this work is like solving a puzzle. If someone comes to me with a problem and I need to figure out what to do next, I find that really enjoyable.”
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Working in a close-knit environment
“The people here are great – all the people I work with. Everybody gets along, so it’s like one big family.”
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Helping to keep public transit safe
“I really value safety – the public’s safety, my safety. So, it feels nice to be able to say that we have a coach on the road and it’s safe for everybody.”